What is the order of the Earthbound mother series?

The order of the Earthbound Mother series is as follows: Mother (1989), also known as EarthBound Beginnings outside Japan, Mother 2 (1994), known as EarthBound outside Japan, and Mother 3 (2006), with the recommended playing order being EarthBound, then EarthBound Beginnings, and finally Mother 3. This order allows players to become invested in the series and appreciate the storyline, with EarthBound Beginnings acting as a good prequel to EarthBound.

Introduction to the Earthbound Mother Series

The Earthbound Mother series is a collection of role-playing video games developed by Ape and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. The series consists of three games: Mother (1989), Mother 2 (1994), and Mother 3 (2006), each with its unique storyline and gameplay mechanics.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Is Mother 1 the same as EarthBound?: No, Mother 1 is not the same as EarthBound. Mother 1, also known as EarthBound Beginnings, is the first game in the series, while EarthBound is the second game, also known as Mother 2 in Japan.
2. What is the Mother timeline?: The Mother series started in 1989 with Mother/EarthBound Beginnings for the Famicom, followed by Mother 2/EarthBound in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Mother 3 in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance.
3. Is EarthBound a sequel to Mother?: Yes, EarthBound is the sequel to Mother, with Mother 2 being the Japanese title for EarthBound.

Game-Specific Questions

4. Should I play Mother 1 or EarthBound first?: It is recommended to play EarthBound first, as it will get you more invested in the series, and then play EarthBound Beginnings followed by Mother 3.
5. Is Mother 3 connected to EarthBound?: While Mother 3 does not make direct references to the previous games, there are hints and characters that appear in both EarthBound and Mother 3, such as Dr. Andonuts and Pokey Minch.
6. Is Ness in Mother 3?: Yes, Ness appears in Mother 3 in a movie playing in the New Pork City movie theater, showing shots of moments from EarthBound.

Series and Game Details

7. Is EarthBound a dark game?: EarthBound deals with themes of emptiness and boredom, making players confront their feelings of being without, which can be considered a dark aspect of the game.
8. Why is Mother 2 called EarthBound?: Mother 2 was called EarthBound outside Japan to avoid confusion about what it was a sequel to, since the original Mother had not been released outside Japan.
9. Is Mother 1 a horror game?: MOTHER is a first-person psychological horror game that involves protecting children while descending into madness.

Playing Order and Recommendations

10. Should I play the Mother series in order?: If you want to play the whole series, it is recommended to play them in order, but if you’re going to play just one Mother game, EarthBound is a good choice, as it doesn’t require knowledge of the other games.
11. Should I play Mother 1 before Mother 3?: While the story in Mother 3 is independent, playing Mother 2/EarthBound first will help appreciate the plot more, but playing Mother 1 is not necessary.
12. Should I play Mother 3 before EarthBound?: Most people who play Mother 3 first find EarthBound plain in comparison, so it’s recommended to play EarthBound first.

Series Continuation and Release

13. Will Nintendo make Mother 4?: Shigesato Itoi, the creator of EarthBound, has stated that there won’t be a fourth game in the series.
14. Why is Mother 3 not released in America?: The lack of localization for Mother 3 was due to it not making business sense for a game released late in the handheld’s lifespan.
15. Will there be an EarthBound 4?: Shigesato Itoi has explained that he won’t make a fourth game in the Mother series, closing the curtains on the series as we knew it.