GameTimeline

Release & story order

Kid Icarus timeline

Kid Icarus from Pit's 1987 NES debut through the Game Boy sequel Of Myths and Monsters (1991) and Sakurai's 3DS revival Uprising (2012)—US release dates, Angel Land continuity, and FAQ for the long gap and Japan-only quirks.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Nintendo shipped each Pit chapter—Kid Icarus on NES (1987), Of Myths and Monsters on Game Boy (1991), then Kid Icarus: Uprising on 3DS (2012). Virtual Console and 3D Classics re-releases are FAQ-only.

  • Full saga → all three Release rows
  • Uprising stands alone mechanically—FAQ
  • Of Myths is portable NES-style sequel
  • 21-year gap between GB and 3DS—normal
Story order tips

Angel Land continuity in release order—Pit, Palutena, and sacred-treasure quests across eras. Story rows mirror Release; Uprising reboots tone and genre but continues Pit's saga.

  • Core order: NES → Of Myths → Uprising
  • Each game works standalone for gameplay
  • Palutena and Pit thread through all three
  • On Story order, Uprising may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Kid Icarus

    Kid Icarus

    NESActionMainline

    Pit's NES debut—climb Angel Land, defeat Medusa.

    Overview
    Nintendo R&D1 platformer from the Metroid team—vertical stages and shop upgrades.
    In-game setting
    Western launch July 1987—Story row one.
    Should you play it?
    Essential franchise start.
    Release date
    US NES release July 1987.
  2. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

    Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

    GBActionMainline

    Game Boy sequel—three treasures against Orcos.

    Overview
    Tose-assisted GB follow-up—battery save and larger sprites vs NES.
    In-game setting
    Developed in Japan but **not sold in Japan until 2012 VC**—Story row two.
    Should you play it?
    Last home entry for 21 years until Uprising.
    Release date
    US launch November 5, 1991.
  3. Kid Icarus: Uprising

    Kid Icarus: Uprising

    3DSShooterMainline

    Sakurai 3DS revival—aerial and ground chapters.

    Overview
    Project Sora third-person shooter—nine years after Pit's Smash Bros. Brawl cameo reignited demand.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of July 2026—Story row three.
    Should you play it?
    Standalone-friendly but caps Release order.
    Release date
    US launch March 23, 2012.

FAQ

Release vs story order, the 21-year gap, Of Myths and Monsters origins, and where to start.

Release order

Release order and Story order share the same three western rows: Kid Icarus (1987, NES) → Of Myths and Monsters (1991, GB) → Uprising (2012, 3DS). Uprising shifts to third-person shooting, but remains Story row three in Pit and Palutena's saga. VC/3D Classics re-releases are FAQ-only, not extra rows.

Newcomers can start with Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)—it reintroduces Pit and Palutena for modern players. Retro fans should play NES → Game Boy in Release order, then Uprising. All three need legacy hardware or emulation as of July 2026; 3DS eShop closed March 2023.

Story & canon

After Of Myths and Monsters (1991), the series went dormant for 21 years until Uprising (2012). Pit's Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) cameo helped revive interest; Masahiro Sakurai and Project Sora finally delivered a 3DS mainline. No interim home sequel appears on this timeline.

Ports & rereleases

No at launch. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (1991, Game Boy) was developed in Japan but first sold in North America and Europe—not Japan until 2012 Virtual Console, timed near Uprising. It is still Release and Story row two on this US-focused timeline.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.