So, you beat Bowser. The credits rolled, you saw the wedding fall apart on the moon, and you probably thought you were done with the game. Then the Odyssey lands in the Mushroom Kingdom. It feels like home. It looks like Super Mario 64. But honestly, the sheer number of Mario Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom moons waiting for you is a bit overwhelming. There are 104 of them. That is a massive chunk of gameplay hidden behind the "end" of the story.
Most people just wander around the castle, talk to Toadette, and maybe find a couple of easy ones in the hedges. That’s a mistake. The Mushroom Kingdom isn't just a nostalgia trip; it’s a masterclass in how Nintendo rewards players for actually paying attention to the mechanics they've been using for the last twenty hours.
Why the Mushroom Kingdom Moons Feel Different
The vibe here is unique because many of these Moons aren't just sitting in chests or hidden behind rocks. A huge portion of them are "Achievement Moons" handed out by Toadette inside Peach's Castle. She’s basically a walking checklist. If you’ve been jumping on hats, capturing enemies, and collecting regional coins throughout the whole game, you’re going to walk into the castle and get bombarded with dozens of Power Moons all at once. It’s a dopamine hit unlike anything else in the game.
But then there are the others. The ones that require you to actually explore.
You’ve got the art. You’ve got the hidden seeds. You’ve got the sheep. Yes, the sheep. Herding those things into the stone circle is arguably the most frustrating part of the post-game, but it’s necessary if you want that 100% completion mark. The physics are wonky, the sheep have a mind of their own, and you'll probably yell at the screen at least once. It's great.
The Secret of the Chimneys and the Pipes
Look at the rooftops. I can't stress this enough. People spend so much time looking at the ground because that's where the grass is, but the Mushroom Kingdom is vertical. There’s a specific Moon that requires you to find a seed, carry it all the way to a pot on top of a building, and then just... wait. It’s slow. It’s a change of pace from the frantic platforming of the Luncheon Kingdom or New Donk City.
And then there's the Yoshi factor.
You can't talk about Mario Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom moons without mentioning the green dinosaur on the roof. Getting up there requires a very specific jump off a pipe or using the scarecrow near the back of the castle. Once you capture Yoshi, the game changes. You aren't jumping; you're fluttering. You're eating fruit. There are specific Moons hidden in "fruit-themed" challenges that only Yoshi can access. It feels like a mini-sequel to Super Mario World dropped right into the middle of a 3D platformer.
The Art of the Hint Toad and Uncle Mammon
If you get stuck—and you will get stuck—talk to the Hint Toad. He's the blue guy hanging out near the Odyssey. He charges 50 coins to mark a Moon location on your map. Some purists think this is cheating. I think it’s a sanity saver. The Mushroom Kingdom is deceptive. It looks small, but it's dense. There are Moons buried in the ground that give off no glow and no sound. You basically have to ground-pound every square inch of the map or use a Toad to point you in the right direction.
Then there's Uncle Amiibo. If you have any Mario-themed figures lying around, scan them. They do the same thing as the Hint Toad but for free. It’s a weirdly specific hardware interaction that Nintendo loves, and in a kingdom this packed with secrets, it’s a legitimate tool.
Achievement Moons: The Long Game
Toadette’s list is long. It includes things like:
- Collecting a certain number of Moons total.
- Capturing a specific number of unique targets.
- Buying stuff from every Crazy Cap shop.
- Hitting a specific number of checkpoints.
Basically, if you’ve been "playing the game right," you’re already halfway to finishing the Mushroom Kingdom. But the "Master" achievements? Those take work. You have to find every single piece of music. You have to wear every outfit. You have to become a completionist. It forces you to revisit old kingdoms, which is exactly what Nintendo wanted. They didn't want the Mushroom Kingdom to be a cul-de-sac; they wanted it to be the hub that sends you back out into the world.
The Boss Rematches
This is where the difficulty spikes. Near the castle, there are these grey pipes that lead to "re-imagined" boss fights. These aren't the same fights you did during the story. They’re harder. The bosses have more health, faster patterns, and fewer safety nets. The Cookatiel fight in particular is a nightmare if your timing isn't perfect.
Each of these rematches yields one of the Mario Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom moons. It's a test of skill. If you breezed through the main game by just mashing buttons, these pipes will humiliate you. You have to learn the invincibility frames. You have to know exactly when to throw Cappy and when to dive.
The Hidden 64 Nostalgia
For the fans who grew up with the N64, there is a very specific area that requires a very specific outfit. You need the "Mario 64" cap and tunic from the Crazy Cap shop. Once you put them on, you can enter a locked door behind the castle. Inside? It’s a low-polygon recreation of the castle courtyard. The music changes. The textures get blocky. Even the Moons in there look like the old Power Stars.
It’s not just a gimmick. There are two Moons hidden in that room. One is obvious, hanging out in the air. The other requires you to interact with the environment in a way that mirrors a secret from the original 1996 game. It’s a brilliant "if you know, you know" moment.
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Breaking Down the Difficulty
Honestly, some of these Moons are a chore. The "Jammin' Toad" Moons require you to find a specific track in the music list and play it for a Toad wearing headphones. If you haven't been collecting music, you can't get the Moon. It’s a gatekeeping mechanic that feels a bit grindy.
Then you have the "Picture Match" challenge. You have to recreate Mario's face using various parts. It sounds easy. It’s actually quite hard because your brain wants to make it look perfect, but the game's detection for what constitutes a "passing grade" is surprisingly strict. If the eyebrows are two millimeters off, you're starting over.
The Final Push to 999
Why bother with all these? Because the Mushroom Kingdom is the gateway to the "Darker Side" of the Moon. To unlock the absolute final challenge of the game, you need a high Moon count. While you can technically buy Moons from the shop to inflate your numbers, there's a certain prestige in earning the Mario Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom moons through actual gameplay.
There's also the golden balloon. Once you hit a certain threshold, the Odyssey gets a literal gold coating. It serves no functional purpose. It doesn't make you faster. It doesn't give you new powers. But when you land in a kingdom and that gold balloon glints in the sun, you feel like a legend.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you’re staring at a map with 40 missing Moons, don't just run around aimlessly. You'll burn out.
First, go straight to Toadette. Claim everything she has. This will clear the bulk of your list and show you exactly what specific milestones you’re missing. It’s much easier to target "Capture 50 things" than it is to "Find some Moons."
Second, buy the 64 Outfit immediately. It’s the key to one of the most concentrated areas of Moons in the Kingdom.
Third, get Yoshi. Don't leave the castle roof area until you've cleared the fruit challenges around the perimeter and the tunnels underneath. Yoshi’s tongue mechanic allows you to pull out secret blocks and reach heights Mario can’t touch.
Finally, deal with the sheep early. Just get it over with. It’s the least fun part of the kingdom, and saving it for last will only leave a sour taste in your mouth. Get the sheep into the pen, get the Moon, and move on to the boss rematches.
The Mushroom Kingdom is a reward for your persistence. It’s a sandbox designed for people who love the way Mario moves. Treat it like a playground, use the Hint Toad when you're genuinely stuck, and remember that half the fun is just seeing how many ways Nintendo managed to hide a glowing crescent in plain sight.