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Entertainment • Video Game

Mother 3

Mother 3 is a 2006 role-playing video game for the Game Boy Advance, developed by Brownie Brown and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Mother 3 is a 2006 role-playing video game for the Game Boy Advance, developed by Brownie Brown and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. It is the third and final entry in the Mother series and follows Lucas and his companions as they try to stop a mysterious invading army from destroying their world. The game was released only in Japan.

Gameplay

Mother 3 is a single-player role-playing game in the style of earlier Mother series titles. It continues the series’ turn-based combat and unusual, story-driven presentation.

Plot

The story centres on Lucas and a group of characters who oppose a mysterious invading army and the corruption of their world.

Development and release

The game had a long and disrupted development history, including an earlier cancellation before development resumed for Game Boy Advance release. It launched in Japan on April 20, 2006.

Series context

Mother 3 is the final instalment in the Mother series, known as EarthBound outside Japan. It followed Mother and Mother 2, both of which were released earlier on Nintendo consoles.

Key facts

  • Mother 3 is the third and final game in the Mother series.
  • It was developed by Brownie Brown and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo.
  • The game was released for the Game Boy Advance on April 20, 2006.
  • Its story follows Lucas, a boy with psychic abilities, and his allies.
  • The game was released in Japan only.
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Canadian context

Mother 3 is notable for Canadian readers mainly through its connection to the EarthBound fan community and wider international interest in an official English release that never occurred.

Frequently asked questions

What is Mother 3?
Mother 3 is a Japanese role-playing video game for the Game Boy Advance and the third entry in the Mother series.
Who developed Mother 3?
It was developed by Brownie Brown and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo.
When was Mother 3 released?
It was released in Japan on April 20, 2006.
Is Mother 3 part of the EarthBound series?
Outside Japan, the Mother series is known as EarthBound; Mother 3 is its third and final game.
Was Mother 3 released outside Japan?
The game was released only in Japan.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_3
    Supports: Developer, publisher, platform, release date, series position, plot summary, and development history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_(video_game_series)
    Supports: Series context, release date, and that Mother 3 is the latest entry in the Mother/EarthBound series.
  3. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_3
    Supports: Japanese-only release, plot summary, and Japan release date.
  4. EarthBound Wiki / Fandom — https://earthbound.fandom.com/wiki/Mother_(series)
    Supports: Series naming outside Japan, development history, and final-entry status.