Mother 3 Game Boy Advance
Recent eBay Listings
- Mother 3 Game Boy Advance GBA Cartridge Only Japan RPG Nintendo Japanese £44.10
- Mother 3 (game boy advance gba) boxed English version £62.40
- Gameboy Advance MOTHER 1+2 Cartridge Only Nintendo gbac USED £35.45
- MOTHER 3 Nintendo Game Boy Advance GBA Japan Import Authentic Cartridge Tested £80.54
- Gameboy Advance MOTHER 1+2 Cartridge Only Nintendo 2784 gbac £43.16
- GBA Mother 1+2 Nintendo Gameboy Advance Used Cartridge Only From JAPAN £40.38
Price History
| Date | Avg Price | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | £59.40 | £35.45 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-04-04 | £64.48 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-04-03 | £63.85 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-04-02 | £63.88 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-04-01 | £63.88 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-03-31 | £58.14 | £21.50 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-03-30 | £60.62 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-03-29 | £60.57 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-03-28 | £60.57 | £40.38 | £106.36 | 10 |
| 2026-03-27 | £68.20 | £40.38 | £122.66 | 10 |
| 2026-03-26 | £68.20 | £40.38 | £122.66 | 10 |
| 2026-03-25 | £68.20 | £40.38 | £122.63 | 10 |
Screenshots
Game History
Mother 3 was developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory, with direction by Shigesato Itoi, the creator of the Mother series. The game was published by Nintendo exclusively for the Game Boy Advance handheld console.
Mother 3 was released in Japan on April 20, 2006. Despite being completed and ready for release, Nintendo never localized or released the game in North America or Europe, making it a Japan-only title during the Game Boy Advance's commercial lifespan. This regional exclusion significantly impacted its initial reach in Western markets.
The game received strong critical acclaim in Japan, praised for its charming sprite-based graphics, emotional narrative, and the series' signature blend of humor and heart. Commercially, it performed respectfully in Japan but never achieved the widespread recognition of the first two games in the West due to the lack of localization. The game's obscurity in English-speaking regions lasted until fan translations became available online years later.
Mother 3 is historically significant to collectors today for several reasons. The Japan-only release makes authentic cartridges desirable among Nintendo collectors worldwide. English-speaking fans who discovered the game through fan translations developed a passionate cult following, elevating its status considerably. The emotional storytelling, particularly its environmental themes and character development, resonated deeply with players who finally experienced it, generating lasting appreciation that extended well beyond the Game Boy Advance era.
An interesting aspect of the game's development is that it took over a decade to complete, with Itoi famously declaring the project finished multiple times before actually releasing it. The game featured innovative touch-screen-style controls adapted for the GBA, and its soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro and others, is particularly celebrated. The decision not to localize remains somewhat mysterious, though Nintendo cited various business reasons at the time. Today, Mother 3 commands high prices on the used game market and remains one of the most sought-after Game Boy Advance titles among collectors.