Summary
Most video game fans probably know theMotherseries through the appearance of its protagonists, Ness and Lucas, in theSuper Smash Bros.franchise. However, with the release ofEarthbound: BeginningsandEarthboundon Nintendo Switch Online, gamers can play through this wacky RPG adventure at home or on the go.
Despite the lack ofMotherseries installments beyond re-releases, the franchise has had a huge influence on game developers. Many recent RPG releases of the past ten years have citedEarthbound, or theMotherseries entirely, as inspirations. These games are perfect for die-hard fans of the long-dormant Nintendo franchise.
Updated June 14, 2025 by Blaise Santi:Although the last installment in the Mother series was released nearly a decade ago, the franchise has remained one of the biggest inspirations for independent video game developers. In particular, the 1994 game Earthbound remains one of the most influential JRPGs in the history of the video game genre.
While Nintendo seems unlikely to do anything other than port the existing games to their newer consoles, there are plenty of games that have taken a lot from Earthbound. Even Earthbound’s sequel owes a lot of its design to the game that blazed the trail for RPGs set in the modern day.
It may seem obvious thatMother 3took inspiration from the previous entry in the franchise, but the game went through many iterations during its development. The follow-up toEarthboundwas meant for the Nintendo 64, but after the project fell through, it was revived for the Game Boy Advance. Rather than re-invent the franchise’s wheel, the developers stayed closer to its roots.
As a result,Mother 3andEarthboundshare more DNA graphically thanEarthboundandEarthbound: Beginningseven do. Obviously, the games share many gameplay similarities in their turn-based battle system, as well as their sense of humor and world-building.Mother 3even features Porky, who originally debuted as a villain inEarthbound.
2GLITCHED
Glitches Take The Place Of Earthbound’s Aliens
At first glance,GLITCHEDwould seem like an obviousEarthboundclone. The game is set inside a video game, in which an NPC gains sentience through a glitch and must uncover the mystery of why this has happened by exploring his own world. While the game doesn’t feature randomized battles, it takes many cues fromEarthboundin its turn-based combat system.
Currently, only a demo is available on Steam, but the full game will certainly transport players into a very clearEarthboundhomage. It also contains a lot of gameplay elements that are absent from theMotherseries but hail from similar JRPGs, from romance options to customizable character clothing. Those interested can also follow its development updates on TikTok!
3Kyoto Wild
It May Never Release, But Its Earthbound Influences Are Subtle
Upon first glance,Kyoto Wildwouldn’t immediately read as a game inspired byEarthbound. It’s an upcoming four-person fighting game by Teddy Dief, developer ofHyper Light Drifterwhere each player controls a samurai battling in Japanese villages. The game was influenced by its creator’s time spent living in Japan, as well as the locales of games likeEarthbound.
Sadly, the side project has been shelved for the moment due to Dief’s concerns with cultural appropriation. However, the door is still open for it to be revisited and finished sometime in the future. Though it may not have the same feudal Japan theme when it does eventually get released, it will certainly be a unique and cozy take on the multiplayer brawler.
YIIK: A Postmodern RPGdoesn’t share that many similarities withEarthboundwhen it comes to its presentation. For one, it’s got 3D graphics, and its battle system, while turn-based, hinges more on mini-games than combat. However, it’s clearly inspired byEarthboundin its content, taking place in the ’90s and featuring a lot of strange, absurd characters and situations.
Its narrative is incredibly personal to its creators, the Allanson brothers, who were inspired by the passing of their mother to tell a story about a hometown loner who becomes obsessed with tracking the disappearance of a missing woman. It owes a lot to many other RPGs as well, includingPersonaandFinal Fantasy, but its modern aesthetics feel veryEarthbound-esque.
5Jimmy And The Pulsating Mass
If Magicant Was Its Own Game
This JRPG, released on Steam in 2018, wears itsEarthboundinfluences on its sleeve. The story centers on an 8-year-old boy’s journey through a dream world. The game puts its unique spin on theMotherformula, however, allowing players to imagine themselves as various characters and monsters to explore and interact with the world in new ways.
Although the game pales in comparison to otherEarthboundclones in terms of content (it was created by a one-man team),Jimmy and the Pulsating Massremains a solid, breezy adventure. It’s perfect for fans of theMotherseries who want a new experience, but something that invokes the classic battle system they’re familiar with.
6Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories
All The Charm, None Of The Grind
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memorieswas released early in 2023 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Like theMotherseries, it emphasizes small-town mysteries as players control an anthropomorphic bunny searching for her missing friend. The exploration and story-driven aspect ofMelon Journeywill ring quite a bell withMotherfans.
Although the graphics might invoke GameBoy-era pixel art, its jazzy soundtrack, and charming characters will remind video game fans of their experiences playingEarthboundon the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The only thing this game doesn’t share withMotheris a battle system, offering a more casual gameplay experience for non-RPG fans.
A Pretty Dark Game, Even By RPG Standards
While it doesn’t take place in an urban setting like theMothergames,Why Am I Dead At Seawill satisfy video game fans looking for lovable characters. In the game, players control dead ship residents, investigate their causes of death, take advantage of ghostly powers, and forge bonds with each other that will last…well, not a lifetime.
LikeMelon Journey: Bittersweet Memories,Why Am I Dead At Seaemphasizes adventure and exploration aspects that are similar toEarthbound. However, its dark subject matter and eerie tone will at times make theMotherfranchise seem light-hearted. As some fans have alleged, it’s a memorable RPG experience thatEarthboundfans will adore.
Released in 2021,Eastwardhas some pretty obvious connection toEarthbounddue to being an RPG set in the near future. However, the game also incorporates elements from other RPGs, with the developers specifically citing titles likeDragon QuestandThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildas inspirations.
The game takes place in a world almost eradicated by a toxic plague, with the remaining cities almost overtaken by nature. After its release, reviewers specifically gave acclaim to its RPG similarities toEarthbound, while also crediting the game for its more involved action gameplay. Plus, the game has enough lovable characters to appeal toMotherfans.
Night in the Woodsis a unique entry on this list, by virtue of not being an RPG. The adventure game doesn’t even have that much intricate gameplay, instead featuring a laid-back gameplay style that encourages players to become more engrossed in the characters and dialogue. However, it takes a big lesson fromEarthboundwhen it comes to its setting.
InNight in the Woods, players control Mae, a college dropout who finds herself investigating strange happenings in her hometown after returning. The game, like theMotherseries, puts a lot of effort into making this rural American setting seem both lively and unnerving, which certainly might have drawn inspiration from the social satire ofEarthbound.
It was unexpected for the gaming world whenSouth Park: The Stick of Truthdebuted at E3 2012. For a long-awaited video game adaptation of the hit animated series, no fan expected a fully-fledged RPG allowing players to explore the titular Colorado town. However, this idea wouldn’t have been possible withoutEarthbound.
According to Trey Parker, co-creator ofSouth Parkalong with Matt Stone,Earthboundwas a huge influence on the adaptation. Other influences included the originalPaper Mario, as well asSkyrim. However, the small-town feel ofEarthboundwith rising, cosmic stakes were helpful to keep the game feeling like an episode ofSouth Park.
