When people talk about legendary Game Boy games, titles like Tetris or Pokémon often come to mind. But for me, Super Mario Land 3 — better known as Wario Land — tops the list. It might just be my all-time favorite. Why? Well, let me take you back in time.

Multiplayer Without Multiplayer: How We Made It Work

Back in the day, a friend and I came up with a unique way to play Wario Land together, even though the game had no multiplayer mode. Sounds impossible, right? But creativity goes a long way when you’re a kid with imagination (and two Game Boys).

We each had our own copy of the game, and we’d make sure to start the same level at exactly the same time. That’s when the race began.

A Race Against Time—And Each Other

Starting in sync meant only one thing: beat your friend to the finish line. But the real twist? We had no idea how the other was doing. Were they ahead? Did they fall behind? The suspense made it all the more chaotic and exciting.

It was our own version of modern-day “Watch Parties” or online co-op, decades before streaming or online multiplayer existed. We created shared memories by syncing up and competing silently, in parallel universes of pixelated gold.

Wario Land’s Replay Value Was Off the Charts

The reason this worked so well is because we both knew Wario Land inside and out. We had each finished it multiple times, unlocked all the secrets, collected every hidden item, and yes—we both earned the ultimate ending, where Wario gets his very own planet.

That’s what makes this game so special: it’s deep, rewarding, and endlessly replayable. Even after dozens of hours, it never got old. The level design, hidden treasures, and multiple endings gave it a richness that most games of the era couldn’t match.

The Sequels Were Good—But Never Quite the Same

Sure, Wario Land got sequels. And while they were all solid games in their own right, none of them quite captured the magic and balance of the original. They shifted the tone and mechanics just enough to feel like different beasts entirely.

For us, nothing beat that first adventure.

It’s Not About Winning—It’s About the Journey

I honestly can’t remember who won those Game Boy races. Probably my buddy. But that doesn’t matter. What mattered was the shared experience—the joy of discovery, the friendly competition, the laughter.

For me, Wario Land isn’t just a great game. It’s a core memory, a reminder of how games can bring people together—even when they technically can’t.

So if you’ve ever played it, you probably get what I’m saying.
And if you haven’t? Maybe it’s time to dust off that old Game Boy.

Wanna read more about the Super Mario series? Click here!