Where To Play MOTHER 2
by: Kody NOKOLO on 2/9/2022
Super Famicom & Super NES – 1994 & 1995
MOTHER 2 first released exclusively in Japan in 1994 on the Super Famicom. A year later, it released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America as “EarthBound” bundled with its infamous Player’s Guide!
MOTHER 1+2, Game Boy Advance – 2003
MOTHER 1+2 was a Japan exclusive title that compiled both MOTHER and MOTHER 2 into one playable package on the Game Boy Advance. To make both games playable on the console, some limitations were implemented to them though, resulting in versions of MOTHER and MOTHER 2 that might be considered “lesser” by most. Despite that, they were both fully playable and, for the first time, handheld versions of the games!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii – 2008
A currently unknown version of MOTHER 2 was available only in the “Masterpieces” section of the Japanese version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the first time the game was available on a home console after its initial Super Famicom release, although in a form that would only allow it to be played for five minutes.
Wii U – 2013
A decade after MOTHER 1+2 and almost two decades after the last overseas release, MOTHER 2 and EarthBound were rereleased for the first time in 2013 on the Wii U Virtual Console! There were some minor changes made graphically to make some animated lights less intensive in this version. EarthBound also released for the first time in Europe! All versions are unavailable on the Wii U eShop as of March 27, 2023.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U – 2014
New Nintendo 3DS – 2016
The Wii U versions of MOTHER 2 and EarthBound were rereleased again on the Nintendo 3DS to be played with the New Nintendo 3DS’s SNES Virtual Console. They are unavailable on the 3DS eShop as of March 27, 2023.
Super NES Classic Edition – 2017
The Super NES Classic Edition featured a release of the Wii U version of EarthBound, one release that only happened overseas and not at all in Japan!
