EarthBound Classic
Nintendo Entertainment System · RPG
Mother
Certified classic
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | RPG |
| Developer | Ape Studios |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Epic journey (20+ hours of adventure) |
| Series | Mother |
| ESRB | T |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 23 |
Developed by Ape Studios and published by Nintendo, Mother arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989 as a role-playing game. Depending on the region, you may also know it as EarthBound Beginnings.
It landed about 4 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1989 include Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, DuckTales and Ninja Gaiden. Among the 63 NES RPGs in our database, it ranks #5 by legacy score.
It is part of the Mother series. The series also appears on other systems with EarthBound (SNES) and Mother 3 (GBA).
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to get lost in a long quest
- you have time for an epic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
- you want to experience one of the NES's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you want instant action rather than menus, story and grinding
- you are looking for something to play with friends
- you only have a few minutes at a time
What playing Mother is like
Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.
Tip for newcomers: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.
Mother walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Mother.
If you like Mother, the Matrix also picks…
Final Fantasy Classic
Final Fantasy II Classic
Final Fantasy III Classic
Dragon Quest Classic
Mother 3 Classic
Faxanadu Classic
Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Mother FAQ
When did Mother come out on the NES?
Mother was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989.
Who made Mother?
It was developed by Ape Studios and published by Nintendo.
Is Mother multiplayer?
No. Mother is a single-player game.
How long does Mother take to play?
As a role-playing game, Mother typically falls into the "Epic journey" category: 20+ hours of adventure. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Mother on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.