Games Inspired By Earthbound

Most video game fans probably know the Mother series through the appearance of its protagonists, Ness and Lucas, in the Super Smash Bros. Franchise. However, with the release of Earthbound: Beginnings and Earthbound on Nintendo Switch Online, gamers can play through this wacky RPG adventure at home or on the go.

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By  Danny Guan

Despite the lack of Mother series installments beyond re-releases, the franchise has had a huge influence on game developers. Many recent RPG releases of the past ten years have cited Earthbound, or the Mother series entirely, as inspirations. These games are perfect for die-hard fans of the long-dormant Nintendo franchise.

Updated April 3, 2024 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.

1 Mother 3

Earthbound's Successor Didn't Flip The Script

It may seem obvious that Mother 3 took inspiration from the previous entry in the franchise, but the game went through many iterations during its development. The follow-up to Earthbound was 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 3 and Earthbound share more DNA graphically than Earthbound and Earthbound: Beginnings even 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 3 even features Porky, who originally debuted as a villain in Earthbound.

2 GLITCHED

Glitches Take The Place Of Earthbound's Aliens

• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Linux, Mac
• Release Date: TBD
• Developer: En House Studios
• Genre(s): RPG

At first glance, GLITCHED would seem like an obvious Earthbound clone. 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 from Earthbound in its turn-based combat system.

Currently, only a demo is available on Steam, but the full game will certainly transport players into a very clear Earthbound homage. It also contains a lot of gameplay elements that are absent from the Mother series but hail from similar JRPGs, from romance options to customizable character clothing. Those interested can also follow its development updates on TikTok!

3 Kyoto Wild

It May Never Release, But Its Earthbound Influences Are Subtle

• Platform: TBD
• Release Date: TBD
• Developer: Teddy Dief
• Genre(s): Fighting

Upon first glance, Kyoto Wild wouldn't immediately read as a game inspired by Earthbound. It's an upcoming four-person fighting game by Teddy Dief, developer of Hyper Light Drifter where 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 like Earthbound.

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.

4 YIIK: A Postmodern RPG

Suburban Fantasy Taken To A Whole New Level

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG doesn't share that many similarities with Earthbound when 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 by Earthbound in its content, taking place in the '90s and featuring a lot of strange, absurd characters and situations.

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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, including Persona and Final Fantasy, but its modern aesthetics feel very Earthbound-esque.

5 Jimmy And The Pulsating Mass

If Magicant Was Its Own Game

• Platform: Windows, Mac
• Release Date: August 7, 2018
• Developer: Kasey Ozymy
• Genre(s): RPG

This JRPG, released on Steam in 2018, wears its Earthbound influences 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 the Mother formula, 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 other Earthbound clones in terms of content (it was created by a one-man team), Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass remains a solid, breezy adventure. It's perfect for fans of the Mother series who want a new experience, but something that invokes the classic battle system they're familiar with.

6 Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories

All The Charm, None Of The Grind

• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows
• Release Date: April 6, 2023
• Developer: Froach Club, Poppy Works
• Genre(s): Adventure

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories was released early in 2023 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Like the Mother series, it emphasizes small-town mysteries as players control an anthropomorphic bunny searching for her missing friend. The exploration and story-driven aspect of Melon Journey will ring quite a bell with Mother fans.

Although the graphics might invoke GameBoy-era pixel art, its jazzy soundtrack, and charming characters will remind video game fans of their experiences playing Earthbound on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The only thing this game doesn't share with Mother is a battle system, offering a more casual gameplay experience for non-RPG fans.

7 Why Am I Dead At Sea

A Pretty Dark Game, Even By RPG Standards

• Platform: Windows, Mac
• Release Date: May 11, 2015
• Developer: Peltast Software
• Genre(s): Adventure

While it doesn't take place in an urban setting like the Mother games, Why Am I Dead At Sea will 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.

Like Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories, Why Am I Dead At Sea emphasizes adventure and exploration aspects that are similar to Earthbound. However, its dark subject matter and eerie tone will at times make the Mother franchise seem light-hearted. As some fans have alleged, it's a memorable RPG experience that Earthbound fans will adore.

8 Eastward

This Modern RPG Paints A Grim Future

Released in 2021, Eastward has some pretty obvious connection to Earthbound due to being an RPG set in the near future. However, the game also incorporates elements from other RPGs, with the developers specifically citing titles like Dragon Quest and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as 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 to Earthbound, while also crediting the game for its more involved action gameplay. Plus, the game has enough lovable characters to appeal to Mother fans.

9 Night In The Woods

What Seems Charming At First Hides A Dark Secret

Night in the Woods is 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 from Earthbound when it comes to its setting.

In Night in the Woods, players control Mae, a college dropout who finds herself investigating strange happenings in her hometown after returning. The game, like the Mother series, 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 of Earthbound.

10 South Park: The Stick Of Truth

Bringing The Earthbound Treatment To Colorado

It was unexpected for the gaming world when South Park: The Stick of Truth debuted 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 without Earthbound.

According to Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park along with Matt Stone, Earthbound was a huge influence on the adaptation. Other influences included the original Paper Mario, as well as Skyrim. However, the small-town feel of Earthbound with rising, cosmic stakes were helpful to keep the game feeling like an episode of South Park.