Update #2 [Thu 3rd Mar, 2022 15:45 GMT]: Strictly Limited Games has confirmed that it is releasing an exclusive version of Wonder Boy Collection which will benefit from more titles than the standard edition.
Here are the games included in this exclusive edition:
Original Title |
Version |
Console Port |
Wonder Boy |
International/Western |
Arcade (SYSTEM 1) |
Wonder Boy |
JP |
SG-1000 |
Super Wonder Boy |
JP |
Master System / Sega MARK III |
Wonder Boy |
International/Western |
Master System / Sega MARK III |
Revenge of Drancon (Wonder Boy) |
International/Western |
Game Gear |
Wonder Boy |
JP |
Game Gear |
Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
International/Western |
Arcade (SYSTEM 2) |
Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
International/Western |
Master System |
Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
JP |
Arcade (SYSTEM 2) |
Super Wonder Boy: Monster World |
JP |
Master System / Sega MARK III |
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap |
International/Western |
Game Gear |
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap |
International/Western |
Master System |
Monster World II (Dragon’s Trap) |
JP |
Master System / Sega MARK III |
Monster World II: The Dragon’s Trap |
JP |
Game Gear |
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair |
International/Western |
Arcade (SYSTEM 16) |
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair |
International/Western |
Mega Drive / Genesis |
Wonder Boy in Monster World |
International/Western |
Master System / Sega MARK III |
Wonder Boy in Monster World |
International/Western |
Mega Drive / Genesis |
Wonder Boy V: Monster World III |
JP |
Mega Drive |
Monster World IV |
International/Western |
Mega Drive / Genesis |
Monster World IV |
JP |
Mega Drive |
According to Strictly Limited, "this extensive collection of Wonder Boy titles as a boxed version will only be available at Strictly Limited Games! This is a worldwide exclusive boxed release - there will not be any other physical release of equal completeness. Strictly Limited Games’ Japanese partner Bliss Brain will provide a digital version of this amazing collection - more on this will be announced at a later date."
Furthermore, "a possible upgrade solution for the Retail Edition with additional games of the Wonder Boy series is currently in evaluation. More info will be announced at a later date!"
We've also got details on the special collector's editions:
![WBC CE Banner PS4 NSW 1920x1080](https://images.nintendolife.com/256ef9c149af8/wbc-ce-banner-ps4-nsw-1920x1080.900x.jpg)
- Awesome Collector’s Edition box
- Acrylic Wonder Boy diorama
- Best Of soundtrack
- Beautiful artbook
- Card game
- Collector’s coin album
- … and more!
The Collector’s Edition will be available for €99.99, limited to 3,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PS4.
The Ultra Collector’s Edition includes most of the content of the Collector’s Edition, as well as:
![WBC UCE Banner PS4 NSW 1920x1080](https://images.nintendolife.com/d6102604597ea/wbc-uce-banner-ps4-nsw-1920x1080.900x.jpg)
- Special music box
- Character game ends (like bookends, for your gaming collection)
- An extensive Wonder Boy soundtrack collection
- …and more!
This one will cost you €149.99 and is limited to 999 copies for Nintendo Switch and 499 copies for PS4.
Update #1 [Tue 22nd Feb, 2022 15:50 GMT]: We now have a story trailer and official confirmation of the game. It has also been confirmed that Strictly Limited Games will offer "awesome exclusive items included in the Collector’s Editions of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection".
It has also been confirmed that Japanese company Bliss Brain is involved with this project.
Original Story [Mon 21st Feb, 2022 15:30 GMT]: A Wonder Boy compilation is coming to Switch, according to a new ESRB rating.
The package will feature four titles: Wonder Boy (arcade), Wonder Boy in Monster Land (arcade), Wonder in Monster World (Mega Drive / Genesis), and Monster World IV (Mega Drive / Genesis). These appear to be straight emulations of the originals, but creature comforts such as screen filters and the ability to rewind the action will also be included. An art gallery will also be part of the collection.
Original Title |
Console Port |
Wonder Boy |
Arcade (SYSTEM 1) |
Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
Arcade (SYSTEM 2) |
Wonder Boy in Monster World |
Mega Drive / Genesis |
Monster World IV |
Mega Drive / Genesis |
While there's not been an official announcement for Wonder Boy Collection yet, the Amazon UK listing has the following information:
Bringing together four of the very best Wonder Boy games – from the original 1986 arcade version to 1994’s Monster World IV – this remarkable collection gives you a chance to experience one of the most influential series from gaming’s past.
