‘Super Mario Odyssey’ Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

It’s easy to overlook some helpful features in ‘Super Mario Odyssey,’ whether you’re a new player or trying to collect everything. The game doesn’t always explain things clearly, so important mechanics, clues, and changes within each kingdom can be easy to miss. Here’s a guide to common mistakes that can waste your time, coins, and Power Moons—and how to fix them. Use these tips to create better routes, move faster, and avoid unnecessary backtracking on your next playthrough.

Skipping regional coins until late

Each kingdom has its own unique purple coins that can only be used in that kingdom’s shop. Because there’s a limited number of these coins, it’s easy to miss out on costumes, stickers, and souvenirs if you don’t collect them while you’re there. You’ll often find them along the main path, on platforms you’ll jump to anyway, or close to important story locations. It’s best to grab them as you explore! Keep an eye out for groups of coins near checkpoints, behind the Odyssey ship, and in the 2D sections. If you’ve already left an area, check your map for unexplored spots and use your binoculars to look for the purple shine of the coins from far away.

Ignoring Hint Art and treating it as kingdom-local

Hint Art provides clues to hidden Moons located in kingdoms different from where you find the artwork, often frustrating players trying to collect everything. To find these Moons, either take a picture of the artwork in Snapshot Mode or capture it on your device. Then, travel to the kingdom hinted at in the picture and jump (ground-pound) on the exact spot shown. These Moons aren’t marked on your map, and they won’t appear until you’ve seen the artwork at least once. If the artwork’s clue is unclear, carefully align landmarks and the shapes of the land in the picture to help you find the correct spot to jump.

Not revisiting kingdoms after story milestones

After defeating a kingdom’s boss and completing the main story, you’ll discover more characters, challenges, and Power Moons. New content appears everywhere – you can try new races at checkpoints, access previously locked areas, and find new locations growing from seeds. The map’s list view shows how many collectibles you’ve found compared to the total available, which updates as you progress. Once you’ve unlocked new abilities and captured more creatures, revisit each kingdom to efficiently find everything you missed.

Hoarding coins instead of buying shop Moons

As a big fan, I’ve learned it’s super important to buy at least one Power Moon in each kingdom with yellow coins – that’s what unlocks new areas and the extra stuff after you beat the game! A lot of people like to save up for costumes, but honestly, that can really slow you down. I recommend grabbing the yellow-coin Moon whenever you first visit a kingdom. After that, if you’ve collected a bunch of purple coins, you can think about buying the regional purple-coin Moon. And if you keep losing coins when you fall, don’t sweat it! Just do a quick coin run – things like rolling through those ring lines or hitting the hazards in Bowser’s Kingdom – to get your coins back quickly.

Underusing motion-only moves

Certain moves are easiest – or only possible – when you use motion controls. These include quickly throwing your Homing Cap after a throw, speeding up rolls with a shake, and performing a fast Vertical Cap Throw to reach platforms. Mastering these techniques can shave seconds off your movement and make it easier to adjust while in the air. If you prefer playing without a lot of motion control, practice a small, consistent wrist flick. The best place to practice these moves until they become second nature is in an open area, like the dunes in the Sand Kingdom.

Overlooking ground-pound tells and suspicious spots

The game gives you hints about hidden Moons and coins through visual clues: look for subtle sparkles on the ground, flowers arranged in circles, or patches of dirt that stand out. If you see these, jump straight down on the spot to reveal buried Moons, lines of coins, or growing plants. When you’re near water, keep an eye out for bubbles; jumping on those spots underwater can also uncover secrets. If you’re unsure, try lining up the camera directly above any symmetrical design you find and then jump!

Forgetting kingdom-exclusive costume doors

Some doors require Mario to wear a special outfit purchased with coins found in that specific kingdom. The character guarding the door will tell you exactly which outfit you need, and you can quickly change into it from the pause menu – you don’t need to go back to a shop! It’s best to buy these outfits the first time you visit a kingdom while you’re already collecting those kingdom’s coins. If you need to return later, mark the location on your map so you don’t waste time searching while wearing the right costume.

Missing capture-specific Moons by not thinking like the capture

Each captured enemy has special abilities that help you reach new areas—Bullet Bills can fly long distances, Gushens use jets to stay afloat, Pokios cling to walls, and Uproots stretch to hit faraway switches. Before attempting difficult jumps as Mario, search the room for objects that work with a capture’s powers. If a path seems complicated, look for an enemy nearby that can simplify it, especially one that respawns quickly if you lose access. You can also use the cap return feature to quickly switch back to Mario or recapture an enemy without falling, helping you stay on track.

Treating Talkatoo, Hint Toad, and Uncle amiibo as fluff

Talkatoo will tell you the real names of the Power Moons, and these names often hint at how to find them. Hint Toad sells a map marker that shows where uncollected Moons are, and Uncle amiibo will give you one after a little while. Use these tools to quickly find the last few Moons in each kingdom instead of searching randomly. Start by listening to Talkatoo – pay attention to the action words in the Moon names (like “Across the…” or “Caught Hopping…”) as they usually tell you what you need to do. When you only have a few Moons left, buy the Hint Toad pin and search in a small circle around the nearest warp point.

Leaving 2D sections without checking for hidden exits

Old-school Mario levels frequently conceal hidden areas like extra exits, bonus coin rooms, or even Moons behind deceptive walls and out-of-sight ladders. When exploring each 2D area, try pressing against the edges of the screen, hitting the bricks above you, and riding platforms backwards to uncover secrets. Many levels contain a hidden Moon in addition to the one you can easily see, but you’ll need to thoroughly explore to find it. If you reach a flag, don’t assume you’ve found everything – go back and look for a hidden path.

Share your best time-savers and the sneakiest Moons you’ve uncovered in the comments!

2025-11-18 09:15