Super Mario Bros. Wonder Guide - Everything You Need to Know

The day has finally arrived! Super Mario Bros. Wonder releases for the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023. The latest installment to the Mario franchise has it all: a new take on 2D side-scrolling gameplay, brand new zones to explore, and even an elephant transformation! Yes, you read the last part right.

With all there is to see and experience, I bet you're looking for a guide to break things down and help you play your best. Well, don't worry; that's what we're here for!

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Introduction

The story of Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes place in the Flower Kingdom, a not-so-distant land just beyond the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and his friends are invited by Prince Florian, a key character and benevolent ruler of the Flower Kingdom.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Flower Kingdom | Image: Nintendo

In typical Bowser fashion, he shortly arrives to ruin the day and cause chaos across the new kingdom. After touching the Wonder Flower, a new gameplay mechanic of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, he merges with Prince Florian's castle and begins spreading havoc across the land.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Bowser Stealing Wonder Flower | Image: Nintendo

It's up to Mario and friends to stop Bowser in his tracks and save the Flower Kingdom!

Exploring the Flower Kingdom

The Flower Kingdom is comprised of six, distinct worlds that circle the Petal Isles. This gives us a total of seven unique areas to explore in Super Mario Bros. Wonder!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Flower Kindom | Image: Nintendo

Your journey kicks off in Pipe Rock Plateau before you're able to continue exploring what all the Flower Kingdom has in store. Super Mario Bros. Wonder offers a hybrid experience, allowing players to continue in a linear fashion through each level as well as open exploration at times. If a level is too challenging or you just want a break, simply skip it and come back to it at a later time.

This change is not only a slight departure from previous installments in the Mario 2D franchise, but a welcome one at that.

New Super Mario Bros. Wonder Gameplay Experience

Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces several new gameplay mechanics that are unique to the latest title. Throughout your journey, Players will encounter a handful of new experiences, including Wonder Flowers, new badges, and power-ups.

What Is a Wonder Flower?

Wonder Flowers are a new gameplay mechanic introduced in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. They play a pivotal role in completely changing how the game is played and were the reason Bowser came to wreak havoc across the Flower Kingdom in the first place.

It's said that Wonder Flowers feed off of the magical forces found throughout the Flower Kingdom, and encountering one can cause some unexpected effects! Simply touching a Wonder Flower will cause seemingly endless effects to occur. Warp pipes may begin crawling, your character can transform, and even cause surprise stampedes of local animals!

Super Mario Bros Wonder: Wonder Flower | Image: Nintendo

To end a Wonder Effect, you'll need to collect a Wonder Seed, returning the course to normal and allowing you to continue along your journey. Wonder Seeds can be collected in two ways: completing a Wonder Flower's Wonder Effect event and by completing a course. Wonder Seeds also play an important role in unlocking new areas, as some levels are gated off until you collect a specific number of Wonder Seeds.

What Are Flower Coins?

Flower Coins are purple collectibles players find throughout each level. While navigating the open world, you can spend them at Poplin Shops.

Image: Flower Coin - Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Play as Your Favorite Character

Super Mario Bros. Wonder allows you to play as your favorite character in the Mario and friends' party. The best part: the gameplay experience is the same! Well, for the most part. But more on that in a moment.

You'll be able to choose across a set of "standard" and "easy play" characters depending on what type of gameplay you're going for. Standard characters include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, two different-colored Toads, and Toadette.

Super Mario Bros Wonder Gameplay | Image: Nintendo

If you're looking for a more laid-back experience, you can't go wrong with the two easy-play characters: Yoshi(s) and Nabbit. Playing as either of these two characters means you won't take any damage! Important to note, you can still fall off the map and have to restart! So, while you'll trot through fireballs and Piranha Plants unscathed, you can still misjudge a jump and fall to your doom. You've been warned!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nabbit | Nintendo

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions that have been asked while playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder thus far.

How Do You Reach Castle Bowser?

After Super Mario Bros. Wonder's title sequence, Bowser merges with The Flower Kingdom Castle to become Castle Bowser and becomes protected by Cloud Piranhas. In order to reach Castle Bowser, you will need to collect the Royal Seeds scattered across the six zones of the Flower Kingdom.

How Do You Run in Super Mario Bros. Wonder?

You can run in Super Mario Bros. Wonder by pressing and holding the (Y) button!

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