Through the 1980s and 1990s the Wonder Boy games built up a huge following with their dazzling blend of energetic platforming and action-RPG gameplay. Unlike other titans from the platform genre, however, the Wonder Boy games have seen very limited release in the West on modern gaming hardware. Until now!
The Wonder Boy games are designed to be simple to pick-up and play for gamers of every ability – but contain enough depth and challenge to keep even the most skilled players busy. And now they’re updated with modern features such as the ability to rewind your game at any moment.
So whether you’re looking to try this iconic gaming series for the first time, revisit a youth spent playing Wonder Boy, or add a refreshingly distinct platformer to your collection, Wonder Boy Collection is the perfect package for you!
– Four classic games from SEGA’s influential platforming series
– Features Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder in Monster World and Monster World IV
– Precisely ported to modern consoles, with extended features like filter, shader, rewind option and art gallery!
– A fantastic blend of platforming and RPG action
– Get nostalgic with vibrant pixel art and crisp chiptune audio
– Simple and welcoming for new players – with enough depth and challenge to captivate the most devoted
According to Amazon UK, the game will launch on June 3rd.
Wonder Boy has had a spiritual successor recently in the form of Monster Boy, and the Master System game – which sadly isn't included here – was remade for Switch a few years back. Monster World IV also got the remake treatment recently. The original arcade game was also remade recently, too.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 99
I've got all these already between Ages and X360 I believe?
I woke up to the news of the Capcom Fighting Collection and now we have this before the afternoon ends. I wonder what collection the evening will bring? SEGA Arcade - 90's Edition?
Today is a good day!
Awesome! I was curious why Wonder Boy 3 was absent, then I remember they already released it via the remake so I get why they skipped it.
@Jireland92 But don't incomplete collections like that do your head in? They do mine.
Grabbing this day one.
Can we get Pengo and Up'n'Down as well, Sega? Please!
Nice. Wonder Boy in Monster World was oddly missing from the Sega Mega Drive Collection (only on Switch mind; it was included on other platforms).
I wish they'd go even further with the collection. Wonder Boy in Monsterland was reskinned as 'Bikkuriman World' on PC Engine. It would be nice to include oddities like that (though there might be an extra licensing cost to secure the rights to Bikkuriman).
Oh man... so many collections these days feel incomplete. I am disappointed to see that "Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair" is not here... along with Dragon's Trap. But, even so... I'll take it.
Yes! Day one! Only just got into the series on the switch and have been holding out a little hope their might be a compilation. This will do nicely!
Wow! My dreams come true! It will be mine!
Monster World IV is genuinely incredible! But you should all just get the remake
That’s a great compilation, I only recently finished wonder boy on the game gear . So I could be tempted by this if it’s cheap digitally
Makes me insanely happy to see monster world 4 go from a obscure Japanese exclusive mega drive game to having a full remake and being commonly released on almost every console. No wonder boy 3 is a downer but oh well
@gcunit it could also be to simplify things a little. There are technically 2 Wonder boy 3’s, one for arcade and one for the Master Ststem. And Monster World IV isn’t the 4th game, it’s the sixth, Wonder Boy is confusing.
"Features Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder in Monster World and Monster World IV"
WTF!? Are they skipping Wonder boy 3: Dragon's trap!?
@fenlix Most likely because it already has a (very lovely) remake on Switch.
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair ignored again
This is a lacklustre collection or what?
Wonder Boy, what is the secret of your power?
Wonder Boy, won't you take us far away from the mucky muck?
These games have been on my radar for a while. I'll definitely pick this up.
@fenlix No point in including Dragon's Trap as that game was already included with the remake. The only missing game is Monster Lair. @CharlieGirl Chances are they could be saving that game for Genesis/Mega Drive NSO.
Day one purchase for me.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the only Wonderboy game missing on the Switch is Monster Lair now. Curious why it wasn't included in this collection.
Gotta get this just to add to my personal wonder boy collection. These are a handful of series where I just want every single game, preferably all on Switch.
@Jireland92 Don't want to undercut their own sales! And honestly, the remake is fantastic and does the job so I'm not unhappy.
Wonder Boy in Monster World is best! And I like MWIV with its original visuals much more than the recent remake.
So now we have 3 ESRB ratings that have not been officially announced:
Wonder when we see these announced..
THat doesn't seem to be fair. Monster World IV would be released twice: in the Physical Version of Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World, and in the Wonder Boy Collection.
