You finally made it. The Moon. After chasing Bowser across the globe, Super Mario Odyssey literally launches you into the vacuum of space for a final showdown. It’s quiet, the gravity is floaty, and the music is arguably some of the best in the entire franchise. But once the credits roll and you’re back at Honeylune Ridge, the real work begins. Hunting down every last Mario Odyssey Moon Kingdom moon is a massive task that separates the casual players from the completionists. Honestly, it’s a weirdly lonely place to explore, but the level design here is genius because it forces you to rethink how Mario moves.
Low gravity changes everything. You can jump higher, sure, but you also hang in the air forever. It makes you a sitting duck for some of the trickier enemies. Most people think they’re done once they beat the wedding, but the post-game content is where the Moon Kingdom actually gets difficult.
The Secret Layers of Honeylune Ridge
Most players start their search right near the Odyssey. It makes sense. You see those glowing spots in the lunar soil and start ground-pounding. But the Mario Odyssey Moon Kingdom moons aren't all just buried in the dirt. Some of them require you to master the physics of the "Long Jump" in a vacuum. If you aren't careful, you’ll overshoot a platform and drift into the abyss. It’s frustrating. It's also rewarding when you finally nail the arc.
The Moon Shards in the Quiet Wall are a perfect example of how Nintendo messes with your head. You’re looking for five pieces, and they’re tucked away in crevices that you’d normally ignore in a high-gravity kingdom like Metro or Sand. One is literally just sitting on a high ledge that looks impossible to reach until you remember you can triple jump into a Cappy toss and dive, staying airborne for what feels like an eternity.
The Everlasting Quest for Moon 27
Let’s talk about the "Found with Moon Kingdom Art" moon. This is the one that sends everyone to the internet. You see the art on the wall near the Odyssey. It shows a bunch of characters at a specific location in the Wooded Kingdom. You can’t just ground pound anywhere. You have to find the exact spot near the Iron Road. It’s a clever way to force you back into old worlds, but it also highlights how the Moon Kingdom acts as a hub for the game's final mysteries.
There's also the matter of the Sphynx. He’s just chilling there in the vacuum. Answer his questions correctly, and you get a moon. Fail, and you’re just standing there feeling silly in a spacesuit.
Breaking the Moon Rock
You haven't actually seen everything until you smash the Moon Rock. This is standard for every kingdom, but in the Moon Kingdom, the stakes feel higher because the map is relatively small. When that rock explodes, it scatters a whole new set of Power Moons across the cratered landscape. This is where the difficulty spikes.
Suddenly, you’re looking for "Moon 32: On the High Cliff" or "Moon 33: Next to the Lighthouse." Except there is no lighthouse on the moon. You have to look for the shimmer. You have to listen for the "twinkle" sound that haunts the dreams of every Mario fan.
The gravity is your best friend and your worst enemy here. Take the "Gap in the Quiet Wall" moon. You have to drop down a specific ledge, capture a Spark Pylon, and then time your release perfectly. If you miss, you’re falling into the purple goop or the void. It’s punishing. But the satisfaction of hearing that "You Got a Moon!" jingle never gets old. Kinda makes the whole trip worth it.
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The Hidden 2D Sections
Nintendo loves nostalgia. Deep inside the Underground Moon Caverns—the place where you fought through the gauntlet before the wedding—there are hidden 2D segments. These are basically love letters to the NES era. But they’re harder here. Why? Because the gravity affects the 8-bit Mario too. You’ll jump at a Goomba and realize you’re going to sail right over its head.
One of the most overlooked Mario Odyssey Moon Kingdom moons is found by taking a hidden path in the 2D section where you’re dodging falling boulders. Most people just run to the end. Don't do that. Look for a pipe that seems like a dead end. It’s not.
Pro-Tips for the Hardest Moons
If you’re going for the full 100%, you need to be smart about your captures. Capturing a Moe-Eye (those stone dudes with the sunglasses) is the only way to see invisible platforms. In the Moon Kingdom, these platforms lead to some of the most well-hidden treasures.
- Check the craters. Not every crater is empty. Some have glowing spots that only appear after you’ve beaten the main story.
- Talk to the locals. Even on the moon, there are tourists. A certain Shiverian or Tostarenan might be lost and need your help.
