You’re standing in the middle of the Sand Kingdom, staring at a grainy, pixelated picture of a bush and a cactus. It makes no sense. You’ve probably walked past the actual location ten times already, but the perspective in the drawing is just weird enough to throw you off. This is the beauty—and the absolute frustration—of mario odyssey hint art. It’s Nintendo’s way of making you actually look at the world they built instead of just following a compass needle.
Most players stumble upon their first piece of hint art in the Cap Kingdom or the Metro Kingdom and think, "Oh, cool, a treasure map." Then they realize there are 21 of these things scattered across the globe. Some are easy. Some are frankly mean. But they represent one of the purest forms of "organic" gameplay in Super Mario Odyssey because they don't rely on twitch reflexes. They rely on memory.
Why Hint Art is the Smartest Part of Odyssey
It’s easy to forget that Super Mario Odyssey is basically a giant playground designed to reward curiosity. While the main Power Moons are often tied to platforming challenges or boss fights, the hint art Moons are about spatial awareness. You see a picture in one kingdom that points to a specific spot in another kingdom.
Wait. Why do that?
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Honestly, it’s a brilliant loop. It forces you to backtrack. It makes you revisit old haunts with fresh eyes. When you see a picture of Poochy digging in the Bowser’s Kingdom hint art, but the background clearly shows the poisonous logic of the Lost Kingdom, your brain has to bridge that gap. You aren't just playing a level; you're learning a map.
The developers at Nintendo EPD, led by director Kenta Motokura, clearly wanted to pay homage to the "rumor" style of gaming from the 90s. Back then, you didn't have a wiki; you had a blurry screenshot in a magazine or a tip from a friend. Hint art captures that vibe. It feels like a secret even though it’s hidden in plain sight.
The Mechanic: How to Actually Trigger the Moon
Before you go running off to find the treasure, you have to actually "interact" with the art. You can't just go to the spot because you saw the solution on Reddit. You’ve got to stand Mario in front of the poster and hit the examine button. If you don't do this, Ground Pounding the correct spot will result in... absolutely nothing.
It's a common mistake.
Once you’ve "read" the art, it gets saved to your in-game collection. Now, head to the destination. Most hint art rewards you with a standard Power Moon, but the real reward is that hit of dopamine when you finally align the camera perfectly with the drawing and realize, "Aha! That’s the pillar!"
The Most Infamous Puzzles
Let’s talk about the ones that genuinely stumped the community back in 2017 and still trip up new players today.
Take the Dark Side Hint Art. The Dark Side of the Moon is already a gauntlet, but the hint art there is notoriously abstract. One of them just shows two hats. That’s it. Just two hats. If you don't realize those hats represent the physical structures in the Cap Kingdom, you’ll be Ground Pounding every square inch of the Moon for hours.
Then there’s the Wooded Kingdom art. It shows a picture of a Koopa in the Sand Kingdom. But wait—the Koopa is at a specific angle relative to a stone pillar. You have to find that exact Koopa, look at what he's looking at, and then count the steps. It’s basically a digital version of "The Gold-Bug" by Edgar Allan Poe.
A Breakdown of Kingdom Locations
You'll find these posters in almost every major hub. Here is the general layout of where to look, though the locations are often tucked behind walls or on the back of buildings:
- Cap Kingdom: Usually near the main bridge or on the back of a house.
- Sand Kingdom: Check the walls of the buildings in Tostarena.
- Wooded Kingdom: Often hidden near the Iron Road.
- Metro Kingdom: This is a big one. Check the alleyways. New Donk City is dense, and the art is easily missed.
- Snow Kingdom: Look near the entrance to the Shiveria town.
- Bowser’s Kingdom: These are usually near the various Outer Wall checkpoints.
The Poochy Connection
Interestingly, Poochy—the adorable dog from the Yoshi series—is a recurring theme in mario odyssey hint art. He shows up in several images, usually indicating where a Moon is buried. It’s a nice bit of Nintendo DNA.
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If you see Poochy in a hint art photo, it’s a direct signal to look for a spot that looks "dig-able." Usually, there’s no glowing light or sparkling patch. You just have to trust the art.
Does this work every time? Mostly. But sometimes the art is deceptive. The "Keep" hint art in Bowser's Kingdom actually points you toward a spot that looks identical to three other spots. You have to count the tiles. Seriously. Nintendo makes you do math.
Technical Nuance: The Post-Game Expansion
It’s worth noting that not all hint art is available from the start. A significant portion of these puzzles only unlock after you've beaten the main story and smashed the Moon Rocks.
When the Moon Rocks explode, they don't just scatter new Moons; they sometimes trigger new world states. If you’re hunting for 100% completion (the full 880 or 999 Moons depending on how you count), you cannot ignore the hint art. It’s a core pillar of the endgame.
Why Google Discover Loves This Topic
People are still searching for this because Odyssey is an evergreen title. It’s the "perfect" Mario game for many. Every time a new Switch owner picks it up, they get stuck on the same art pieces. The search intent is usually "where is the hint art in [Kingdom Name]," but the real value is explaining why a player might be looking at the right spot but not getting the Moon (usually because they didn't "read" the poster first).
Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
A lot of people think you can use the Amiibo to find these. While Uncle Amiibo is great for marking general Moon locations on your map, he doesn't help with hint art. He’ll tell you there’s a Moon in the general vicinity, but he won't show you the "X" on the map. You are truly on your own here.
Another common point of confusion: the Two Hats hint. Many players think it refers to the actual hats you can buy in the shop. Nope. It refers to the topography of the world. If you find yourself stuck, stop looking for items and start looking at the horizon.
Also, keep an eye on the colors. Nintendo is very specific with their palette. If the hint art has a slight yellowish tint, it’s the Sand Kingdom. If it’s blueish-white, it’s Snow or Moon. Don’t waste time searching the wrong biome just because a rock looks similar.
The Path to 100%
To truly master the hint art, you need a system. Don't just find one and move on.
- Capture it: Use the Switch's screenshot button. Seriously. It’s way easier to pull up your photo gallery than to keep warping back to the original poster to check a detail.
- Verify the Kingdom: Look at the background details—clouds, trees, or water color—to identify which Kingdom the art is pointing toward.
- Identify the Landmark: Is there a Sphinx? A specific shop? Use those as your "North Star."
- The Ground Pound: Once you think you’re in the spot, don't just pound once. Move around a little. The "hit box" for these Moons can be surprisingly small.
Mario Odyssey is a game about joy. It's about that little "Eureka!" moment. The hint art system is that feeling condensed into a single image. It might be frustrating when you can't find that one specific cactus, but when the Moon finally pops out of the ground, it's one of the most satisfying sounds in gaming.
What To Do Next
If you're currently staring at a piece of hint art and feeling stuck, take a screenshot and head to the Odyssey kingdom map. Compare the silhouette of the land in your screenshot to the fast-travel points on your map. Often, the perspective in the hint art is taken from a high vantage point that you can only reach by capturing a Lakitu or a Glydon.
Go to the highest point in the suspected kingdom and look down. Usually, the "click" happens when you see the world from the same angle as the artist who drew the hint. Once you find it, Ground Pound with confidence. You're one step closer to that golden 100% file.
Good luck, and keep your eyes on the horizon. The answer is usually right there, hidden by a bit of clever perspective.