@YoshiAngemon And Wonder Boy: Monster Land has been released as a SEGA AGES title, while Wonder Boy in Monster World is part of the SEGA Mega Drive Classics collection.
Ok, I'm confused were any of these not already released separately on the eshop?
Certainly cheap, but it overlaps with 3 of them already being available on Switch in collections or as standalone releases. Wonder Boy 1 would be the only one unreleased on Switch for now.
Unfortunately I have even that one on my Astro City Mini, so I won't be buying this... I believe... I mean c'mon... I've been torturing myself in Monster Land for more than 10 hours in Sega Ages, for instance.
What would have been awesome is a port of that huge Monster World collection exclusive to Japanese PS2 which contained every game in the franchise in every version in existence.
@Sinton Monster Land is missing from the Switch version of Megadrive Classics.
@OorWullie I thought it was Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair that was missing from the Switch version? Is it both?
@OorWullie Sorry, confused myself. I have Monster Land through the SEGA Mega Drive Mini. I guess this collection is not completely useless, then.
I love the wonderboy series...but for once I dont really see a need for this collection. I have the remake on Switch, and the Sega Ages version on Switch as well.
I have a copy of MWIV coming when i get the CE of Asha in Monster World, and a bunch of copies of WBiMW.
Time for Konami to put out the Adventure Island collection. But sadly that’s a long shot
Nice to see the original Wonder Boy here for arcades. That's remained a Japanese PS4 exclusive for the Arcade Archives line and to my knowledge isn't available otherwise on modern consoles.
The headline got a fist pump celebration out of me.
Guess I'll remove Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World from my wish lists (the physical copy includes the Genesis classic Monster World IV).
So that explains its absence on the Switch version of the Mega Drive compilation
Monster World was supposed to be in Sega Genesis Collection, as well as Monster World 3 if I recall correctly, but for some reason were cut from the Switch version.
@Damo I'm confused now. The screenshots are from the arcade Wonder Boy but the footage in the trailer is Master System version. What is going on?
I love the original Wonder Boy. It was one of the first arcade games I played, so I'm glad to see it back in its original form.
I'm also awaiting the Sega Remix (a la NES Remix) that puts Wonder Boy on a skateboard and drops him into the Green Hill Zone. It would be fun to see characters placed in other worlds with new physics.
At least now PS4 owners could rest easy getting this collection physically. If I recall the PS4 version of Monster World IV remake only had the original Genesis game as a download code and not on the disc. This collection will finally solve that so now PS4 owners could get Monster World IV on disc as well. This also means Switch owners who want to own Monster World IV physically but doesn't want the remake now had a reason to get this.
Anyone else thinks it’s kinda odd how all the characters in the wonder boy series look like they all come from the medieval age and the very first wonder boy game takes place in the Stone Age?
Ok technically the 4th game’s heroine looks like she’s from Arabian nights.
Strictly limited is a huge h$ll no from me but otherwise I’m looking forward to this l!
Those screenshots hit my nostalgia so hard I can taste the early 90's. I need this
I was expecting a compilation of the remake games not basic ROMs, too expensive for what it's asking for tbh
This is the 2012 XBLA Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World collection with Wonder Boy arcade added. They could have included Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (the arcade version of which has never to my knowledge been released on a home console), Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (arguably better than Monster World), and some of the many excellent and/or interesting home ports like Wonder Boy SG-1000, Monster Lair PC Engine CD, Dragon's Trap Game Gear, Monster World Master System, and so on. These are great games, to be sure, but it's a really poor overview of the series.
@jgkspsx The WonderBoy shown in the trailer was Master System. Yet the pics are from the arcade. Really hoping for the arcade version
Much as I’d love to, I Just Can’t order games from Strictly Limited anymore. I’m now officially waiting 1 year for my Turrican games! It’s Crazy!!
No Dragons Trap, they skipped the best one in the series.
Awesome news.
I'm definitely considering picking this collection up.
@WaveBoy I had never heard of that game until you mentioned it,looks good. Perhaps it'll make its way to Arcade Stadium instead. I was a little disappointed Cyberbots is included as I already have it on Stadium but if the online play works well, it will be a welcome addition. Cyberbots is actually the only game I've played from this collection so I'm really looking forward it, Red Earth especially. Technically, I've played SF2 a million times, just not this version.
@WaveBoy The remaster is sadly out of stock, maybe it can be found on the aftermarket.
@Chocobo_Shepherd
Hahaha, YES!
“You take the high road,
I'll take the low.
There, the crevasse.
Fill it,
with your mighty juice!”
