So, you’re trying to 100% this game. Good luck. Honestly, Super Mario 3D World stamps are the bane of every completionist's existence, mostly because they’re tucked away in the most annoying corners of the Mushroom Kingdom. They aren’t just shiny collectibles like the Green Stars. They actually do something, or at least they did back in the Wii U days when Miiverse was still a thing. Now, on the Switch version (Bowser’s Fury), they’re basically just trophies that prove you’ve looked behind every single pipe and jumped into every bottomless pit just to see if something was hiding there.
The grind is real.
If you’re playing the Nintendo Switch port, you’ve probably noticed that the stamps look a lot sharper, and you can actually use them in the Snapshot Mode. It’s a nice touch. But let’s be real: you’re here because you’re missing that one stamp in World 5-2 or you can't figure out why your file select screen doesn't have that final glittering icon.
Why Super Mario 3D World Stamps Are a Completionist's Nightmare
There are 85 stamps in total. That sounds manageable until you realize that 80 of them are hidden within the levels of the main game and the post-game worlds, while the final five are locked behind a requirement that is, frankly, a bit mean. To get those last five, you have to finish every single level with all five characters. Yes, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Rosalina.
If you’re playing solo, that is a lot of backtracking.
The Miiverse Legacy and the Switch Evolution
When this game launched on the Wii U in 2013, stamps were the currency of social interaction. You’d find one, and then you could use it to decorate your posts on Miiverse. Since Nintendo killed Miiverse years ago, the stamps lost their primary function for a while. However, in the 2021 Switch release, Nintendo repurposed them for the "Snapshot Mode." You can now plaster these hand-drawn character sprites onto the environment before taking a photo. It’s basically a sticker book for adults who like platformers.
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Where People Usually Mess Up
Most players find the first few stamps by accident. You see a clear pipe that goes a weird direction, or you notice a shadow under a platform. But then you hit the later worlds—World Castle and World Bowser—and the developers get devious.
Take World 4-1 (Ant Trooper Hill). You have to ride the giant ants, which is stressful enough, but the stamp is tucked into a high alcove that requires a cat suit or a very precise jump. If you lose your power-up, you’re basically out of luck unless you find a spare bell. That’s the recurring theme here: keep your Cat Suit. Seriously. About 70% of the super mario 3d world stamps are significantly easier to get—or only accessible—if you are climbing walls as Cat Mario.
The Character-Specific Switches
This is where the game gets "kinda" frustrating. Some stamps are sitting right in front of you, but they’re hidden behind a floor switch with a giant "P" or a "L" on it.
- Toad’s Switches: Usually require his speed.
- Peach’s Switches: Often found near gaps where her hover is "suggested" but not strictly required.
- Rosalina’s Switches: These don't show up until you unlock her after World Star-1.
If you aren’t playing as that specific character, you can't activate the switch. In the original Wii U version, this meant replaying the level. On the Switch, if you have some friends (or extra Joy-Cons), you can just drop a second character in at the end of the level to hit the switch. It’s a shortcut, sure, but after the 50th level, you won't care about "honor."
The Brutal Reality of the Final Five
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Or the cat in the room.
To get the final five stamps, which are character-themed portraits, you have to beat every level with every character. This includes the "Mystery Houses" and the "Captain Toad" levels. Well, actually, Captain Toad levels are an exception since you can only play as the Captain, but for everything else, the game tracks which character has touched the flagpole.
You’ll know you’ve done it when a small icon of the character's head appears next to the level on the world map. If you’re missing a stamp and you’ve cleared all the worlds, this is almost certainly why. It’s a massive time sink.
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The World Crown Hurdle
World Crown-Crown (Champion’s Road) is widely considered one of the hardest levels in Mario history. There are no checkpoints. There are no power-ups provided. Just pure, unadulterated platforming hell. And yes, there is a stamp there.
Most people use the "Infinite 1-Up" trick on World 1-2 (the Koopa Shell against the wall trick) before even attempting this. You're going to die. A lot. But the stamp is located right at the end, just before the final flagpole. Getting it feels better than actually beating the game. Honestly, the satisfaction of finally grabbing that World Crown stamp is the peak of the experience.
Pro Tips for Efficient Hunting
- The "Touch Screen" Secret: On the Switch (in handheld mode) or using the pointer in docked mode, you can sometimes reveal hidden blocks or stun enemies. This doesn't directly give you stamps, but it often reveals the path to them.
- Luigi’s High Jump: If you're struggling with a stamp that seems just out of reach, swap to Luigi. His scuttle jump adds just enough verticality to bypass some of the trickier Cat Suit requirements.
- Ghost Data: If you’re playing online, look at the ghosts of other players. If you see a cluster of ghosts hanging around a random wall, there’s a 90% chance a stamp or a hidden pipe is right there.
- The Captain Toad Levels: Don't forget these. Each one has exactly one stamp. They are usually much easier to find because the levels are small, but they require a lot of camera manipulation. Rotate that right stick like your life depends on it.
The Secret in the Sprixie Houses
In almost every world, there is a Sprixie House. These are those little mushroom-shaped huts where a Sprixie princess is just hanging out. Most players walk in, grab the stamp, and walk out. But keep in mind that these are freebies. If you’re looking at a world map and you see a house you haven't entered, go in. It’s the easiest stamp you’ll ever get.
One thing to note: there is one Sprixie House in World Bowser that doesn't unlock until you've collected every other stamp in the first eleven worlds. It’s basically a gatekeeper for the true final completion.
Beyond the Collection
Once you have all the super mario 3d world stamps, what then? Well, if you’ve also grabbed all the Green Stars and hit the top of every Golden Flagpole, you’ll unlock the final world. But the stamps themselves are really about that Snapshot Mode.
You can create some genuinely hilarious scenes. Putting a giant stamp of a confused Bowser next to a tiny Mario in a clear pipe is a classic. It’s a way to personalize your screenshots in a way that most other Mario games don't allow.
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Actionable Steps for the Final Stretch
If you're sitting at 75 or 80 stamps and feeling stuck, here is your checklist:
- Check the World Map: Look for any level that doesn't have a stamp icon next to it. It’s a small, faint gray outline if you haven't collected it yet.
- Revisit World Star, Mushroom, and Flower: These bonus worlds are packed with stamps that are hidden behind much harder platforming challenges than the main game.
- Multiplayer "Cheese": If you’re grinding the "Beat every level with every character" requirement, pull in some friends or use multiple controllers at the end of a level. It counts for everyone who touches the flagpole.
- The Snapshot Tool: Use the "Z" button to pull up the stamp menu. If you see a silhouette, you’m missing that specific one. The silhouettes are ordered by world, so you can easily Google which specific level corresponds to the gap in your collection.
Collecting every stamp is a test of patience more than a test of skill—except for Champion's Road. That's just a test of your sanity. But once that final Sprixie House opens up and you see that completed collection, the bragging rights are yours. Just don't expect a huge party. You get a little sparkling icon on your save file, and honestly? Sometimes that’s enough.