Pack your sword ‘n’ skateboard
Developer/publisher Bliss Brainhas announcedthat it will release theWonder Boy Anniversary Collectionon PlayStation and Nintendo Switch platforms in January 2023. This is an extended edition of theincrediblybarebonesWonder Boy Collection, which launched back in June of this year.
The Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection features a total of 21 versions of six key titles from the platforming franchise, established by studio Westone Bit way back in 1986. Featured in the compilation are a variety of arcade and home releases ofWonder Boy(1986),Wonder Boy in Monster Land(1987)Wonder Boy The Dragon’s Trap(1989),Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair(1988),Wonder Boy in Monster World(1991), andWonder Boy IV(1994). The full list of included releases is as follows:
Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy– International / Arcade (SYSTEM-1)Wonder Boy– Japan / SG-1000Super Wonder Boy– Japan / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIWonder Boy– International / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIRevenge of Drancon– International / Game GearWonder Boy– Japan / Game Gear
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land– International / Arcade (SYSTEM-2)Wonder Boy in Monster Land– International / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIWonder Boy in Monster Land– Japan / Arcade (SYSTEM-2)Super Wonder Boy in Monster Land– Japan / Master System / SEGA MARK III
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap – International / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIWonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap– International / Game GearMonster World II– Japan / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIMonster World II: The Dragon’s Trap– Japan / Game Gear
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair– International / Arcade (SYSTEM-16)Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair– International / Mega Drive / Genesis
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Wonder Boy in Monster World– International / Mega Drive / GenesisWonder Boy in Monster World– International / Master System / SEGA MARK IIIWonder Boy V: Monster World III– Japan / Mega Drive
Monster World IV
Monster World IV– International / Mega Drive / GenesisMonster World IV– Japan / Mega Drive
As expected, the collection does not include externally published releases such as Dotemu’s excellent remake ofWonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trapor Artdink’sWonder Boy: Asha in Monster Worldremake. Still, this is a far, far more comprehensive collection of Wonder Boy classics, which only leaves us begging the question as to why the previous publisher, ININ Games, didn’t get the job done earlier in the year.
At this stage, it would seem fair to roll out the extra titles to those who previously purchased the slightWonder Boy Collection, perhaps for a nominal fee. Asking them to double-dip seems highly egregious. Regardless,Wonder Boy Anniversary Collectionlaunches on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, June 03, 2025. Physical editions are available to pre-order fromStrictly Limited Games.
