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

    Kid Icarus on NES sends angel Pit climbing sky dungeons with linear platforming and shop-driven upgrades. It is Nintendo's early Greek-myth side-scroller—tough, quirky, and foundational for Uprising's reboot.

    Overview
    Vertical fortress climbs, heart currency shops, and weaponized bows mixed Metroid-ish exploration light with arcade difficulty. Angel Pit became a long-dormant mascot.
    In-game setting
    Story row one. Tone cousins include early Metroid NES adventure design—separate canon.
    Should you play it?
    Franchise origin. Of Myths and Monsters continues on Game Boy; Uprising is the modern reinvention on 3DS.
    Release date
    US NES launch July 1987 (Japan 1986 as Hikari Shinwa: Palutena no Kagami).
  2. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

    Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

    GBActionMainline

    Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters takes Pit portable on Game Boy with refined platforming and a new crisis on Angel Land. It bridges 8-bit roots and the decades-later Uprising revival.

    Overview
    Handheld sequel keeps fortress structure while tuning difficulty and item flow for shorter sessions. Handheld fortress loops refine item flow for shorter sessions.
    In-game setting
    Before Uprising on Story. Rare physical; Virtual Console / collector paths FAQ. Bridge chapter between NES and 3DS revival.
    Should you play it?
    Release middle chapter. Optional before Uprising if you only care about modern 3DS storytelling. Optional history before jumping to Uprising.
    Release date
    US Game Boy launch November 1991.
  3. Kid Icarus: Uprising

    Kid Icarus: Uprising

    3DSShooterMainline

    Kid Icarus: Uprising reinvented Pit on 3DS with on-rails flight, land combat, and a witty chapter script. Gyro aiming and long campaigns made it a cult showcase—and a hardware workout.

    Overview
    Project Satoshi/Next Level-style hybrid shooting: air rails plus ground arenas, weapon fusion, and chapter-based storytelling with vocal casts.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of June 2026. Smash appearances kept Pit visible between games.
    Should you play it?
    Best modern entry and Story closer. Play after NES/GB for history, or jump straight here. Best modern entry—start here if NES friction scares you.
    Release date
    US Nintendo 3DS launch March 23, 2012—Circle Pad Pro / stand recommended for long sessions.

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.