We can't even begin to explain how excited we are that Super Mario Odyssey is finally here. We've been waiting with baited breath ever since Nintendo announced the proposed adventure. Now we have our hands on it and we can't seem to put it down. It's everything we could have hoped for, with heavy Super Mario 64 influences and a stellar new possession-based gameplay mechanic. We aren't afraid to say that Super Mario Odyssey is easily in contention for Game of the Year in our e♐yes. Hopefully, it receives the accolade it definitely deserves.

What shocked us the most is how absolutely massive the game world is. Super Mario 64 felt like a grandiose adventure, but Super Mario Odyssey feels like a never-ending quest. There are an insane amount of things to collect, secrets to uncover, Easter Eggs to discover, and locations to explore. It's mind-boggling how much content dꦰevelopers managed to cram into this beautifully designed𒀰 title.

We wanted to share our love for this instant Nintendo classic with all of you amazing gamers out there, so we tossed together a list of our favorite secrets, tips, and tricks, to help you on your journey through the Super Mario Odyssey universe.

Be warned, this list is chock FULL OF SPOILERS!

25 𝓰 Graffiti Leads To Hearts

We're a bit disappointed with Super Mario Odyssey's "death" system. The small penalty (and lack of lives) allows players to race through 𒀰each level without much regard for enemies or dangers. That said, there are still those of us that prefer to keep Mario alive as long as possible. If you feel the same way, you're going to need to occasionally grab hearts to keep your health meter full.

Hearts can sometimes be found in question blocks, but are also hidden throughout each kingdom. One of the sneakier secrets comes in the form of strange graffiti. You'🅰ll see these sticker-like icons plastered on walls (or other surfaces). Tossing Cappy towards them will cause a happy heart to pop﷽ free. Make sure you're constantly scanning your surroundings for these colorful markings.

24 Crouching Mar♒io, Hidden Coins

Developers had a field day hiding coins throughout the Super Mario Odyssey universe. You'll spy them floating in hard-to-reach places, or splattered across the ground in uni🌜que designs. You'll need coins to purchase items and outfits, so it's important to grab up as many as you possibly can. Don't worry though, there are an abundance of the gold discs hidden throughout each kingdom.

In fact, 🦂some of them are actually invisible. The only way to access these coins is to walk over൲ them. This will cause the golden goodies to phase into view. This makes it vitally important to search every possible nook and cranny found throughout each kingdom. Even if a particular ledge looks like it serves no purpose other than decoration, make sure you slink your way across it to uncover any hidden goodies.

23 🌠 Capping All The Coins ♚

Cappy isn't just a mentor. The spunky little Bonn🐻eter has a multitude of uses, so you'll want to make sure you're constantly looking for ways to utilize Cappy. At 𝓡the very beginning of the game, you're taught an important lesson about Mario's stylish new lid that can go unnoticed if you aren't paying attention. There are a ton of cosmetic objects hidden throughout the small opening areas of the Cap Kingdom that Cappy can latch onto.

If you toss him at nearby lamps, he will turn them on and reward you with coins. He can even slap posters off the wall and unlock hidden crevices. Later in the game, you'll be able to reach seemingly inaccessible areas by using Cappy. There are many hidden secꦜrets strewn throughout the game that Cappy can latch onto (and that the game never tells you about!).ꦫ Don't be afraid to constantly toss your buddy at random items. You never know what you might uncover.

22 Power Moons Aren't Just For Show 🍌 🥃

Remember how you needed to unlock a specific amount of Power Stars to enter new stages in Super Mario 64? That concept is back in Super Mario Odyssey but uses colorful Power Moons inꦫ place of the bright star shapes. You'll be forc♑ed to uncover a certain amount of Power Moons to progress through the story and reach the next kingdom. The amount varies by level, but in reality, it's minuscule compared to how many Power Moons are available to collect in each zone.

These extra collectibl﷽es aren't just for show either. Collecting all of them won't give you a hastily tossed-together visit with Yoshi. Instead, you'll gain access to secret kingdoms and areas. Collect enough and you'll even gain access to the Moon itself.

Be warned thouꩲgh, this is no easy feat. There are approximately 836 Power Moons (even more if you purchase some from s๊hops) available throughout Mario's lengthy adventure.

