WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

About WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! (GBA)

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! is a microgame collection developed by Nintendo R&D1 and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. It launched one of Nintendo’s most inventive series with a brilliantly simple idea: instead of long levels, the game throws hundreds of tiny challenges at you, each lasting only a few seconds. One moment you are dodging a car, the next catching a falling object, and the pace only gets faster.

The story is pure Wario. Broke and greedy, Wario decides to start his own game company, and his friends create a flood of bizarre microgames for him to sell. Between rounds you meet characters such as Jimmy T., Mona, and Dr. Crygor, each with their own themed set of games. Fast and funny, it became a handheld classic and the template for later WarioWare games.

Detailed Gameplay

WarioWare plays in rapid bursts. A short instruction flashes on screen, you have seconds to work out what to do and do it, then the next microgame begins before you can catch your breath.

Microgames that last seconds

• Each microgame gives a one-word or short instruction, such as “Dodge!” or “Catch!”, and you must act instantly.
• Microgames cover sports, chores, arcade classics, and pure silliness, so no two in a row feel alike.
• Failing a microgame costs a life, and losing all your lives ends the run, which keeps every round tense.

Character stages and boss microgames

• Each character hosts a stage with a theme, such as sports games, Nintendo classics, or strange everyday tasks.
• Stages build toward a boss microgame, a longer challenge that ends the set and rewards you with a new stage.
• Boss microgames break the rapid rhythm with a bigger task, such as a shooting gallery or a balancing act.

High scores, remixes, and replay value

• Every stage tracks your score and speed level, encouraging you to beat your own best run.
• A remix mode shuffles microgames from different characters into unpredictable mixed sets.
• Unlockable extras include mini-games and sound toys that reward players who keep clearing stages.

Game Highlights

• Hundreds of microgames: The sheer variety means you are always one second away from something you have never seen before.
• Speed as a mechanic: Rising tempo turns simple tasks into frantic tests of reflexes and quick thinking.
• A cast of oddballs: Wario’s friends each bring a distinct theme and personality to their stages.
• Perfect handheld pacing: Short runs, instant restarts, and rising difficulty suit quick play sessions brilliantly.

Controls

On Game Boy Advance, most microgames use just the pad and one button, which is exactly what makes the frantic pace work.

• D-Pad: Move, dodge, aim, and steer in microgames that need directional control.
• A Button: The main action button for most microgames, used to jump, grab, shoot, or confirm.
• B Button: A secondary action in microgames that need two buttons.
• L and R Buttons: Used in a small number of microgames for extra actions.
• Start Button: Pause the game and open the menu between stages.
• Select Button: Access options and extra features from the menu screens.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Survive the speed with these tactics for reading instructions and staying calm under pressure.

• Read the instruction first, not the picture: the word on screen tells you the goal before the scene makes sense.
• Keep your thumb near the A button, since most microgames use it, and only move to the pad when the task clearly needs it.
• Stay calm as the speed rises; panicking causes more failures than the faster timer itself.
• Learn the boss microgame for each stage, since clearing it unlocks the next set and boosts your score.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long does a microgame last in WarioWare? A: Only a few seconds. Each microgame gives a quick instruction and a tiny time limit, then moves straight on to the next one at a rising pace.

Q: Do I need to finish the story to enjoy WarioWare? A: No. The character stages act as a loose story, but the core fun is the rapid microgames themselves, which you can replay for high scores any time.

Q: Can I play WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame\(! online for free? **A:** Yes, you can play WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame\)! online free in your browser on RiveGame, with no download or installation needed.