GameTimeline

Release & story order

Punch-Out!! timeline

Punch-Out!! from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987 NES) through the Wii revival (2009)—US release dates, Little Mac's NES → Wii story arc, and FAQ for Super Punch-Out and arcade origins.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Little Mac reached western consoles—Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987 NES), Super Punch-Out!! (1994 SNES), then Punch-Out!! (2009 Wii). Arcade originals and Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! are FAQ-only.

  • Story arc → NES Punch-Out!! then Wii
  • Super Punch-Out → SNES side circuit—FAQ
  • Wii works as modern NES sequel—Story row two
  • Arcade origins—FAQ only
Story order tips

Core Little Mac WVBA arc: NES Punch-Out!! → Wii Punch-Out!!—the Wii game is an explicit sequel to the NES campaign. Super Punch-Out!! (SNES) is a parallel circuit on Release only.

  • Core order: NES Punch-Out!! → Wii Punch-Out!!
  • Skip Super Punch-Out on Story unless you want the branch
  • Doc Louis trains Mac in both Story rows
  • On Story order, Wii 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. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

    Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

    NESSportsMainline

    Little Mac climbs the WVBA—franchise cornerstone.

    Overview
    NES port of Nintendo's boxing classic—pattern reads and star uppercuts.
    In-game setting
    Later reissued as Punch-Out!! featuring Mr. Dream—Story row one.
    Should you play it?
    Essential Story start.
    Release date
    US NES launch October 18, 1987.
  2. Super Punch-Out!!

    Super Punch-Out!!

    SNESSportsSide story

    SNES WVBA circuit—new opponent roster.

    Overview
    SNES sequel to arcade Super Punch-Out—not the NES cast order.
    In-game setting
    Release-only Story branch—parallel tournament.
    Should you play it?
    Optional on Story order—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch October 24, 1994.
  3. Punch-Out!!

    Punch-Out!!

    WiiSportsMainline

    Little Mac returns—Wii sequel to NES.

    Overview
    Next Level Games revival—motion controls and HD cartoon presentation.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of June 2026—Story row two.
    Should you play it?
    After NES on Story order.
    Release date
    US launch May 18, 2009.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Super Punch-Out placement, Tyson vs Mr. Dream, and where to start.

Release order

Release order has three rows: Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (1987, NES) → Super Punch-Out!! (1994, SNES) → Punch-Out!! (2009, Wii). Story order has two rows: NES Punch-Out!! → Wii Punch-Out!!. Super Punch-Out!! (SNES) is a Release-only side circuit—not a direct bridge from NES to Wii.

Story order: NES Punch-Out!! (Switch Online SNES or cartridge) then Wii Punch-Out!! (disc or Wii U eShop before closure). Newcomers can jump to Wii alone—it stands on its own—but NES context helps. Super Punch-Out!! is optional bonus between them on Release only.

Story & canon

Super Punch-Out!! (1994, SNES) follows the arcade Super Punch-Out!! lineage with a different opponent circuit—not a direct NES → Wii story chapter. It stays on Release order only; skip it on Story order unless you want the branch.

Yes—Punch-Out!! (2009, Wii) is a Story sequel to the NES campaign, bringing Little Mac, Doc Louis, and classic rivals back for a new WVBA run. It is Story row two, not a reboot.

Ports & rereleases

The 1987 NES game shipped as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!; after the Tyson license expired, reprints used Mr. Dream as the final boss under the title Punch-Out!! featuring Mr. Dream. One Release and Story row—not separate games.

Optional & related

More timelines

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