EarthBound Beginnings NES
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| Date | Avg Price | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-04-04 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-04-03 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-04-02 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-04-01 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-03-31 | £45.25 | £45.25 | £45.25 | 1 |
| 2026-03-30 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
| 2026-03-29 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
| 2026-03-28 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
| 2026-03-27 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
| 2026-03-26 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
| 2026-03-25 | £44.98 | £44.98 | £44.98 | 1 |
Screenshots
Game History
EarthBound Beginnings, originally titled Mother, was developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory under the direction of Shigesato Itoi. The game was published by Nintendo and served as the first entry in what would become the beloved Mother series.
The game was first released in Japan on July 27, 1989, for the Famicom console. It did not receive an official English localization or North American release during the NES era, remaining exclusive to Japan for over two decades. Nintendo eventually released it on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015 with an official English translation, making it widely accessible to international audiences for the first time.
Upon its Japanese release, EarthBound Beginnings received modest commercial success but did not become a blockbuster title. However, it was critically appreciated by those who played it, praised for its quirky humor, unusual setting, and innovative RPG mechanics that departed from the high-fantasy conventions of Dragon Quest.
Today, EarthBound Beginnings is historically significant among collectors due to its extreme rarity and high market value. Original Famicom cartridges command premium prices, often selling for several hundred dollars or more. The game's scarcity, combined with its status as the origin point of the Mother series and its cult following, has made it one of the most sought-after NES-era RPGs by collectors worldwide.
A notable development story involves the game's music and atmosphere, which were influenced by American popular culture and psychedelic themes—elements that made it feel distinctly different from contemporary Japanese RPGs. Itoi's vision of combining science fiction with whimsical, earthbound storytelling established a template that defined the entire Mother franchise. The game's influence on indie developers and the Japanese gaming industry, despite its limited initial reach, contributed significantly to its legendary status decades later.