Nintendo has recently applied for nine trademarks for “downloadable videogame programs” in Japan. One of the trademarks filed for was “Wario Land,” so Nintendo may be planning another title in the series. Whether it’d be on the Switch or 3DS, or some other platform, is anyone’s guess. For now, there is nothing but the trademark. However, trademarks need to have the intent to use and are about consumer protection in the identification of products. It could just be for a virtual console release of some sort as well.

A new title in this series could be a refreshing change of pace from Nintendo. The series includes some great platformers, beginning with the original three on Gameboy in the 90s: Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land, Wario Land II, and Wario Land 3. The series continued with similar gameplay but different thematic elements in Wario Land 4 on the Gameboy Advance. On the Wii, it experienced a reboot with Wario Land: Shake It!, that had story elements mish-mashed together (Captain Syrup is a shopkeeper). The Gamecube title Wario World was a generic 3D brawler-platformer that did little service to Wario’s fiction, and the WarioWare series, while great on its own, hardly contains any Wario Land gameplay or fiction.

Wario Land II was one of the Gameboy's best titles.

At least one Wario Land fan’s dream would be a Donkey Kong Country Returns style reboot for Wario’s classic platforming adventures, complete with treasure, pirates, conditions, and invincibility. For now, all that one fan and any others have is the trademark. It’s as likely Nintendo could whip up a generic game that does little justice to the character, a virtual console or classic release of some kind, or even do nothing at all.

Do you think Nintendo is making a new Wario Land? Do you think this is more an indication about a virtual console release? What would you like to see from Wario on the Switch? Share your thoughts in the comments below!