You’ve collected 500 Power Moons. You’ve sat through the credits. You probably think you’re good at Super Mario Odyssey. Then you land on the dark side of the moon—well, the Mario Odyssey Darkest Side to be precise—and realize that Nintendo has been playing nice with you this whole time.
It’s brutal. Honestly, it’s one of the most punishing gauntlets in modern 3D platforming history. There are no checkpoints. Zero. If you mess up a single dive-jump over a pit of lava ten minutes into the run, you’re going right back to the start. It’s the ultimate test of every mechanic you’ve learned since leaving Bonneton.
The stage is officially titled "Long Journey’s End," and that name isn't an exaggeration. Most players hit a wall here. They get frustrated. They put the controller down. But beating it isn't just about twitch reflexes; it’s about understanding the weird internal logic of Cappy and knowing where the game actually lets you "cheat" the intended path.
The Mental Game of Long Journey's End
Before we even talk about the Lava Bubble section or the Pokio climb, let's be real about the difficulty. Mario Odyssey isn't Dark Souls, but the Mario Odyssey Darkest Side level feels like it was designed by a different team entirely. It’s a marathon. You need to go into this with the mindset that you will die at least twenty times before you even see the final Spark Pylon.
Persistence is the only way through.
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The first few areas are basically a warm-up. You've got the moving platforms and the Pulse Beams. If you're struggling with the timing of the jumps over the shockwaves, you aren't ready for what comes next. My advice? Don't rush. The timer isn't your enemy here—gravity is. Most deaths happen because a player tries to shave two seconds off a section and misses a hat-jump.
Why Checkpoints Don't Exist Here
Nintendo made a very specific choice. By removing the flag system for this final challenge, they forced you to master the "flow" state. You can't just luck your way through one section and save your progress. You have to be able to execute every single movement sequence in a row, flawlessly. It’s exhausting. It’s also incredibly rewarding when that final Moon finally pops.
Breaking Down the Hardest Segments
Let's look at the parts that actually kill people.
The Uproot Section
You’re tall. You’re lanky. You’re trying to navigate moving platforms while stretched out. The trick here is often ignored: you don't always have to be at full extension. Retracting at the right moment can save your hitbox from getting clipped by a stray projectile. Also, watch the shadows. In a 3D space, shadows are your only honest guide for where you’re going to land.
The Pokio Wall Climb
This is where the run usually dies for the first time. You’re flicking the bird’s beak into the wall to fling yourself upward. If you panic, you’ll flick too early and fall into the abyss. You have more time than you think. Deep breaths. Focus on the rhythm of the "poke and flick." If you miss a poke, don't just mash buttons—try to steer your fall back toward a lower ledge.
The Glydon Glide
This is the "pro-strat" section. Most people try to navigate the tornadoes as intended. It’s stressful. It’s precise. However, if you shake the controller (or the Joy-Cons) while gliding as Glydon, you gain a tiny bit of height. If you do this consistently, you can actually bypass large chunks of the intended path and stay high above the danger. It feels like breaking the game, but honestly, it’s a valid mechanic that the game never explicitly tells you is essential for survival here.
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The Infamous Volbono Lava
Swimming as a Lava Bubble is usually fun. Here, it’s a nightmare of timing. You have to launch yourself between moving platforms of lava. If you miss, you’re done. The hit detection on the edges of the "safe" lava can be a bit finicky. Aim for the center. Always.
Hidden Secrets and Life-Savers
Did you know you can bring a Life-Up Heart into the Mario Odyssey Darkest Side?
Seriously.
Go back to the Odyssey, fly to a different kingdom (like the Mushroom Kingdom or Tostarena), buy a Life-Up Heart from the Crazy Cap store, and then fly back. You’ll start the level with six health points instead of three. It gives you a buffer for three "dumb" mistakes. In a level this long, those three extra hits are the difference between victory and a "Game Over" screen that makes you want to throw your Switch out the window.
Amiibo Support
If you’re not a "purist," use the Peach Amiibo. Scanning it during the level gives you a Life-Up Heart instantly. You can basically heal yourself mid-run. Some call it cheating; I call it using the tools Nintendo gave us. If you’re stuck on the final Bowser section for the tenth time, just scan the Amiibo. No one is judging you.
The Bowser Finale
Once you reach the painting, you think you're done. You aren't. You have to play as Bowser and navigate a crumbling rock path while dodging falling boulders. It’s cinematic and terrifying.
- Tip 1: Don't stop moving. The floor is literally disappearing behind you.
- Tip 2: Use the fire breath to clear small debris, but don't rely on it for everything.
- Tip 3: The final jump is a leap of faith.
The moment you hit that final Spark Pylon and travel up the wire, the music changes. "Honeylune Ridge: Escape" starts playing. It’s one of the best moments in gaming history. You’re climbing the city hall of New Donk City, but it’s made of moon rock. The characters you met along the way are there to cheer you on. It’s a victory lap, but you still have to make it to the very top.
Common Mistakes People Make
- Ignoring Cappy’s reach: You can use Cappy to stall in mid-air. If you overshot a jump, throw Cappy and hold the button. It gives you an extra half-second to adjust your landing.
- Panicking at the Yoshi part: When you’re using Yoshi to tongue-grapple up the walls, people tend to rush. Yoshi’s flutter jump is your best friend. Use it to stabilize before the next grab.
- Forgetting the Scarecrow: There’s a section where you lose Cappy. You have to rely on pure platforming. If your triple jump isn't mastered, practice it in the Mushroom Kingdom first. You need that height.
The Mario Odyssey Darkest Side isn't just a level; it's a final exam. It asks if you really know how to play the game. It’s frustrating, sure, but it’s also the most honest part of Odyssey. There are no gimmicks to hide behind—just you, a hat, and a very long drop.
What to do after beating it
After you grab that Multi-Moon, you've essentially conquered the hardest challenge the game has to offer. But you aren't "finished." You should head back to the Mushroom Kingdom and check the Toadette achievements. There are still the "Invisible" levels and the harder versions of the boss fights in the standard Dark Side. If you can handle Long Journey's End, those boss rematches will feel like a walk in the park.
Go get your Invisibility Hat. You've earned it.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Attempt
- Pre-load health: Visit a Crazy Cap store in a different kingdom and buy the 6-heart boost before entering the Darkest Side.
- Practice the Glydon skip: Go to the Wooded Kingdom and practice "shaking" to maintain altitude with Glydon. It’s the easiest way to bypass the hardest mid-section of the Moon.
- Calibrate your controller: Ensure you don't have Joy-Con drift. This level requires pixel-perfect precision; even a slight tilt of the stick can send you off a ledge during the Pokio section.
- Turn off the music (if needed): Sometimes the high-energy track can cause panic. If you’re failing at the same spot, try playing in silence to focus purely on the visual cues of the platforms.
Good luck. You're going to need it, but you're also going to love the feeling of finally planting that flag at the summit.