Wario Land 3 GAMEBOY

Wario Land 3 is Nintendo’s 2000 Game Boy Color exclusive, structured as a hub-based collect-a-thon rather than a linear world map — you return to already-completed stages as Wario gains new transformation abilities (fire, ice, zombification, and more) that unlock previously inaccessible treasure and paths within levels you’ve already visited.

Like its predecessor, no hit costs Wario a life; here the game instead frames damage-transformations as a core puzzle mechanic rather than just a safety net, since specific transformations are required to solve specific stage puzzles. The non-linear, metroidvania-adjacent structure sets it apart from the more straightforward, exit-focused level design of Wario Land II.