You remember the sound. That specific, digital thwack when a Mii releases an arrow in Wii Sports Resort. It’s iconic. But honestly, most people just shot at the standard bullseye for a few hours and moved on to Swordplay or Table Tennis. They missed the best part. Hidden in the background of every single stage are these weird, out-of-place objects that give you 10 points and a stamp if you manage to nail them all. These are the Wii archery secret targets, and they are way harder to hit than you’d think.
It isn't just about high scores.
Finding these things is basically the ultimate "flex" in the game. You’re not just shooting at a round board in a field anymore. You’re aiming at a tiny piece of fruit half a mile away while the wind is blowing at 9 mph. It’s frustrating. It’s satisfying. It’s Nintendo at its most "Nintendo."
What Exactly Are These Secret Targets?
Basically, the developers at Nintendo decided that the standard stages in the Archery mode were a bit too straightforward. To spice things up, they tucked one "secret" object into every single level across the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced tiers. There are 12 in total.
They aren't boards.
Instead, you're looking for things that definitely don't belong on an archery range. Think oranges, watermelons, and even a literal grandfather clock. If you hit one, the game rewards you with a unique sound effect and a massive 10-point boost. If you're going for the "Secret Target" stamp—which is one of the more annoying ones to get in Wii Sports Resort—you have to hit the secret object in every single stage of a 4-stage run. Miss one? Start over. It’s brutal.
Most players stumble onto the first one by accident. You’re aiming high to account for distance, your controller slips, and suddenly you’ve skewered an orange sitting on a rock. Then the obsession starts. You stop caring about the bullseye. You just want to find the next weird thing hidden in the brush.
The Hunt: Where to Find Every Wii Archery Secret Target
Let’s get into the actual locations. Most of these are tucked away in the periphery of your vision. You have to actively ignore the target board to see them.
The Beginner Level Fruits
The Beginner stages are mostly about fruit. In the very first stage, look to the right. There’s a tiny orange sitting on a rock ledge. It’s small, but since it’s the first stage, the wind is usually non-existent, making it a "gimme."
Stage two gets a bit weirder. Look way off to the left, past the bridge. There is a melon—specifically a cantaloupe—resting on the grass. You have to lob your arrow quite a bit to reach it. If you’re used to direct shots, this is where the game starts teaching you about arc.
Stage three features a watermelon. It’s nestled in the shade of a large tree to the right of the main target. Because of the shadows, it’s easy to miss if your TV brightness isn't turned up. Finally, stage four of the Beginner tier has a pineapple. It’s sitting on the beach, way off in the distance to the left.
Intermediate: Things Get Weird
Once you graduate to Intermediate, the secret targets stop being just fruit.
- The Bread: In the first Intermediate stage, look behind the target and slightly to the left. There’s a loaf of bread on a stone wall. It’s narrow, which makes the hit box a nightmare.
- The Heart: Stage two has a heart-shaped ornament. It’s usually hanging out near the cliffside.
- The Cake: Yes, a slice of cake. Look to the right side of the ruins.
- The Clock: This is the famous one. A grandfather clock sitting in the middle of the woods. It’s in stage four. It’s huge compared to the orange, but the distance is deceptive.
Advanced: The True Test
Advanced is where most people give up on the Wii archery secret targets. The wind is higher, the targets move, and the secret objects are placed in spots that require genuine skill.
Stage one has a literal "Target" brand-style bullseye, but it’s a tiny, tiny charm. Stage two features a daruma doll—a nod to Nintendo’s Japanese roots—hidden near the temple structures. Stage three has a lucky cat (Maneki-neko) tucked away.
The final one? Stage four. It’s a Mii trophy. It’s positioned way out in the distance, often obscured by the moving elements of the level. Hitting this while the wind is gusting is the peak of Wii Sports Resort achievement.
The Physics of the Long Shot
You can't just point and click.
The Wii Remote MotionPlus was a big deal back then because it actually tracked the angle of your wrist. To hit the farther Wii archery secret targets, you have to master the "arc." The arrow doesn't fly in a straight line; it follows a parabolic curve.
If you’re aiming for the pineapple in the Beginner stages, you might need to aim your reticle an inch or two above the actual object. And then there’s the wind. The wind indicator in the top corner isn't just for show. If it says 5 mph to the left, and you’re shooting at a target that’s 50 yards away, you need to aim significantly to the right.
It feels more like a flight simulator than a sports game at that point. You’re calculating trajectory, wind resistance, and the "drop" of the arrow. Professional players (yes, they exist) often use the environment as a guide. They’ll line up the top of their Mii’s bow with a specific cloud or a mountain peak to ensure the same shot every time. It's precise work.
Why We’re Still Talking About This in 2026
It’s weirdly nostalgic.
The Wii era was a time when "secrets" felt like actual secrets. Today, every game has a thousand map markers and a "detective mode" that highlights collectables in glowing yellow. Wii Sports Resort didn't do that. It just put a cantaloupe on a cliff and waited to see if you were bored enough to look for it.
There’s also the E-E-A-T factor of game design here. Nintendo’s developers, like Keisuke Terasaki and the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, always emphasized "play." They wanted players to poke at the edges of the world. Adding these secret targets was a way to reward curiosity. It’s a design philosophy that says the game is more than just a menu and a score—it’s a place you inhabit.
Recent speedruns of the "All Stamps" category show just how much these targets matter. Watching a runner nail all 12 targets in a row without a single miss is genuinely impressive. It requires a level of muscle memory that most of us don't have for anything in our actual lives.
Common Mistakes When Hunting Secret Targets
The biggest mistake? Overcompensating.
People see the wind and freak out. They aim way too far to the side and the arrow ends up in the ocean. The wind in Wii Sports Resort is impactful, but it’s consistent. Small adjustments are usually better than huge swings.
Another issue is the "death grip." If you hold the Wii Remote too tightly, your aim will jitter. The MotionPlus sensor is sensitive enough to pick up your heartbeat if you’re stressed. Relax your hand. Pull back the "string" (the A and B buttons) with a smooth motion.
Also, don't forget to zoom. Many players don't realize you can change your view slightly to get a better look at the horizon. It doesn't give you a sniper scope, but it helps you identify the silhouette of that grandfather clock against the trees.
Actionable Tips for Completionists
If you’re dusting off the Wii (or the Wii U) to finally finish your stamp collection, here is the roadmap:
- Calibration is King: Every time you start a session, place the Wii Remote face down on a flat table for 5 seconds. This resets the gyroscopes. If your pointer starts drifting to the left mid-game, you’ll never hit the secret targets.
- Practice in "All-Target" Mode: Don't try to go for the stamp immediately. Go into the individual levels and just practice hitting the secret object until you can do it three times in a row.
- Ignore the Score: Your total score doesn't matter for the secret target stamp. If you hit the secret target, you get 10 points, but you basically "waste" that arrow for the main board. That's fine. You’re here for the secret, not the gold medal.
- Watch the Wind Cycles: The wind patterns in Wii Sports Resort aren't entirely random. If you find a wind speed that works for your shot, try to fire quickly before the cycle changes significantly.
- Use Visual Anchors: Find something in the background—a specific leaf, a rock formation, or a part of the UI—and use it as a "sight." If your arrow hits the target when the tip of your bow is touching a specific mountain peak, remember that spot.
Hitting every Wii archery secret target is a rite of passage. It turns a casual party game into a test of genuine focus. Once you hear that unique chime for the 12th time, and that stamp pops up on your screen, you’ll realize why people are still playing this game nearly two decades later. It’s just good, clean fun with a layer of hidden depth that most modern games can't replicate.
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Go find that pineapple. It's waiting for you on the beach.