Wonder Boy (1986). Play online

Summary

Wonder Boy remains a standout when I think about why early arcade platformers still feel fresh. In the game you sprint across seven distinct areas, each broken into four rounds, and the only thing that keeps you alive is the constantly draining vitality meter, which you can refill by munching everything from fruit to ice‑cream sundaes. Power‑ups burst from broken eggs – a stone hatchet for ranged throws, a skateboard for rapid runs, and an angel that lets you bulldoze foes simply by touching them. The real addicting layer comes from the hidden dolls: collect all 28 and a secret eighth zone opens, while each doll also doubles your end‑stage score bonus. A two‑player alternating mode lets friends compete for high scores, and every boss fight ends with the enemy’s mask turning into a useful item. Though it debuted on Sega’s System 1 hardware, the game’s blend of tight control, resource management and surprise bonuses helped launch the Wonder Boy franchise and even inspired the Adventure Island series.

Storyline

In the original arcade adventure Wonder Boy, a young hero finds his peaceful island shattered when the Evil King launches a sudden attack. The boy manages to flee the initial onslaught, but the tyrant soon captures his beloved, Tina, and drags her away.

Determined, the hero sets out across the island’s varied landscapes, constantly evading the Grim Reaper—an emissary the King has dispatched to seal the boy’s fate. He gathers power-ups, overcomes monsters, and survives countless traps while searching for clues to the king’s stronghold.

After a long quest, the boy finally confronts the Evil King, defeats him, and rescues Tina. Returning home, the villagers celebrate him as the legendary Wonder Boy.