New Donk City is a vertical nightmare. If you’ve spent any time playing Super Mario Odyssey, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You look up, and there’s a skyscraper. You look down, and there’s a girded beam hanging over a bottomless abyss. Somewhere in between those two points, tucked behind a flickering neon sign or hovering precariously above a moving taxi, are the Metro Kingdom purple coins. There are 100 of them. Finding 97 is easy. It’s those last three that usually make people want to throw their Switch across the room.
The problem with Metro Kingdom isn't just the size; it's the density. Most kingdoms in Odyssey give you wide-open vistas where you can spot regional currency from a mile away. Here? You’re dealing with alleyways, rooftops, and secret sewer pipes. These little city-shaped "Regional Coins" are essential if you want that snazzy Mayor Pauline outfit or the scale model of the Odyssey for your ship. But honestly, the hunt is less about the rewards and more about that nagging 100% completion stat staring you in the face.
Why Metro Kingdom Purple Coins Are Different
Unlike the Bonneton or Fossil Falls sets, the Metro Kingdom layout is designed to trick your depth perception. You’ll be jumping off a skyscraper, thinking you’ve spotted a cluster of three purple coins on a ledge, only to realize they were actually five stories lower than you thought.
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Precision matters here. You can't just run around and hope to stumble into them. Most players miss the coins tucked underneath the iron girders near the Odyssey. It’s a classic Nintendo move. They put something right under your nose at the very beginning of the level, knowing you’ll be too busy looking at the giant mechanical centipede on top of the City Hall to notice what's under your feet.
The Ones Everyone Misses
Let’s talk about the "secret" areas. You know, the ones that require you to enter a random door that looks like every other door in the city. There’s a specific room—the one with the rotating maze—that hides a few coins that are notoriously easy to bypass if you're rushing to the Power Moon.
Then there's the high-wire act.
A lot of the Metro Kingdom purple coins are positioned on the electrical wires. To get them, you have to capture a Spark Pylon and then hit "X" to jump out at the exact right millisecond. If you’re too slow, you zip right past them. If you’re too fast, you plummet to the street below and lose ten gold coins for your trouble. It's frustrating. It's tedious. It's peak Mario.
Don't forget the trash cans. Seriously. Kick the trash cans. In New Donk City, garbage is sometimes currency. It’s a weird metaphor for urban life, but it’s a reality for completionists.
Navigating the Verticality
If you’re stuck at 95/100, stop looking at the ground. Most people spend their time running through the streets, dodging taxis and talking to NPCs. The majority of the "hidden" coins are actually way up high or tucked into the geometry of the buildings.
- Check the rear of the New Donk City Hall. There’s a narrow ledge that wraps around the back. It looks like "out of bounds" territory, but it’s actually a prime hiding spot.
- The girders under the main bridge. Use the capture ability on a Sherm (the tank) to clear obstacles or just look for the sparklies while hanging off a ledge.
- The "Iron Mountain" phase. During the nighttime segment when it’s raining, some coins are harder to see because of the darker color palette. I’ve found it’s actually easier to hunt them during the "day" after you’ve beaten the boss and restored the city. The lighting is flatter, making the purple pop against the gray concrete.
The Gear You’re Actually Hunting For
Why do we do this? Is the "Mechanical Wiggler" set really worth the hunt?
Maybe.
The Metro Kingdom shop has some of the best cosmetics in the game. The Builder Outfit is a classic throwback to Super Mario Maker, and the Golf Outfit is a deep cut for fans of NES Open Tournament Golf. To get everything, you need all 100 coins. There’s no margin for error. You can't buy 90 and call it a day if you want that "True Completion" feeling.
Fact-Checking the "Invisible" Coins
There’s a common rumor that some coins only appear after you finish the main story. That’s actually a misconception. All 100 Metro Kingdom purple coins are technically available as soon as you land and clear the initial "Nighttime" phase, though some areas are much easier to navigate once the city returns to normal.
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Wait. Actually, let me clarify that. While the coins are there, your ability to reach them changes. The rooftops are infested with enemies early on, making precision platforming a nightmare. Do yourself a favor: beat the Mecha-Wiggler first. Then, take the scooter for a spin and look for the ramps. There are three coins floating in mid-air that are basically impossible to grab without hitting a specific ramp at full speed.
Real Talk: Using the Bowser Amiibo
If you’re genuinely losing your mind, use the Bowser Amiibo. I know, I know—it feels like cheating. But if you tap the Bowser Amiibo, it highlights the locations of regional coins on your screen. In a map as dense as New Donk City, this isn't just a "helper" tool; it's a sanity saver.
Some people think using Amiibos ruins the "purity" of the hunt. Personally? I think spending four hours staring at the underside of a virtual dumpster ruins the fun more. Use the tool if you need it. No one is judging you.
Tactical Advice for the Final Stretch
When you get down to those last five coins, stop moving randomly. Pick a quadrant of the map. Start from the very top of the City Hall (the tip of the spire—yes, there’s something up there) and work your way down in a spiral.
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Check the "In-Between" spaces. Mario can wall-jump up narrow alleyways that lead to small alcoves. These alcoves almost always contain a trio of coins. Also, look for the RC car challenge. Not only is it a fun diversion, but the area surrounding the track often hides a few stray purple bits that are easy to miss while you're focused on the race.
Essential Checklist for the Frustrated
- Did you check the very beginning of the level, behind the Odyssey?
- Did you enter every single door with a hat symbol?
- Did you jump off the Spark Pylons mid-transit?
- Did you look under the main plazas?
- Have you checked the "Secret" 2D mural sections? (Sometimes coins are hidden behind a fake wall in the 8-bit segments).
New Donk City is a masterpiece of level design because it rewards curiosity. Every time you think, "I wonder if I can climb that," the answer is usually yes—and there's usually a purple coin waiting there as a reward.
Next Steps for Completionists
Start your final sweep by warping to the "Main Street Entrance" flag. Instead of heading toward the center of town, immediately turn around and check the scaffolding behind you. Work your way through the rooftops of the smaller buildings on the periphery before tackling the City Hall skyscraper. If you hit 97 and get stuck, use the capture-able binoculars found on several rooftops; they allow you to zoom in on distant leders and often reveal the sparkle of a hidden coin from across the map. Once you have all 100, head straight to the Crazy Cap shop near the main entrance to unlock the Builder and Golf sets.