About this game
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994) is the first Game Boy game to star Wario as protagonist — not a hero, but a greedy pirate-themed villain seeking treasure. Developed by Nintendo R&D1 (the team behind Kid Icarus and the original Game Boy hardware), it introduced treasure-based multiple endings: the total value of coins collected determines which reward Wario receives, from a tiny birdhouse to a castle to, at maximum completion, a planet emblazoned with his own face. The game sold over five million copies and launched one of Nintendo's most beloved side franchises.
Key Features
Wario moves differently from Mario: he charges into enemies with a shoulder bash, uses his hat as a projectile, and can grab and throw enemies into obstacles. His size and momentum make him feel heavy and powerful rather than nimble. Fifteen treasures are hidden across the game's five lands; collecting each requires finding a key, carrying it to the treasure room in that level, breaking open the chest, and reaching the exit with the treasure. The game's ending — and Wario's ultimate fate — is determined by the total coin count at completion, with six possible outcomes ranging from a tiny birdhouse to a planet.
The Story Behind
Wario Land emerged from a creative tension at Nintendo R&D1: the team felt constrained developing games starring Mario and sought to build around Wario, the antagonist they had created for Super Mario Land 2. The decision aligned with Shigeru Miyamoto's instruction to take the Mario Land series in a completely different direction to avoid overlap with other Nintendo platformers in development. Nintendo R&D1 — the division under Gunpei Yokoi that created Metroid, Kid Icarus, and the original Game Boy — designed Wario as a deliberate inversion of Mario's values: greedy, self-serving, and motivated by money rather than heroism. The game's five-million-copy sales validated the gamble and secured the Wario franchise.
Tricks & Tales
Reaching the best ending requires accumulating 99,999 coins, finding all 15 treasures, and clearing all 40 courses — at which point Wario is rewarded with a planet carved in his own likeness. The worst ending gives him only a tiny birdhouse, which he finds infuriatingly inadequate. The game was directed by Hiroji Kiyotake and Takehiko Hosokawa — Kiyotake had also designed the Wario character himself for Super Mario Land 2. Despite being marketed under the Super Mario Land name (the third entry in that series), the game has no Mario in it — a clean handoff of the Game Boy platformer series from Nintendo's mascot to his rival.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Released first in Japan (January 1994), then North America (February 1994). The Japanese title is スーパーマリオランド3 ワリオランド. Game Boy cartridges have no region locking and play on any original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance system.
Maintenance Tips
Wario Land saves data to an internal battery on the cartridge. If saves reset on power-off, the battery (typically a CR2025 or CR1616 depending on the board revision) needs replacement — a standard soldering procedure. Clean the cartridge's edge connector with isopropyl alcohol if the game fails to boot. Game Boy cartridges are physically durable but the internal save battery has a finite lifespan of typically 15–20 years.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
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