The Advance Wars series that Americans have known to love has a far longer history in Japan, where it originated.
FAMICOM WARS (1988)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
The first game in the Wars series came on the Japanese Famicom system. It utilized a similar play style to Advance Wars but featured just two armies, Red Star and Blue Moon, fewer maps, and simpler graphics. It was a Japan only release.
GAME BOY WARS (1991)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Game Boy Wars released as the second Wars game and used an unusual diagonal grid system rather than a straight grid. It still had two armies and played in black and white. It was a Japan only release.
GAME BOY WARS TURBO (1997)
Developer: Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft took over the Game Boy Wars line and added additional maps to the original formula. Like the first two games, it remained Japan only.
GAME BOY WARS 2 (1998)
Developer: Hudson Soft
This entry brought the series into color for the first time with Game Boy Color support. It was a Japan only release.
SUPER FAMICOM WARS (1998)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
The best known pre Advance Wars title, and the closest in structure to the later Advance Wars games. It introduced four armies and many advanced unit types, though still lacked campaign mode.
64 WARS (Cancelled)
Developer: Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft originally planned an N64 version of Game Boy Wars with compatibility features tied to Game Boy Wars 2, but the project was ultimately cancelled before release.
GAME BOY WARS 3 (2001)
Developer: Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft further improved the graphics and presentation of the Game Boy Wars series on Game Boy Color. Like its predecessors, it remained exclusive to Japan.
ADVANCE WARS (2001)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Advance Wars launched for Game Boy Advance in the United States on September 11, 2001, after shipping to stores on September 9. It was nearly pulled because of the terrorist attacks that same day, but still became the first Wars title released in America. Europe received it on January 11, 2002. Japan did not receive it until the later combined release of Game Boy Wars Advance 1+2 in 2004.
This was the first title in the series to include a full campaign mode, following Orange Star as they defend their homeland across Wars World.
ADVANCE WARS 2: BLACK HOLE RISING (2003)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
The sequel continues the original storyline as Black Hole returns to invade Allied Nation territory. It released in the United States on June 23, 2003, and in Europe on October 3, 2003. It was never released in Japan as a standalone title.
GAME BOY WARS ADVANCE 1+2 (2004)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Japan finally received the first two Advance Wars games in one combined cartridge on November 25, 2004. This release preserved both full campaign modes and allowed players to switch between Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 modes.
ADVANCE WARS: DUAL STRIKE (2005)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Known as Famicom Wars DS in Japan, Advance Wars: Dual Strike features yet another Black Hole invasion, with the Allied Nations once again fighting back against the threat. It was released on June 23, 2005 in Japan, August 22, 2005 in North America, and September 30, 2005 in Europe, becoming the first game in the Wars series to receive a universal worldwide release.
ADVANCE WARS: DAYS OF RUIN (2008)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Also known as Dark Conflict in Europe, Days of Ruin shifted the series into a post-apocalyptic setting with a completely new cast of commanding officers. It introduced new units, revised battle mechanics, and a darker tone that set it apart from earlier entries. It remained the last new Advance Wars release until 2023.
ADVANCE WARS 1+2: RE-BOOT CAMP (2023)
Developer: WayForward / Nintendo
The newest release in the series, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a modern remastered collection of the original Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, bringing both classics to a new generation with updated visuals and presentation.
The Legacy of Advance Wars
The Advance Wars series is like chess played on a global scale. Its compelling stories, varied commanding officers, and memorable music all contribute to its enduring appeal.
As the advisor of a fighting force, you maneuver allied units into position, capture cities and bases, deploy reinforcements, and eliminate enemy threats while managing terrain, movement, fuel, ammunition, and battlefield risks such as Black Cannons and entrenched defenses.
Every unit has unique strengths and weaknesses, and mastering their movement, attack limits, hit points, and supply needs is essential. With repairs, reinforcements, and CO Powers shaping each engagement, every mission becomes an epic tactical struggle that rewards careful planning and battlefield mastery.