You think you're done after Bowser. You aren't. Not even close. Collecting mario odyssey all moons is less of a casual weekend hobby and more of a systematic teardown of one of the most densely packed 3D platformers ever made. Most players roll the credits with maybe 200 or 300 moons in their pocket, feeling pretty good about themselves. Then they see the total counter.
- That’s the "unique" number.
But wait, the counter actually goes to 999. If that sounds like a headache, it’s because Nintendo decided to mix traditional exploration with a shop system that lets you buy your way to the "true" max. It’s confusing. It’s brilliant. Honestly, it’s a bit of a grind if you don't know which moons are tied to the story and which ones are buried under a literal pile of sand in the Luncheon Kingdom.
The 880 vs 999 Confusion
Let’s get the math out of the way first. There are 880 unique Power Moons listed in the Action Guide. These are the ones with names, specific locations, and actual puzzles attached to them. If you want that golden sail on the Odyssey and the final, final unlockable—a harder version of the Bowser fight—you need these 880.
The 999 number is purely for the aesthetic. Once you hit the post-game, shops start selling infinite moons. You can just stand there and mash the A button until your wallet is empty and your counter hits triple digits. Does it change the ending? Sorta. It turns the Odyssey's sail gold and puts a giant top hat on Peach's Castle. Is it worth the gold? Only if you’re a completionist who can’t stand seeing a number that isn't maxed out.
Most people get stuck because they think they can find all the moons on their first visit to a kingdom. You can't. Nintendo gates a massive chunk of content behind the "Moon Rocks." These big, grey cubes sit in every level, vibrating and doing absolutely nothing until you beat the main story. Once you crack them open, a whole new set of moons scatters across the map. It basically doubles the length of the game instantly.
Why the Darker Side Changes Everything
If you’re hunting mario odyssey all moons, you're likely aiming for the Darker Side of the Moon. This isn't just a bonus level. It’s a marathon. You need 500 moons to even sniff the entrance.
Unlike the rest of the game, which is pretty forgiving with checkpoints, the Darker Side is a gauntlet. No checkpoints. One life bar (unless you find a Life-Up Heart). You have to use every single capture mechanic you’ve learned—from the Pokio’s beak flick to the Glydon’s glide—in one continuous run. It’s the ultimate skill check.
I’ve seen people breeze through the Sand Kingdom only to spend three hours on this one level. It’s humbling. But the reward is a sense of closure that most modern games just don't provide. You get the Invisible Cap, which makes the game harder for a second playthrough because, well, you can't see where Mario is standing. It's a weird flex, but that's Nintendo for you.
Those Infamous Jump Rope and Volleyball Moons
We have to talk about the "problem" moons. If you talk to anyone who has actually grabbed mario odyssey all moons, they will mention the Metro Kingdom jump rope challenge.
It’s brutal. 100 jumps.
The timing becomes frame-perfect after jump 50. Most players end up using the "Letter Glitch" or a Talkatoo exploit just to bypass it because the internal rhythm of the game gets so fast it barely registers the input lag of a standard TV. Then there’s the volleyball in the Seaside Kingdom. 100 hits. It’s slow, it’s tedious, and if you blink at hit 98, you’re starting over. Pro tip: use Cappy in two-player mode to move faster than Mario ever could. It feels like cheating, but your sanity is more important than "honor" in a Mario game.
Kingdom Breakdown: Where the Real Work Is
Every kingdom has its own vibe, but the Moon count varies wildly. The Cap Kingdom is a starter area, so it’s light. But the Sand Kingdom? It’s a beast.
- Sand Kingdom (Tostarena): 89 Moons. This place is huge. You’ll spend half your time as a Jaxi (that stone lion) just trying to cross the dunes.
- Metro Kingdom (New Donk City): 81 Moons. Most of these are hidden in "sub-rooms" behind nondescript doors or up on the corners of skyscrapers you’d never think to climb.
- Wooded Kingdom (Steam Gardens): 74 Moons. This one is vertical. If you aren't looking down into the Deep Woods, you're missing half the content.
