12 Games Like EarthBound
Explore our list of role playing games like EarthBound with unique titles that use classic overworld mechanics, turn based combat and inject humour into the story.
EarthBound (or Mother 2 within Japan) is a 1994 role playing game for the SNES game console that pioneered a genre of role playing games. This popularity of the game eventually led to a Wii U release in 2015 under the title of EarthBound Beginnings. In the game players control Ness and his party of adventurers as they attempt to combat the evil alien forces that have a grip over the Earth.
Using what are now considered to be traditional role playing elements and design players move their party of adventurers around the 2D overworld which includes various non player characters. Upon physical contact with an enemy the game enters into a separate combat screen where players battle it out in turn based combat that rewards experience to level up characters and equip new items to counter the ever increasing strength of enemies.
The games like EarthBound that you’ll discover below all have a similar RPG style to the popular 1994 release. These EarthBound inspired games use turn based combat, overworlds, party mechanics and often provide a humorous or fourth wall breaking experience.
Nepenthe
Step into the strange and hand drawn world of Nepenthe, a game that pushes the fourth wall aside with inspiration from the likes of Earthbound and Undertale. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple graphics though as Nepenthe is anything but a straightforward game, hiding multiple layers of choice and endings. One of these choices is presented from the moment you press ‘Z’ to start your first of many Nepenthe journeys with the option of adventure and story modes. Adventure mode...[Read Review]
OFF
OFF is a free French title that was created with RPG Maker with the intention to create a surreal adventure focused on story, setting, atmosphere, music and alternative character design. Following the quirky adventure of the “Batter” a human like entity on a quest to purify the world as part of his sacred mission players will slowly uncover the secrets of the bizarre game world. OFF saw the majority of it’s game success after an English translation version. Players start there ...[Read Review]
Why Am I Dead At Sea
Imagine waking up to find yourself on a boat out at sea and subsequently discovering that you’re also unfortunately dead. This is the scenario that Why Am I Dead At Sea explores with an intriguing murder mystery title that has you solving your own murder in this twisty adventure and investigation title. Released in 2015 this Windows and Mac title offers a unique narrative with multiple endings to unlock based on the decisions players make. As a ghost players abilities are limited in Why Am...[Read Review]
Princess Remedy 2: In A Heap of Trouble
Returning for a second adventure Princess Remedy 2: In A Heap of Trouble serves as a prequel to the original popular and free to play Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt. Not finished with her learning at the Saturnian Healing School players will need to rely on their healing abilities once again to defeat the large Boss Tower that has emerged from the ground in recent times. With the enormous tower has come a diverse range of strange illnesses that players need to cure utilising all of their hea...[Read Review]
Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario is the third title in the Paper Mario series, available for the Nintendo Wii and Wii U this Mario themed action adventure lets players switch between 2D and 3D perspectives at a moments notice and serves as the primary puzzle game mechanic. Departing somewhat from the Super Paper Mario franchise formula there is no turn based element and instead opts for platforming more akin to the core Mario franchise with light touches of RPG mechanics. Your main objective in this Mario worl...[Read Review]
Pocket Mortys
Mix Pokémon gameplay with the hilarious Adult Swim adventures of Rick & Morty and you’ll get Pocket Mortys a simple collect them all RPG that has you collecting and battling your own various Mortys from hundreds of possibilities. While simplifying the combat loop to a basic rock-paper-scissors formula the world design and Morty design of your Pocket Mortys adventure is truly fantastic for the die hard fan or new fan to the franchise. The game kicks off in the popular TV show garage with Rick...[Read Review]
To the Moon
To the Moon is an adventure game released in 2011 by Freebird Games and explores the story of two doctors on a mission to fulfil a dying man’s last wish. Having released several other games in this story driven RPG Maker niche players can expect to find a refined story telling process with To the Moon being one of the most well received of Freebird Game releases and containing dozens of hours of content. To the Moon uses a unique story premise that revolves around a technology that can cre...[Read Review]
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt sees players stepping into the shoes of Remedy, a recent graduate from the healing school who now possesses the knowledge and powers of healing. With the appropriately named setting for the story of Hurtland your studied powers will be vital in saving those that call Hurtland home. With dozens of townsfolk to find, converse with and ultimately heal your adventure takes Remedy far across the lands in order to reach your final patient, the Prince Hingst. Original...[Read Review]
Space Funeral
Space Funeral sets a whole new standard in weird gaming with a surreal RPG that mixes horror and the strange into one. Mixing ghouls, ghosts, dark caves, freakish monsters, lions and even Dracula himself the mixture of content in Space Funeral is as vast as it is crazy. The game is free to play and made with RPG Maker. Space Funeral follows the adventures of Phillip, a young boy who likes to wear pyjamas and cry. Having been recently kicked out of home by his parents he now has to face the darkn...[Read Review]
LISA
Set in a post apocalyptic world LISA is a quirky adventure that follows a depressing journey of one man and his search for his adopted daughter across a side scrolling landscape. Separating itself from the usual storytelling methods LISA opts for a dark humour approach to the journey that allows it to stand out and also comes through with the core game mechanics that require sacrifice and permanent lasting decisions. Your protagonist for this adventure is Brad Armstrong, a middle age drug addict...[Read Review]
Citizens of Earth
Citizens of Earth will definitely turn a few heads with its Earthbound like design as it seeks to capture the same feeling as the classic SNES title. Primarily a role playing title with unique story and mechanics for players to explore the game places you into the role of the new Vice President of Earth who needs to save the planet by recruiting everyday citizens to fight. Released in 2015 for Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS a sequel (Citizens of Space) released in 2019. Availa...[Read Review]
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
With the release of Paper Mario: Sticker Star the Paper Mario franchise has reached its fourth game instalment and also marks the first on a handheld console with the title released for the 3DS. This classic fourth wall breaking franchise follows a similar formula to previous titles with a few small tweaks to continue the spin-off franchise legacy. Like the games that precede it Paper Mario: Sticker Star has a distinct paper craft appearance for visual design which sees all the familiar characte...[Read Review]