Earthbound vs Mother 3
The short answer
Play EarthBound first. It is the one most people can play officially, it sets up the humour and the tone, and Mother 3 lands harder when you know what the series is doing. Mother 3 is the tighter and more emotional game — if EarthBound's charm worked on you, it is the one that will stay with you.
What they have in common
Same creator, same turn-based battles with a rolling HP meter, and the same trick of dressing a sad, strange story in bright, funny clothes. Both reward talking to everyone.
Pick EarthBound for the sprawling, satirical road trip.
A kid from small-town America travels a parody of the modern world with a baseball bat and a yo-yo. It is loose, episodic and very funny, and the difficulty is uneven — early fights can be rough. It was released in English on the Super Nintendo and has since been re-released by Nintendo.
Games like Earthbound →Pick Mother 3 for the story.
Told in chapters from several characters' points of view, it is much more focused and far more affecting, and its battles add a rhythm mechanic for combo hits. It was released only in Japan on the Game Boy Advance, and most English-speaking players have played it through a fan translation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I play Earthbound or Mother 3?
Play EarthBound first. It is the one most people can play officially, it sets up the humour and the tone, and Mother 3 lands harder when you know what the series is doing. Mother 3 is the tighter and more emotional game — if EarthBound's charm worked on you, it is the one that will stay with you.
What do Earthbound and Mother 3 have in common?
Same creator, same turn-based battles with a rolling HP meter, and the same trick of dressing a sad, strange story in bright, funny clothes. Both reward talking to everyone.
Is Mother 3 better than EarthBound?
Many fans think so: Mother 3 is the more focused game with the stronger story, while EarthBound is looser and funnier. The practical difference is availability — EarthBound is on Nintendo Switch Online, and Mother 3 has only ever been released in Japan.
Can you play Mother 3 in English?
Not officially. A fan translation released in 2008 is how almost every English-speaking player has played it.
Buy This Game
* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Buy This Game
* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
More head-to-heads are on the comparisons page.
