Now that the newest game in the series was released, I wrote a quick guide for those who are confused by the series nomenclature.

Wonder Boy

Original release: Arcade (1986).

Also known as:

• Super Wonder Boy (Master System, Japan)

• Revenge of Drancon (Game Gear, overseas)

• Adventure Island (NES, published by Hudson).

Remake: Wonder Boy Returns (Steam).

Note: The Adventure Island games are published by Hudson. Since Sega owned the Wonder Boy trademark, Hudson had to change the graphics and the title. Although they share the first game in their franchises, Adventure Island spawned its own sequels and they are unrelated to the Wonder Boy and Monster World series.

Wonder Boy: Monster Land

Original release: Arcade (1987).

Also known as:

• Super Wonder Boy: Monster World (Master System , Japan)

• Mônica no Castelo do Dragão (Master System, Brazil)

Note: This is the first game in the Monster World series, which has RPG elements.

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

Original release: Arcade (1988)

Ported to Mega Drive / Genesis

Note: This game is **not ** part of the Monster World series

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

Original release: Master System (1989, as Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap)

Also known as:

• Monster World II: The Dragon's Trap (Game Gear, Japan)

• Adventure Island (PC Engine, Japan, Hudson)

• Dragon's Curse (TurboGrafx-16, US, Hudson)

• Turma da Mônica em O Resgate (Master System, Brazil)

Remake: Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Mac, Linux)

Note: This is the second game in the Monster World series. Although this was called Wonder Boy III in the Master System release, it was actually the fourth title to be developed and published.

Wonder Boy V: Monster World III

Original release: Mega Drive / Genesis (1991, as Wonder Boy in Monster World overseas)

Notable versions:

• Master System port (only in Europe)

• The Dynastic Hero (TurboDuo, Hudson)

• Turma da Mônica na Terra dos Monstros (Mega Drive, Brazil)

Note: The Japanese title makes it clear that this is the fifth title in the Wonder Boy series and the third title in the Monster World series

Monster World IV

Original release: Mega Drive (1994, only in Japan)

Note: Official English versions were released on Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

Original release: PS4, Switch, Xbox One and PC (2018)

Note: I think they will keep the franchise name as Monster Boy from now on. I personally prefer Monster World because it doesn't assume we will play as a boy (I loved Asha from MW IV).

What do you think? Do you like Wonder Boy / Monster World / Monster Boy games? I am looking forward for the new game, it didn't ship yet.