Wario who couldn't die. Instead, enemies transformed him — and the transformation was the puzzle.
Wario Land II was developed by Nintendo R&D1 and released for Game Boy in January 1998 — the first Wario Land game in which Wario had no lives and could not be killed. Instead, enemies transformed Wario into different states — flattened, tiny, on fire, zombie, spring — each state allowing access to different areas. The game's design around invincibility-as-puzzle was novel. Multiple branching paths and secret exits led to different storylines, encouraging complete exploration. An enhanced version with color support was later released for Game Boy Color. Wario Land II sold over 1.5 million copies.
About this game
The first Wario platformer to make the hero invincible, Wario Land II transformed the series identity. Rather than dying when struck, Wario is transformed by enemy attacks — set on fire, flattened, bloated — and these transformations become tools for puzzle-solving. The colorised Game Boy Color version launched in Japan in October 1998 alongside the GBC hardware itself, while a monochrome GB version had already been released in the West months earlier. Multiple endings encourage full exploration of the game's branching paths.
Key Features
Wario is permanently invincible — he cannot be defeated, only transformed. Enemies ignite him, enlarge him, flatten him, and more; each form enables actions unavailable in normal form. The game branches into multiple story paths depending on which stages the player enters, leading to different endings and requiring multiple playthroughs to see the complete picture.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Wario Land II appeared at a transitional moment for Nintendo handhelds, bridging the original Game Boy and the new Game Boy Color. Nintendo's decision to ship a colorised version with the GBC launch in Japan positioned the game as a showcase for the new hardware's colour capabilities. The design shift — invincible hero, transformation-based puzzles — foreshadowed the inventive platformers of the late GBA era.
Tricks & Tales
Wario Land II has five different story paths and six different endings, making it one of the most replayable Game Boy Color launch titles. The classic finale requires completing an additional secret chapter that only unlocks after finding every treasure. The game was one of the first Nintendo titles to reward thorough exploration with genuinely different narrative conclusions rather than just a different ending screen.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Game Boy (monochrome) version released in Western markets in early 1998. Game Boy Color version (with full colour) released in Japan as a GBC launch title in October 1998, then in Western markets thereafter.
Maintenance Tips
Game Boy Color cartridges — the smaller, slightly translucent-shell format — use the same cleaning approach as original DMG carts: a cotton swab with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol wiped along the contact row, allowed to dry fully before reinsertion. The GBC console's ABS plastic shell faces the same yellowing risk as the DMG when exposed to UV light over time. Notably, several GBC titles — most famously Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal — include a real-time clock (RTC) circuit that runs continuously off a CR2025 coin cell. These batteries are now well over 25 years old; a dead RTC battery means time-based in-game events will not advance, even though the game itself will still load and save normally. This is a distinct issue from save data loss.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Wario Land II copies regularly.
Is this a region-free game? Will a Japanese Game Boy cartridge work on any Game Boy console?
Yes. The original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color have no hardware region lock — a Japanese cartridge plays on any Game Boy or Game Boy Color console worldwide without modification. The game itself is in Japanese, but the hardware accepts it freely. Game Boy Advance consoles are also backward-compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges and share this region-free status.
How should I clean a Game Boy cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold-plated edge contacts on the base of the cartridge. Never blow into the cartridge — breath moisture accelerates contact corrosion. If the shell needs to be opened for deeper cleaning, Game Boy cartridges use 3.8mm security game bit screws. The contacts are small; clean with a gentle wiping motion rather than abrasive pressure.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Wario Land II
A short checklist for buying a used Game Boy Color cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
-
Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
-
Good news — Game Boy Color is region-free
These cartridges are not region-locked, so a Japanese copy plays on any compatible Game Boy worldwide.
Confirm whether the title is Color-only or also works on the original Game Boy.
-
If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
-
Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
-
Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what we have in stock →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Wario Land II sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