Sold on the SLG version!!!
Wow! Now that's a Wonderboy collection if ever I saw one. SOLD!
SLG version it is then, no reason to get the standard version at all.
Kind of annoying that they pull this stunt though.
Wowie! Now I'm definitely sold!
I wasn't interested in any of the more recent Wonder/Monster Boy games, but this has my attention.
To these games have save points?
I can't help but think of Tenacious D when I see that title anywhere.
@OorWullie Sega arcade election would be amazing, and so so overdue!!
Why not just turn the exclusive anniversary collection into a standard collection? I don't get why we need two physical versions of similar collection out there, it will only confuse consumers. Doom had two collections, Turrican had two collections, and Lion King and Aladdin had two collections and some consumers are already confused. Just add the extra games to the standard one and release it.
So, they're essentially delaying the digital version on purpose to boost the physical edition sales.What a bunch of jerks.
So those extra games are physical only ??? I Neeeeeeeed this !
So I read a bit more and thankfully 😅 it’s being released digitally as well! But I still really want that physical version
Waiting for more info on the digital version of the complete edition.
I don't like it when they release a bunch of different versions of the "same" product. I understand all the physical frills but having such a BIG difference in terms of gaming content is something I frown on
wish companies would stop doing this "the collection is complete but only in a specific version" nonsense
Please head my advice and don’t get the exclusive version! Strictly limited has a next to zero chance of delivering you your games in a desirable time period on top of no refunds that has been well documented and complained by people online. I bought my turrican anthology from them back in December 2020 and 3 years later I still don’t have it. PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS COMPANY!!!
@Funneefox Oof. Thanks for the heads up.
I am really sorry to hear of such an unacceptable delay for your order!
@somebread That's the kind of company attitude that I can't stand. If the special edition includes 'extras', that's ok. I see no problem in it. But when they offer a bunch of extra games only in the special edition, it renders the standard edition a barebones pack in comparison. As a company, they choose what they think is best for them and we, in turn, will do the same
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
International/Western
Mega Drive / Genesis
Well this makes me want the special edition...
Actually looking at all that gumph you get with it , I really don’t need all that tat really . Think I will stick with the digital version
The Japanese Master System version of Dragon's Trap has never been officially released before, has it?
It has an exclusive FM soundtrack, one that requires not only a homemade sound hardware upgrade to play on western consoles, but also some hardware hacks that risk possibly damaging the console to make the game believe it is on a Japanese console.
I’d like the SRG. I’ve only bought a couple of things off them but I really don’t like this - wait three years for delivery - and I don’t like this multiple collection thing…. Clearly the smallest cartridge could fit them all so it’s just not on. Did it with Space invaders, Turrican and now this….. I want the nice collections but not years later.
@Funneefox It's not that they didn't deliver, the limited 3500 copies they are aiming for with Turrican Anthology were not fulfilled yet so until all copies are fulfilled and placed will they move on to the manufacturing and delivery phase. Unlike most limited physical offerings, they don't function the same as Limited Run Games and Play-Asia. Play-Asia functions like a store, once they offer a physical game for order it's up for grab for as long as it is available and will be shipped if it is available, they don't shipped in batch or wait for a batch to complete.
Limited Run Games functions like an event, they'll open pre-order for a set limited month with a goal of how many copies they'll sell, if they manage to sell all copies of the games then they'll manufactured it and delivered it once they got the cartridges ordered from Nintendo. If they don't meet the batch goal they set then they will still order the same number of cartridges for those games with the ones that didn't sell been on offered at their website or through Best Buy.
Strictly Limited and Super Rare Games did their limited physical offerings very differently, they set a batch goal first then will only fulfilled those once that goal is met so say like if they want to sell 5000 copies of the limited release and they only hit 2500 copies at the moment, they won't be doing any manufacturing or shipping until they hit the batch goal. Either that or they reduced the goal to a much lower tier if the demands aren't coming later on. I say with the way you hadn't gotten the games yet, it's clear the Turrican Anthology fulfillment of 3500 copies are not met yet. It's expected as most consumers probably already prefer to just pick up the Turrican Flashback collection instead. I can see the same thing happen with these Wonder Boy collection too as most consumers will just get the easy to find standard edition instead of the limited hard to get anniversary edition. It's likely the anniversary collection edition may see the same fate.
