Unlockable Characters in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Surprises and secrets are given in a Mario game. Unlockable playable characters are such a big deal in the community that they’re almost mythical – remember “L is Real 2401?” So what about “Super Mario Bros. Wonder?”

Read on to find out.

The Myth of Unlockable Characters in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Contrary to what many might expect from a Super Mario game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t feature unlockable characters. This might come as a surprise to long-time fans who get excited about unlocking new characters as they progress through the game, especially some of the more recent (from the last decade) 2D Super Mario games.

Instead, the game has the full roster available from the get-go. However, this roster is pretty extensive, being one of the largest character rosters in a mainline Super Mario platformer thus far.

Familiar Faces and How They Differ

While none of the characters are secret or unlockable, the game has an impressive lineup of 12 playable characters (if you count the Toad and Yoshi recolors). The roster, naturally, includes fan favorites like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi, along with some less frequent faces such as Daisy and Nabbit. Daisy is playable in a mainline “Super Mario” platformer for the first time, after being played in the mobile game Super Mario Run and many spin-off games, such as Mario Party, since the 1990s.

Another way this game differs from what you might be used to with these games is that most characters play the same. That’s not a bad thing. After all, you can play as your favorite character without having to adjust your playstyle or the game’s difficulty.

However, there are some minor exceptions. Nabbit and the Yoshis do not take damage from most sources that would damage other characters. This makes them more beginner-friendly, or if you just want a quick, casual romp through the game and don’t care that much about the challenge. Furthermore, attacks don’t make Nabbit flinch, and the Yoshis keep their iconic flutter-jump (that adds to the simplified playstyle). They can also use their tongues, like in Yoshi’s Story, and other characters can even ride on them when they’re playing multiplayer.

What Can You Unlock in Super Mario Bros. Wonder?

So, what does “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” offer in place of unlockable characters? You can unlock special worlds in the game, which isn’t very surprising. This time, Wonder Seeds are at the core of the game’s unlockable mechanic, kind of like how Star Medals worked in Super Mario 3D Land or Green Stars in Super Mario 3D World.

There’s an extra eighth world beyond the main seven in the game. The last world, or the Special World, has seven entry points, one in each of the seven worlds.

• Pipe-Rock Plateau – After finishing the Wiggler-Race level, head north at the three-way junction. Complete four levels, including a secret exit in Bulrush Express. This leads you to a Propeller Flower launch pad, which takes you to the Special World.
• Fluff-Puff Peaks – In the area with pink clouds, follow the right path to the Jump! Jump! Jump! Level. Beat this and the next level to find another launch pad.
• Shining Falls – Grab the Royal Seed, then chat with Master Poplin in the Royal Seed Mansion. He’ll show you a hidden path with a launch pad.
• Sunbaked Desert – In the Secrets of Shova Mansion, find a secret exit by smashing six brick blocks and pushing a green block to reveal a golden pipe. This leads to a new area and, eventually, a launch pad.
• Fungi Mines – Revisit Operation Poplin Rescue. The Poplins will have uncovered a secret exit leading to a launch pad.
• Deep Magma Bog – Find a secret exit in Where the Rrrumbas Rule by drilling into the ceiling. Complete a few more levels to reach the launch pad.
• Petal Isles – Head to the bottom left of Petal Isles and complete the Wiggler Race Spelunking! Level.

For the final level of the game, conquer all eight levels in the Special World and collect all 16 Wonder Seeds. Once you do so, you’ll unlock the Final Test Wonder Gauntlet. Beat this, and access The Final-Final Test Badge Marathon. When you complete this last challenge, it’ll unlock the final Poplin House, WONDER? where you can grab the Sound Off? Badge.

Wonder Seeds and Their Role in the Game

Wonder Seeds are the game’s primary collectible. Their color changes depending on the world you’re in, matching the color of that world’s Wonder Flowers. For example, in Pipe-Rock Plateau, they’re blue, and in Fluff-Puff Peaks, they’re turquoise. You get the idea – each world has its own color theme.

You can find these Wonder Seeds on pretty much every level, including the Special ones. Generally, there are two in each level. You get one just for finishing the level and saving a Poplin – the cute little characters that the game uses to make you feel like a hero. The other one, you find by activating the Wonder Effect in the level. Once you grab it, the Wonder Effect ends. If a level has a secret exit, you can even find a third Wonder Seed.

The Gameplay Mechanics of Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has a few mechanics that set it apart from the other 2D Super Mario platformers in the series.

For starters, it uses the Nintendo Switch HD Rumble tech in some pretty clever ways. For example, there are musical secrets hidden within the game. When you run across multi-colored music note blocks, not only do they produce sounds in the game, but they also make the HD Rumble vibrate in tune with the music.

Plus, there are cool methods to explore levels, like scaling up vertical walls and finding collectibles that aren’t listed anywhere.

The gameplay also shakes up the classic 2D Mario platformer style. For example, the Wonder Effect is a feature where activating certain elements in a level triggers special effects or changes in the environment that are different each time you encounter one.

Also, the way the game plays around with foregrounds and backgrounds in the levels is neat. The levels aren’t a typical forward and backward run of a typical side-scroller. Rather, a bit like in games like Yoshi’s Crafted World, you must think in 3D to beat the level. Many levels are also multi-path, so you can complete them in different ways on each run, which is excellent for replay value.

The Wonders Beyond Characters

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder might not have unlockable characters, it compensates with a solid roster of familiar faces, new worlds to explore, and some never-seen-before gameplay mechanics. The game proves that innovation in gameplay and level design can be just as compelling as unlocking new characters.

What are your thoughts on the game’s approach to characters and unlockables? Do you miss the thrill of unlocking new characters, or do you prefer jumping into a game with a full roster from the get-go? Share your wonders with the community in the comment section.