EarthBound cover
FranchiseEarthboundSeriesEarthBound

EarthBound

Critic score3 critics
First release
Aug 27, 1994
Publisher
Nintendo
Genres
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Turn-based strategy (TBS) · Drama, Action, Fantasy, Science fiction

A turn-based JRPG and sequel to the then-Japan-only Earthbound Beginnings (1989) in which Ness, a young boy living in a land based on the USA, leaves home to go on an adventure through strange locations, get to know quirky characters, and defeat an unknowable alien threat called Giygas while facing up to the realities of growing up and becoming familiar with the real world.

Also known as Mother 2: Gyiyg no Gyakushuu, Mother 2, Mother 2: Giygas Strikes Back, マザー2
… See more, MOTHER2 ギーグの逆襲, 어스바운드

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
The story begins when Ness is awakened by a meteor that has plummeted to the earth near his home, whereupon he proceeds to investigate the crash site. When Ness arrives at the crash site, he finds a police roadblock and Pokey Minch, his friend and neighbor, who tells him to go home. Later, Ness is woken up again by Pokey knocking at his door, demanding help to find his brother Picky. They find him asleep behind a tree near the meteor and wake him. Then the three encounter an insect from the meteor named Buzz Buzz, who informs Ness that he is from the future, where the "universal cosmic destroyer" Giygas dominates the planet. Buzz Buzz senses great potential in Ness and instructs him to embark on a journey to seek out and record the melodies of eight "sanctuaries," unite his own powers with the Earth's, and gain the strength required to confront Giygas.Read more

The story begins when Ness is awakened by a meteor that has plummeted to the earth near his home, whereupon he proceeds to investigate the crash site. When Ness arrives at the crash site, he finds a police roadblock and Pokey Minch, his friend and neighbor, who tells him to go home. Later, Ness is woken up again by Pokey knocking at his door, demanding help to find his brother Picky. They find him asleep behind a tree near the meteor and wake him. Then the three encounter an insect from the meteor named Buzz Buzz, who informs Ness that he is from the future, where the "universal cosmic destroyer" Giygas dominates the planet. Buzz Buzz senses great potential in Ness and instructs him to embark on a journey to seek out and record the melodies of eight "sanctuaries," unite his own powers with the Earth's, and gain the strength required to confront Giygas.

Release dates
Super Famicom
Aug 27, 1994
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Jun 05, 1995
Game Boy Advance
Jun 20, 2003
All 9 release dates
Wii U
Mar 20, 2013
Wii U
Jul 17, 2013
Wii U
Jul 18, 2013
New Nintendo 3DS
Mar 03, 2016
New Nintendo 3DS
Mar 04, 2016
New Nintendo 3DS
Mar 23, 2016
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main + Extras
25h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
First person, Bird view / Isometric
Where to buy
Keywords
aliens, ghosts, martial arts, dinosaurs, time travel
… All 74, 2d, invasion, 16-bit, turn-based, 20th century, 1990s, robots, mummy, ufo, female protagonist, insanity, religion, multiple protagonists, psychic abilities, apocalypse, satire, time machine, teleportation, pizza, good vs evil, cult, alien invasion, meditation, darkness, nintendo power, leveling up, corrupt government, damsel in distress, party system, virtual console, descendants of other characters, save point, young protagonist, robot protagonist, saving the world, royalty, male antagonist, self-referential humor, real-time waiting, submarine, new protagonist in sequel, kidnapping, fire manipulation, escaping imprisonment, censored version, status effects, prince, cryokinesis, psychics, corruption, white magic, exploring yourself, year x, in-game anti-piracy effects, male protagonist, retroachievements, shigesato itoi, fan translation - english, fan translation - polish, fan translation - brazilian portuguese, nintendo 3ds virtual console, wii u virtual console, fan translation - portuguese, battery save, fan translation - spanish, fan translation - italian, fan translation - russian, fan translation - french, fan translation - german

At a Glance

Critic Score
93
Main + Extras (IGDB)
25h

How it plays

Languages

  • Englishinterface
  • 日本語interface
IGDB · recorded 24 Oct 2026

Language data: IGDB · recorded 24 Oct 2026