Honestly, if you're looking for a walkthrough for Mario Odyssey, you’ve probably realized by now that this game isn't like the old-school linear paths of the NES days. It's big. It’s chaotic. It’s essentially a giant playground where Nintendo hides Power Moons in places that feel like a fever dream. You’re not just jumping on Goombas anymore; you’re capturing a literal T-Rex in the Cascade Kingdom and wondering how a plumber from Brooklyn ended up in a prehistoric wasteland.
Most people approach this game with a "completionist" mindset right out of the gate, and that is a massive mistake. You'll burn out before you even hit the Metro Kingdom. The trick is knowing when to stay and when to go. The game wants you to wander, but if you want to actually see the credits roll without losing your mind, you need a strategy that balances the main path with the inevitable distractions.
The Cap Kingdom and the Learning Curve
You start in Bonneton. It’s black and white, creepy, and serves as your tutorial. Cappy is your best friend here. Don't just run. Practice the Cap Jump. Toss Cappy, hold the button, and dive into him. It’s the single most important movement mechanic in the game. If you can't do this consistently, the later platforming sections in the Luncheon Kingdom will absolutely wreck you.
Once you hit the Cascade Kingdom, the game actually begins. You need five Moons to power up the Odyssey. Most players grab the obvious ones—the one on top of the stone pillars or the one hidden behind the waterfall. But here’s a pro tip: don't obsess over getting every Moon right now. Many Moons are literally impossible to get until you finish the main story and break the Moon Lead blocks (those glowing grey cubes).
Why Speed Matters Early On
The faster you get to New Donk City, the better the game becomes. This is a common sentiment among speedrunners like Pichu or Tyron18, who have dissected the movement patterns of this game for years. They argue—and I agree—that the game’s "flow" is better experienced when you unlock the travel abilities first.
- Sand Kingdom (Tostarena): It’s massive. You’ll be tempted to find all 69 Moons immediately. Don’t. Grab the 16 required to leave and keep moving. The Jaxi is your best friend for crossing the dunes, but he controls like a shopping cart with a broken wheel. Get used to it.
- Lake Kingdom vs. Wooded Kingdom: You get a choice. Go to the Lake Kingdom first. It’s shorter, the music is a vibe, and the boss fight against Rango is a total cakewalk compared to the mechanical stress of the Wooded Kingdom’s Deep Woods.
Navigating the Mid-Game Slump
By the time you reach the Metro Kingdom, the walkthrough for Mario Odyssey shifts from "where do I go?" to "how do I do this?" New Donk City is the peak of Nintendo’s level design. It’s dense. It’s vertical. It’s full of weirdly proportioned humans that make Mario look like a stray fire hydrant.
The "New Donk City Festival" is the highlight of the game. It’s a 2D tribute that will make anyone who played the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game tear up. To trigger it, you have to find four musicians. They aren't hard to find, but the drummer is tucked away near the City Hall. Talk to Pauline, do the quest, and enjoy the music. This isn't just filler; it unlocks the city's true potential and some of the best Moons in the game.
The Problem With the Snow and Seaside Kingdoms
A lot of players hit a wall here. The Snow Kingdom (Shiveria) is basically one giant hub with four paths. It feels claustrophobic. If you're struggling with the Bound Bowl GP race, stop holding the joystick perfectly forward. You need to "bounce" with the rhythm of the track. It’s a physics-based mini-game, not a racing game.
Seaside Kingdom is the opposite. It’s huge and watery. Capture a Gushen (the little water-squirting squids). They are the only way to move efficiently. If you try to swim everywhere, you will hate this game. Use the Gushen to fly over the boss, Mollusque-Lanceur, and spray his head. It’s a tedious fight, but once it’s over, you’re on the home stretch.
The Brutal Reality of the Luncheon Kingdom
This place is a nightmare for people with bad depth perception. The "lava" is actually pink neon soup, and it hurts. You’ll spend most of your time as a Fire Bro or a Magma Bubble.
- Capture a Lava Bubble.
- Don't jump out of the lava unless you have a clear landing spot.
- Use the vegetables as platforms, but remember they sink.