21 Tꦫhe Lost Art Of Mario-Jitsu 🔥

Nintendo is no stranger to tutorials. We're so used to seeing elaborate starting levels that give us details on game mechanics and movement. You'll still find tips and tricks scattered throughout Super Mario Odyssey, but they aren't nearly as straight-forward as other Nintendo releases. In fact, there are a ton of mechanics and movements that you'll be completely unaware of (unless you seek them out or discover them on accident🥀).

What you may not know is that there's an Action Guide (in the pause menu) that will teach you everything you need to know about Odyssey's elaborate mechanics. It feels 𝓰a little strange, almost like a fighting-game Moves List, which is why we're bringing it to your attention. You can also learn about potential moves by reading plaques hidden around each kingdom, or learning from Cappy during a ride in🍃 the Odyssey.

20 A Familiar Hop Into Paintings ▨

This is one of our favorite Easter Eggs because it's such a clever tie-in to the title that inspired Super Mario Odyssey. Many gamers fell in love with Super Mario 64 when it released back in 1996. Perhaps that's why most of us were so excited by the prospect of Super Mario Odyssey. First glances showcased a title that looked like the Nintendo 64 classic we'd all fawned over.

Now that it has finally released, it's safe to say, we were all completely correct. Super Mario Odyssey is like a beautifully expanded version of Super Mario 64. In fact, it even features a rat🎶her clever nod to its predecessor. Hidden throughout the expansive world are 10 portraits that you can enter to gain access to secret Power Moons. The portraits will actually warp you to another kingdom (usually to an otherwise inaccessible area) which can even give you a small visual preview of zones you have yet to visit.

19 Checkpoints Do More Than Save Pro♛gress

The kingdoms featured in Super Mario Odyssey are rather large. Nintendo did a fantꦓastic job creating worlds that feel open and expansive. In fact, some worlds feel a bit too big. You'll find yourself running for ages to reach landmarks, which can get exha🐽usting if you need to return to them for any reason.

Thankfully, Nintendo added a nifty mechanic that can solve this problem, but some of you may not b🐬e aware it's even there. As you journey through each kingdom, you'll come across special checkpoint flags that you can activate. At first glance, these markers seem like nothing more than a placeholder (in case you perish). The truth i🍸s, they're much more useful than that. By opening the zone map with "-" you can warp to any previously unlocked checkpoint. This is especially useful in massive areas (like the Sand Kingdom).

18 ꧅ Leap Like A Tiger, Roll Like A Boulder

Some areas can be incredibly exhausting to explore. If you're hunting for Power Moons or trying to reach a particular location, without many checkpoints, you'll be forced to run there on foot. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can use to help you travel faster through wide open spac💯es.

If you want to cover a lot of ground quickly, you can spam the long jump mechanic. To do th🦄is, hold ZL (or ZR) and tap B (or A). It's important to note that you'll need a running start (or any forward movement) for this. If you attempt it while standi🅰ng still, you'll simply backflip instead.

If you find yourself💙 on a slope, you can tuck into a ball and roll (like Samus!) by holding ZL (or ZR) and hitting X (or Y). You can perform the roll while stꦉanding still.

17 Like The 🤪Exorcist, But With Rump Roast 🔜

Your possession-based task is to toss Cappy at a nearby frog and use its powerful legs to propel you up a tower. From that moment on, you become accustomed to tossing your beloved hat at nearby critters in an attempt to take control of their forms. This is a monumentally important mechanic in the Super Mario Odyssey universe. You'll need to take control ꧃of different beasts in order to unlock Power Moons and progress through otherw๊ise inaccessible areas.

What you may not know, is that creatures are not the only thing Cappy and possess. There are a wide array of inanimate objects (that become animated) when Cappy cloaks over them. For example, in the Metro Kingdom, you can take control of inconspicuous marking cones wh⛦ich you can then use to launch yourself into the air. You'd be surprised how much Cappy can really control.

16 👍 Jump Up, Superstar!

There are a lot of ledges and platforms that seem just out of reach. Even with a triple jump or a backflip jump, you'll find yourself falling a tiny bit short. Usually, you'll be forced to find another route in order to reach 🌳the area you desire. However, in some instances, you can actually use a possessed creatureꦛ or item to give you an extra boost into the air.

Whenever you possess something, you can quickly "♔hop out" of its body by tapping the ZL (or ZR) button. This exiting motion features Mario leaping into the air above the creature. If the creature (or item) you're currently controlling has a jumping capability, you can leap into the air and then exit the possession to give you an extra high jump. Use this mechanic to launch yourself onto ledges or platforms that are barely out of Mario's reach.