‘Super Mario Odyssey’ Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

Whether you’re just starting out or mopping up post-game Power Moons, it’s easy to miss some of the systems that make ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ tick. The game quietly teaches a lot, but many mechanics, hints, and kingdom changes aren’t obvious unless you know where to look. Below are the most common missteps that cost time, coins, and Moons—and exactly how to avoid them. Use these to plan cleaner kingdom routes, faster movement, and fewer back-tracks on your next run.

Skipping regional coins until late

Each kingdom’s purple regional coins are finite and only spendable in that kingdom’s shop, so leaving them for later can lock you out of costumes, stickers, and souvenirs until you back-track. Many are placed along first-visit routes, on ledges you naturally pass, or near story objectives. Grab them as you go and watch for clusters near checkpoints, behind the Odyssey, and in 2D sections. If you’ve already moved on, check the map for unexplored nooks and use binoculars to spot purple glints from a distance.

Ignoring Hint Art and treating it as kingdom-local

Hint Art often points to a Moon hidden in a different kingdom than the art’s location, which trips up completionists. Snap a photo in Snapshot Mode or capture the art on your device, then travel to the referenced kingdom and ground-pound the exact spot shown. The game does not mark these on your map, and the Moons only appear after you’ve viewed the associated art at least once. When the clue is ambiguous, line up landmarks and terrain silhouettes to match the picture before stomping.

Not revisiting kingdoms after story milestones

Most kingdoms gain new NPCs, challenges, and Power Moons after you beat their boss and again after finishing the main story. Checkpoints may offer new races, Koopa Freerunning courses open, seeds sprout into new locations, and doors previously guarded become accessible. Use the list view in the map to see your “found vs. total” count, which increases post-game. Plan a second sweep with new captures and movement tech unlocked to clear these efficiently.

Hoarding coins instead of buying shop Moons

Crazy Cap sells at least one Power Moon per kingdom that counts toward your total and helps unlock later kingdoms and post-game content. Many players save coins for costumes only, slowing progression. Buy the yellow-coin Moon on each first visit, then consider the regional-coin Moon once you’ve collected enough purple coins. If you lose coins on death, run a quick coin route—like rolling through ring lines or farming Bowser’s Kingdom hazards—to buy back what you need.

Underusing motion-only moves

Some techniques are easiest—or only—triggered with motion input: the Homing Cap Throw (shake right after a throw), faster Rolling (shake while rolling), and the quick Vertical Cap Throw for capture platforms. These save seconds in movement chains and make mid-air corrections safer. If you’re playing docked or handheld without much motion, set up a light wrist flick that you can repeat consistently. Practice in open areas like Sand Kingdom’s dunes to turn these into muscle memory.

Overlooking ground-pound tells and suspicious spots

The game telegraphs hidden Moons and coins with visual cues: faint sparkles on the ground, circular arrangements of flowers, or lone patches of different-colored dirt. Ground-pound directly on these spots to reveal burrowed Moons, coin lines, or sprouting planters. In water, watch for bubble clusters resting in still water; underwater ground-pounds can also trigger secrets. When in doubt, line up the camera orthogonally and stomp the center of any symmetrical pattern you find.

Forgetting kingdom-exclusive costume doors

Several rooms only open if Mario wears a specific outfit bought with regional coins in that same kingdom. The door NPC will tell you the outfit by name, and you can swap instantly from the pause menu without returning to a shop. Always purchase the required costume set on your first pass while regional coins are still on your route. If you return later, pin those locations on the map to avoid wandering while dressed for entry.

Missing capture-specific Moons by not thinking like the capture

Each capture type has unique interactions that gate Moons—Bullet Bills chain to distant platforms, Gushens hover with sustained jets, Pokios stick to walls, and Uproots extend to hit high switches. Scan rooms for objects that match a capture’s abilities before attempting tricky Mario-only jumps. If a path seems inefficient, look for a nearby enemy that trivializes it and respawns quickly if you lose it. Use the cap return to reposition captures without falling out of intended routes.

Treating Talkatoo, Hint Toad, and Uncle amiibo as fluff

Talkatoo reveals actual Moon names, which often describe the trigger condition; Hint Toad sells a precise map marker for uncollected Moons; Uncle amiibo sends a marker after a short wait. Use these to triage the last few Moons in a kingdom instead of blind searching. Prioritize Talkatoo for action verbs in titles (“Across the…,” “Caught Hopping…,” “Inside the…”) to infer mechanics. When you’re down to stragglers, buy the Hint Toad pin and sweep in a tight loop from the nearest checkpoint.

Leaving 2D sections without checking for hidden exits

Retro pipes often hide second exits, extra coin rooms, or Moons tucked behind fake walls and off-screen ladders. In every 2D area, press against both screen edges, test breakable bricks above ceilings, and ride moving platforms in the opposite direction to peek behind them. Many 2D rooms include a “secret Moon” in addition to the obvious one, and the camera won’t reveal it unless you push the boundaries. If you reach a flag in 2D, backtrack once with the suspicion that a parallel route exists.

Share your best time-savers and the sneakiest Moons you’ve uncovered in the comments!