The boss here, Cookatiel, is a giant bird who pukes food at you. It’s gross. It’s also a long fight. Stay in your bubble form as much as possible to avoid taking damage from the floor.
Bowser’s Kingdom and the Moon
Bowser’s Kingdom isn't a dungeon; it’s a Japanese castle. It’s stunning. The Pokio (the bird with the pointy beak) is your primary tool here. You have to flick the joystick to "poke" into walls and fling yourself upward. This mechanic is reused in the final "Darker Side" challenge, so master it now.
When you finally get to the Moon (Honeylune Ridge), the physics change. Low gravity. Long jumps. It feels great. The final boss fight against Bowser is a three-phase brawl where you use his own hat against him. It’s not the hardest fight in Mario history—that title probably goes to Super Mario Sunshine’s final encounter—but it is the most cinematic.
Post-Game: Where the Real Walkthrough Begins
Most people think the game ends when the credits roll. They are wrong. You’ve probably only found about 200 to 250 Moons by this point. There are 880 total (well, 999 if you buy them from the shop).
The "Mushroom Kingdom" unlocks after the story. It’s a love letter to Mario 64. You can even get the 64-style polygonal skin for Mario. To unlock the "Dark Side" of the Moon, you need 250 Moons. To unlock the "Darker Side," you need 500.
The Darker Side of the Moon is a marathon. No checkpoints. If you die at the end, you start from the beginning. It’s a test of everything you’ve learned. Use the Glydon trick to skip the difficult lava section near the end—capture the lizard, shake the controller to gain height, and glide as far as you can. It saves about four minutes of high-stress platforming.
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Advanced Movement Tips for Completionists
If you’re going for 100%, you need to stop walking. Mario’s fastest movement is the Long Jump followed by a Roll. If you’re on a slope, rolling is faster than any vehicle in the game.
Also, use your amiibos. If you have the Uncle Amiibo robot near the Odyssey, scan any figure. He’ll give you a hint for a Moon location on your map. It’s not "cheating"; it’s a built-in mechanic for when you’re stuck on that one last Moon in the Bowser Kingdom that’s hidden behind a decorative tail.
The "Hint Toad" and "Talkatoo" are also essential. Talkatoo gives you the name of the Moon, which is often a riddle. Hint Toad marks the exact spot on the map for a price. Use them both. Don't be a hero. Some of these Moons are hidden in ways that defy logic, like ground-pounding a specific nondescript spot in the middle of a desert.
Actionable Strategy for Your Playthrough
Instead of wandering aimlessly, follow this progression to maximize your fun and minimize frustration:
- Focus on Story First: Get to the credits as fast as you can. This unlocks the "Moon Blocks" which add dozens of new Moons to every single kingdom.
- Buy the Life-Up Hearts: Every shop sells a heart that doubles your HP from 3 to 6. Use it before boss fights. It makes the Ruined Dragon in the Ruined Kingdom much less intimidating.
- Master the Motion Controls: I know, everyone hates motion controls. But shaking the Joy-Cons makes Cappy home in on enemies and makes Mario climb poles faster. It’s worth the slight annoyance.
- Check the Art: Look for "Hint Art" posters in every kingdom. Take a screenshot of them with your Switch. You’ll need to find the location depicted in the art in a different kingdom to get a hidden Moon.
- Don't Ignore the Seeds: If you see a golden seed, carry it to a pot. It takes time to grow. Plant it, go do a mission, and come back later. It's an easy Moon that requires zero platforming skill.
The beauty of Super Mario Odyssey is that it doesn't force you to be a pro. You can finish the game with minimal effort, or you can dive deep into the mechanics and become a movement god. Just remember that the journey to 500 Moons is a marathon, not a sprint. Take breaks, explore the nooks and crannies, and for the love of everything, don't forget to talk to the dog in the Mario hat. He’ll lead you to treasure every single time.
To truly master the game, your next step is to head back to the Sand Kingdom and find the hidden entrance to the "Inverted Pyramid" post-game. There are secrets there that only reveal themselves once the main threat is gone. After that, start collecting the purple regional coins to buy the outfits—some Moons are locked behind "dressing the part" for specific NPCs. Grab your Switch, head to the Odyssey, and start hunting.