EarthBound

54 Games like EarthBound that you should try

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EarthBound is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and fantasy world in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 10 gameplay attributes and found 54 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Suikoden II and Suikoden lead the list, with Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes EarthBound special.

iRank91/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 1994Dev Creatures Inc.

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Quick answer

The closest game to EarthBound is Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Suikoden II and Suikoden follow close behind.

#1Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story95 #2Suikoden II92 #3Suikoden94 #4Pokémon Legends: Arceus94 #5Citizen Sleeper93

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Games like EarthBound

54 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

#1Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

95

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyIsometric2DExploration

IGDB96· 5

Year 2009Dev AlphaDream · Nintendo

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with exploration and discovery, loot and gear systems and skill tree progression, while skipping strong narrative focus

92

Suikoden II

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyHistoricalMedievalThird Person

IGDB100· 1

Year 1998Dev KonamiOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and fantasy world

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, setting medieval and visual third person, while skipping adventure storytelling

94

Suikoden

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyThird Person

IGDB93· 2

Year 1995Dev Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo · KonamiOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

#4Pokémon Legends: Arceus

94

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB85· 9

Year 2022Dev Game Freak · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, exploration and discovery and visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

#5Citizen Sleeper

93

Citizen Sleeper

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloNarrativeSci-FiCyberpunkSpace

Steam👍 93%· 10.0KIGDB80· 1OC84· 47

Year 2022Dev Jump Over the Age · Fellow TravellerOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Shared with EarthBound: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, setting cyberpunk and setting space, while skipping fantasy world

#6Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

95

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyIsometric2DExploration

IGDB80· 10

Year 2013Dev AlphaDream · Nintendo

✓ If you enjoyed EarthBound, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, precision platforming and exploration and discovery, while skipping strong narrative focus

#7Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

93

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloNarrativeFantasyIsometricDark

Steam👍 90%· 17KIGDB86· 8OC84· 80

Year 2018Dev CD Projekt REDOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Shared with EarthBound: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy, puzzle design and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

#8Pokémon Brilliant Diamond

95

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyIsometric

IGDB79· 4

Year 2021Dev ILCA · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: strong narrative focus.

#9Federal Reserve Simulator

91

Federal Reserve Simulator

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFree to Play

Steam👍 93%· 4.5K

Year 2022Dev Bluepoch Co.,Ltd. · BLUEPOCH GAMES COPlaytime ~2hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ If you enjoyed EarthBound, expect deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with free to play, while skipping adventure storytelling

#10Fear & Hunger

90

Fear & Hunger

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloNarrativeFantasyIsometric2D

Steam👍 94%· 22K

Year 2018Dev Miro Haverinen · Happy PaintingsOn PC · Mac

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, roguelike runs and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

#11Paper Mario: Sticker Star

94

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasyThird Person

IGDB79· 11

Year 2012Dev Vanpool · Nintendo

✓ If you enjoyed EarthBound, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design and visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

#12Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

94

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloSci-FiThird Person

IGDB79· 9OC75· 45

Year 2016Dev Media.Vision · Bandai Namco EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Switch

✓ If you enjoyed EarthBound, expect deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

#13Pokémon FireRed Version

88

Pokémon FireRed Version

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloFantasySci-FiIsometric2D

IGDB100· 1

Year 2004Dev Game Freak · NintendoOn Switch

✓ If you enjoyed EarthBound, expect deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay, while skipping strong narrative focus

89

Undertale

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloNarrativeFantasyIsometric2D

Steam👍 96%· 323KRAWG👍 85%· 1.9KMC92IGDB96· 13OC93· 76

Year 2015Dev 8-4Playtime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like EarthBound, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, horror tension and visual novel storytelling, while skipping setting scifi

#15Jagged Alliance 2 - Wildfire

91

Jagged Alliance 2 - Wildfire

GenreRPGSubgenreTactical RPG

SoloIsometric

Steam👍 80%· 1.9KRAWG👍 76%· 62

Year 2010Dev I-deal Games · TopWare InteractivePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

Games like EarthBound

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

RPG · Puzzle

Pokémon Y

Pokémon Y

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Shin Megami Tensei IV

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Pokémon Black Version

Pokémon Black Version

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Pokémon Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Alpha Sapphire

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Pokémon X

Pokémon X

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Northmark: Hour of the Wolf

Northmark: Hour of the Wolf

RPG · Deck Builder

Pokémon Black Version 2

Pokémon Black Version 2

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Mother 3

Mother 3

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Rankings in the same genre

Best Tactical RPGs Best RPG Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to EarthBound?: The closest game to EarthBound is Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like EarthBound?: The three closest games to EarthBound are: 1. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (95/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Suikoden II (92/100, 4 shared attributes) 3. Suikoden (94/100, 5 shared attributes). All share EarthBound's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 54 candidates across 10 dimensions.
Is Suikoden II similar to EarthBound?: Yes, very much so — Suikoden II scores 92/100 similarity to EarthBound. They share 4 attributes, including deep RPG systems and turn-based strategy. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to EarthBound?: The best RPG games similar to EarthBound are Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Suikoden II, Suikoden and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. All share the RPG genre alongside other key EarthBound attributes like deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy.
How is similarity to EarthBound calculated?: We compare EarthBound against every game in our catalog using 10 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the EarthBound experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.