Mother Classic
Super Nintendo · RPG
EarthBound
Certified classic
| System | Super Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Released | 1994 |
| Genre | RPG |
| Developer | Ape Studios |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Epic journey (20+ hours of adventure) |
| Series | Mother |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 27 |
Developed by Ape Studios and published by Nintendo, EarthBound arrived on the Super Nintendo in 1994 as a role-playing game.
It landed about 3 years into the SNES's life. Other notable SNES releases from 1994 include Final Fantasy VI, Donkey Kong Country and Super Metroid. Among the 100 SNES RPGs in our database, it ranks #6 by legacy score.
It is part of the Mother series. The series also appears on other systems with Mother (NES) 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 SNES'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 EarthBound 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.
EarthBound cheats & codes
326 codes on file (Game Genie, Pro Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Infinite HP (All Characters) | 8251-57D6 |
|---|---|
| Start With A Level 9 Character | DB23-77D1 |
| Start With A Level 15 Character | DE23-77D1 |
| Start With A Level 50 Character | 7423-77D1 |
| Start With A Level 100 Character | 1723-77D1 |
| Start With A Level 255 Character | EE23-77D1 |
EarthBound walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for EarthBound.
If you like EarthBound, the Matrix also picks…
Chrono Trigger Classic
Final Fantasy IV Classic Co-op
Final Fantasy VI Classic Co-op
Final Fantasy V Classic Co-op
Super Mario RPG Classic
Mother 3 Classic
Secret of Mana Classic Co-op
Playing SNES games today
The SNES library has aged exceptionally well, especially its RPGs, platformers and puzzle games. A large selection is available on Nintendo Switch Online, and if you own the cartridges you can play your backups in an emulator such as Rec0m88, including online with friends.
EarthBound FAQ
When did EarthBound come out on the SNES?
EarthBound was released for the Super Nintendo in 1994.
Who made EarthBound?
It was developed by Ape Studios and published by Nintendo.
Is EarthBound multiplayer?
No. EarthBound is a single-player game.
How long does EarthBound take to play?
As a role-playing game, EarthBound 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 EarthBound 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.