The Deep Woods is actually one of the coolest, creepiest things Nintendo has done. You fall off the map and instead of dying, you land in a prehistoric forest with a T-Rex. There are moons hidden in the soil there that don't even show up on the map. It’s the kind of secret that feels like an urban legend from the N64 era.
The Art of the Capture
You can’t find mario odyssey all moons by just jumping. The capture mechanic is the core of the hunt. You need to think like a Gushen in the Seaside Kingdom to reach high ledges, or like a Uproot in the Wooded Kingdom to push up through breakable ceilings.
The game often hides moons in plain sight, but only accessible if you have the right "body." See a flickering light in a bird's nest? You probably need to capture a nearby Spark Pylon or a Lakitu to get the right angle. It’s a constant puzzle of "who can I be right now?"
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Hints and the Toad Information Network
Nintendo actually built in a few "legal" cheats. If you're stuck at 875 moons and can't find those last five, go talk to Hint Toad. He’s the blue guy with the map. He’ll charge you 50 coins to mark a moon location on your map.
Then there’s Uncle Amiibo. If you have any Amiibo lying around, scan them. He’ll send them out to find moon locations for you. It takes five minutes of real-world time, but it saves you hours of aimless wandering. It’s not "cheating"—it’s using the tools provided. Honestly, without Hint Toad, the mario odyssey all moons quest would be nearly impossible for anyone with a full-time job.
The Post-Game Power Trip
Once you’ve beaten the "Longer Way" (the 500 moon milestone), the game shifts. You’re no longer exploring for the sake of the story. You’re exploring for the sake of the architecture. You start noticing how every single ledge, every weirdly placed pipe, and every suspiciously symmetrical pile of glowing dirt was put there for a reason.
There is a specific joy in the Mushroom Kingdom post-game. It’s a nostalgia trip, sure, but the "achievements" you get from Archivist Toadette are basically a checklist of everything you’ve done. She gives you moons for things like "capturing 30 targets" or "buying 10 outfits." It’s the game’s way of rewarding you for just... playing it.
Common Misconceptions About 100%
Many people think you need to buy every outfit to get the final moon. You don't. Outfits are separate from the Moon list, though some Moons are locked behind "dress codes." For example, you can't get into the dance club in New Donk City without the Clown Suit or the Builder Outfit.
Another mistake? Thinking the gold pipes are just for fast travel. Often, there’s a second, secret moon hidden inside the bonus stages. Always look for a second exit or a hidden path before you grab the main moon at the end of a sub-area. If the screen doesn't say "You Found a Moon!" and immediately kick you out, there’s probably more to find.
Actionable Steps for the Final Push
If you’re serious about hitting that 880/999 mark, stop wandering. You need a plan.
- Clear the Story First. Don't waste time hunting every moon in the Cascade Kingdom on your first visit. You physically cannot get them all until the Moon Rocks are broken.
- Break the Moon Rocks. As soon as the credits roll, go back to every kingdom and smash that grey cube. This unlocks the "Moon Rock" set of moons (usually numbered 60+ in the list).
- Visit the Toadette. Head to Peach’s Castle and talk to Toadette. She has a massive list of "achievements" that grant moons. You’ve likely already completed 20 of them without realizing.
- Use the Map Filter. You can toggle the map to show only moons you haven't collected. Use this in tandem with Hint Toad to pinpoint exactly where you need to go.
- Coin Farm in Bowser’s Kingdom. If you want to hit 999, you need money. The best spot is the "Beanstalk" area in Bowser's Kingdom or the bonus room in the Wooded Kingdom. Wear the coin-boosting outfits if you have them.
Collecting mario odyssey all moons is a grind, but it’s one of the few grinds in gaming that feels earned. Each moon is a little "aha!" moment from the developers to you. It’s a conversation between the level designer and the player. When you finally see that gold sail, you’ll realize that the game wasn't really about saving Peach—it was about seeing every single inch of the world Nintendo built.
Now, go find that bird that flies around the Sand Kingdom. It’s glowing for a reason. Lucky hunting.