- Use the map. Seriously. The map in Odyssey is actually helpful. If you see a grayed-out area that looks like it should have a platform, go there.
- Cappy is a scout. If you see something suspicious in the distance, throw Cappy. He’ll often home in on things you can’t quite see yet.
Honestly, the "Jump-Rope Hero" or "Volleyball" moons in other kingdoms get all the hate, but the Moon Kingdom’s "Vanishing Road" challenge is a different kind of stress. You have to run across disappearing tiles while being chased by a Banzai Bill. Without the regular gravity to keep you grounded, your movements feel sluggish when you need them to be snappy. It's a test of nerves.
Why the Moon Kingdom Matters
Beyond the collectibles, the Moon Kingdom represents the peak of Mario's movement mechanics. By the time you reach this stage, you’ve mastered the rolls, the dives, and the captures. The game removes the friction of the Earth-like worlds and asks, "Okay, how well do you actually know how to control Mario?"
It’s also where you find the "Broodals" one last time. While the fight isn't remarkably different, the setting makes it feel epic. Dealing with them while hunting for Mario Odyssey Moon Kingdom moons is basically a rite of passage.
One detail people miss: the music changes slightly depending on where you are. Near the Odyssey, it's triumphant. In the caverns, it's oppressive. This atmospheric shifts help guide you. If the music gets quiet and eerie, you’re likely near a secret area or a challenge room.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of players think you need the Gold Mario suit or something special to find the last few moons. You don't. You just need patience. And maybe a few Life-Up Hearts from the local Toad shop. The Moon Kingdom doesn't have a lot of ways to recover health once you’re deep in the craters, so playing conservatively is better than playing fast.
Also, don't ignore the birds. If you see a glowing bird flying around the lunar surface, you have to hit it with Cappy. It’s annoying. It flies fast. But it holds one of the moons you need for that 100% star on your save file.
Final Checklist for Completionists
Before you pack up the Odyssey and head to the Mushroom Kingdom (or the grueling Darker Side), make sure you’ve checked these often-forgotten spots:
- Behind the Odyssey: It sounds stupidly simple, but there is often a moon or a pile of coins tucked right behind your ship.
- The Very Top of the Wedding Hall: Use the Spark Pylon to get to the roof. There's a moon up there that requires a very specific ground pound on the bell.
- The Sphinx’s Second Question: He doesn't just ask one. Go back and talk to him again after the main story.
- The Hint Art: Look at the walls in the wedding hall. They aren't just decorations; they are maps to other worlds.
How to Handle the Underground Gauntlet
The Underground Moon Caverns are the biggest hurdle. You have to capture a lot of different enemies—Sherms, Hammer Bro, Chinchos. Each one has a specific moon hidden in their respective "zones." For example, when you’re the Spark Pylon, don't just zip to the end. Look for an alternative path that leads to a hidden treasure chest.
Most people rush because they want to get to the Bowser fight. Go back when the pressure is off. You’ll find things you completely missed during the frantic first run.
Actionable Next Steps
To efficiently clear the Moon Kingdom, follow this specific order to save yourself from backtracking:
- Clear the Story: Don't worry about every moon on your first trip. Just beat Bowser.
- Smash the Moon Rock: This is your first priority once you return. It unlocks the majority of the "hidden" moons.
- Buy the Shop Moon: Always the easiest one. Grab the Moon Kingdom's unique purple coins while you're at it to buy the local souvenir.
- Use Talkatoo and Hint Toad: If you're stuck at 25/38 or 30/38, these NPCs are not cheating—they are built-in mechanics to help you narrow down the search area.
- Master the Vault: Spend some time practicing the "Cappy Bounce" to "Dive" combo. You will need it for the platforming challenges in the craters.
Getting every Mario Odyssey Moon Kingdom moon is a grind, but it’s one of the most satisfying grinds in modern gaming. It forces you to appreciate the sheer variety of gameplay Nintendo packed into a single lunar landscape. Once you’ve cleared the Moon, you’re finally ready for the ultimate test: the Darker Side. But that’s a whole different story.
Stay focused on the shimmer in the gray dust. If it looks like a secret, it probably is. Ground pound everything. Capture everyone. Good luck out there, superstar.