Hopefully they give you an update soon or you sent them an email just in case if they bail on you. Think of Strictly Limited and Super Rare Games as nothing more than crowdfunding but in the guise of pre-order similar to Watermelon (creator of Pier Solar and PAPRIUM). They take your money, set a fulfillment goal, and hope that goal is met first before they start the manufacturing and delivery phase as they want all shipping to be sent in one batch. Anyways good luck to you, hope you get your order soon someday. If you go to their website, you'll noticed they show that the fulfillment is only at 34%, it needs to reach 100% for them to start manufacturing and shipping. That will be a long wait for sure if no others are pre-ordering it either.
https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/turrican/products/turrican-collectors-edition-nsw-preorder
This is what should have been announced by Inin Games. Now we will have a noticeably lacking physical edition available in stores and another one with all the content behind a big paywall.
I mean if SLG wants to make a collector's edition I'm fine, what pisses me off is that the rom itself is different. The regular edition contains only one version of each game, and they're not even all the titles of the series. And they're titles and versions we have already on the Switch in different ways, bar Wonder Boy 1.
Hopefully includes Adventure Island.
Nothing beats the charm of first two titles Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land. The second was odd but cute. Kinda Zeld-ish. The third arcade game was way too easy and straight forward.
This is *****.
@Juga Well, the reason for my comment is that one of the Wonder Boy games is a reskin of Adventure Island 1. It would be great to have some version of Adventure Island on Switch.
And yes, 100% agree with you that there are a lot of retro games that still have yet to make it to the console. I'm impressed by the large number of titles that are available, but there are some glaring omissions that make no sense to me.
@Specter_of-the_OLED The Wonderboy series has always been about confusing players. So I guess this exclusive version of a collection with the same name makes perfect sense and somehow consistent with the mess Wonderboy games have always been.
Is the "exclusive edition" supposed to be a collector's edition type thing, or is it more like it's just available to early adopters?
Cool, they included all the original games of the serie! I just hope nobody try to cancel the game for those enemies that they showed for wonderboy in monster world.
@kingbk
"Well, the reason for my comment is that one of the Wonder Boy games is a reskin of Adventure Island 1."
Adventure Island was a partially licensed port of Wonder Boy. Hudson Soft wasn't able to use the Wonder Boy names and character likenesses, thus Adventure Island and Master Higgins.
Konami holds the rights to the Hudson Soft library and intellectual properties.
All the content should be in all the places/files the game is sold. But I’ve no brain energy to care anymore about official roms of these old games and the shenanigans behind them
"The Ultra Collector’s Edition includes most of the content of the Collector’s Edition, as well as:..."
Why is the Soundtrack CD NOT available with the Ultra Mega Set?
@Funneefox
Same. Now April, apparently. Even worse, I ordered both collections only for the Flashback comp to be announced a month or so later!
That exclusive version's looking MIGHTY FINE!
@Specter_of-the_OLED "...Turrican had two collections...and some consumers are already confused. Just add the extra games to the standard one and release it."
I read every NintendoLife headline, every day, and this is the first I've heard of Turrican collections other than Turrican Flashback which I bought as soon as it went on sale.
Hopefully they do what Disney Classic Games did and add the missing Turrican Anthology games as DLC for Flashback owners. I'd love to own Super Turrican 2
Okay, I really would like the extensive collection of game versions that's on offer, but don't tease it behind an overpriced limited release physical edition with a load of plastic that I won't have any use for after five minutes.
Hopefully they integrate the new versions into the (lets face it, pretty bare-bones) digital version that was announced earlier.
@YANDMAN Yep, it would be the ultimate arcade collection. With how popular retro and arcade collections seemingly are on Switch, I have some hope it will arrive one day.
Preorders are now live.
https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/all/products/wonder-boy-anniversary-collection-nsw
https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/all/products/wonder-boy-anniversary-collection-collectors-edition-nsw
https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/all/products/wonder-boy-anniversary-collection-ultra-collectors-edition-nsw
I ordered 2! One for a friend. Can't wait! I love those Master System titles!
The special version makes the original version look like a silly demo. Its ridiculous!
@OorWullie I'm told I'll have the game "2nd quarter 2022" 21 games. Master System versions included. Can't wait!
@Rez I ordered 2 copies, one for a friend. 21 games and Master System games included. Next I'd love to see them do this with Ys!
@GrailUK the complete version of the collection from Strictly Limited includes ALL the games. All the versions there are. I’m super excited for that but this retail version is just a sampler of the real collection.
@Spider-Kev the collector’s set includes a best of soundtrack sampler. The ultra set includes SIX full soundtracks. That’s what made me order it.
Tap here to load 99 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...