GameTimeline

Release & story order

Luigi's Mansion timeline

Luigi's Mansion from the 2001 GameCube launch through Dark Moon on 3DS and Luigi's Mansion 3 on Switch (2019)—US release dates, the ghost-hunting trilogy, and FAQ for remakes and arcade spin-offs.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Next Level Games and Nintendo shipped each Luigi-led haunt—Luigi's Mansion on GameCube (2001), Dark Moon on 3DS (2013), then Luigi's Mansion 3 on Switch (2019). GC and 3DS remakes plus arcade are FAQ-only.

  • Full trilogy → all three Release rows
  • Start with GC original or 3DS remake—FAQ
  • Dark Moon before Luigi's Mansion 3 on Story
  • Arcade and HD remasters—FAQ only
Story order tips

Loose Luigi continuity in release order—Professor E. Gadd, Poltergust vacuums, and new haunted locations each chapter. Story rows mirror Release; no hard reboot between mainlines.

  • Core order: GC → Dark Moon → Luigi's Mansion 3
  • Each entry works standalone—order optional for gameplay
  • King Boo threads through the series—Release order helps
  • On Story order, LM3 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. Luigi's Mansion

    Luigi's Mansion

    GCActionMainline

    Luigi's Mansion puts Luigi alone in a haunted GameCube mansion with the Poltergust vacuum—stun ghosts, suck them up, and rescue Mario room by room. Spooky comedy launched Luigi as a lead.

    Overview
    Vacuum-as-weapon exploration replaced jump-stomping with flashlight tells and portrait boss fights. Launch-window GameCube showcase for character animation.
    In-game setting
    Story row one. Spin-off of Mario tone without sharing mainline platformer plots.
    Should you play it?
    Franchise start—3DS remake FAQ. Dark Moon and LM3 continue the ghost-hunting formula on later hardware. 3DS remake FAQ if GameCube is scarce.
    Release date
    US GameCube launch November 18, 2001 (launch window title).
  2. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

    Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

    3DSActionMainline

    Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (PAL Dark Moon / Japan 2) splits Evershade Valley into mission mansions on 3DS. Co-op ScareScraper and puzzle denser floors refresh the vacuum loop.

    Overview
    Mission structure and gyro aiming suit 3DS; Dark Moon shards replace one continuous mansion crawl. Mission briefings keep hunts short while ghost types escalate.
    In-game setting
    Before Luigi's Mansion 3. Best portable entry historically. ScareScraper is optional co-op spice.
    Should you play it?
    Story middle chapter after the GameCube original. Remade as Luigi's Mansion 2 HD on Switch—FAQ. Prefer 2 HD on Switch when choosing editions—FAQ.
    Release date
    US Nintendo 3DS launch March 24, 2013. 3DS aiming comfort matters for long mansions.
  3. Luigi's Mansion 3

    Luigi's Mansion 3

    SwitchActionMainline

    Luigi's Mansion 3 checks Luigi into a haunted hotel on Switch with Gooigi co-op clones and floor-by-floor boss variety. It is the biggest, most theatrical entry yet.

    Overview
    Hotel hub, elevator progression, and dual-character puzzles expand mansion formula into vertical comedy set pieces. Hotel floors turn bosses into comedy variety set pieces.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of June 2026. Still a Mario-universe spin-off, not mainline Mario plot. Mainline endpoint as of June 2026.
    Should you play it?
    Play last on Story. Strongest modern starting point if you skip classics. Best modern solo start on Switch libraries.
    Release date
    US Nintendo Switch launch October 31, 2019.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Luigi's Mansion 2 naming, remakes, and where to start.

Release order

Release order and Story order share the same three western mainlines: Luigi's Mansion (2001, GC) → Dark Moon (2013, 3DS) → Luigi's Mansion 3 (2019, Switch). Each chapter is a new haunted location with light series continuity (Luigi, Professor E. Gadd, King Boo threads). Remakes and arcade are FAQ-only, not extra Story rows.

Story newcomers can start with the 2018 3DS remake of the original (cartridge or emulation) or Luigi's Mansion 2 HD (2024, Switch) for modern controls—both are FAQ remasters, not new Story rows. For the full trilogy in Release order, play GC/3DS remake → Dark Moon (3DS) → Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch). LM3 alone works as a standalone co-op adventure.

Story & canon

Same game. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (2013, 3DS) is the US title; PAL regions marketed it as Luigi's Mansion 2. This timeline uses Dark Moon on Release and Story row two—one mainline entry, not two games.

Ports & rereleases

Luigi's Mansion (2018, 3DS) is a remake of the 2001 GameCube game—FAQ-only, not a fourth Release row. Luigi's Mansion 2 HD (2024, Switch) remasters Dark Moon—also FAQ-only. Play them instead of hunting original discs when convenient; Story order still follows the three mainline rows above.

Optional & related

More timelines

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