Mother 3

About Mother 3

Mother 3 is a turn-based role-playing game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. It released on April 20, 2006, for the Game Boy Advance. You can also play it now on the Wii U via Virtual Console. This title serves as the direct sequel to EarthBound from 1994. The story follows Lucas, a boy living in the Nowhere Islands when the Pigmask Army invades his village of Tazmily. A tragedy strikes his family, prompting him to search for his missing brother and stop a masked group led by Porky Minch. The game mixes dark themes with quirky humor as you explore a world where technology clashes with rural life under a new police state regime.

Gameplay

You move Lucas and his party through the Nowhere Islands in a classic top-down perspective. Combat happens on separate screens using a turn-based system where you select commands like Attack, PSI, or Items for each character. The real-time events often interrupt your progress with quick time sequences that demand specific button presses. You will spend hours talking to NPCs, solving puzzles, and managing inventory items ranging from healing herbs to strange gadgets. Battles rely on positioning and using PSI abilities to counter enemy attacks. Each chapter focuses on different characters within the group, shifting the narrative focus while maintaining the same core mechanical loop of exploration followed by strategic encounters against bizarre creatures and human soldiers.

What Players Think

Players love this game despite its incomplete official release history. The IGDB community has given it a massive 90.1 out of 100 score based on 172 ratings. Most players report long average playtimes because the story demands deep engagement. Review snippets frequently mention the emotional weight of the narrative and the distinct art style. The mood in discussions often leans toward nostalgic sadness mixed with genuine appreciation for the writing. Completion rates remain high among those who manage to find a playable version on Game Boy Advance or Wii U. Fans consistently rank it as one of the best RPGs ever made, noting that the unique tone separates it from standard genre fare.

PlayPile's Take

This is a must-play for anyone who enjoys story-driven games with deep character development. The price varies depending on whether you buy a physical Game Boy Advance cartridge or rent a Wii U download. You can earn several achievements on modern platforms if you complete all chapters and find hidden items. Do not expect a traditional happy ending since the game tackles heavy subjects like loss and oppression. The turn-based battles require thought rather than reflexes, making it accessible for slower players. If you have access to the Game Boy Advance or Wii U Virtual Console, grab this title immediately. It stands apart from other RPGs because of its specific focus on family dynamics and political satire.

Storyline

Mother 3 is set in the Nowhere Islands, some unknown amount of years after EarthBound. Chaos ensues after an invasion by the Pigmask Army, named after the uniforms, which resemble pigs, and its leader, Porky Minch, the "Pig King". They slowly construct a police state, while experimenting on the land's flora and fauna, and introducing new technology and infrastructure to the islands. The various chapters record the life of a boy named Lucas and his family and friends, banding together to rid the Nowhere Islands of the Pigmask Army.