You’re standing on the dark side of the moon. Mario is shivering. You’ve just spent the last forty minutes platforming through a gravity-defying gauntlet without a single checkpoint, and your reward is a multi-moon that looks exactly like the hundreds you’ve already stuffed into the Odyssey’s tank. It’s exhausting. It’s also exactly why Super Mario Odyssey is the weirdest, most ambitious collectathon Nintendo has ever released.
When people talk about Mario Odyssey moon moons, they’re usually divided into two camps. You have the casual players who grab the minimum sixty or so needed to see the credits roll, and then you have the completionists. The ones who know that the "real" game doesn't even start until Bowser is wearing a wedding ring and Peach has gone on a solo world tour.
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The Numbers Game: How Many Are There Really?
There’s a bit of a misconception about the total count. If you look at the in-game list, it says 880. But the Odyssey’s counter goes all the way to 999. Why the gap? Because Nintendo decided to let you buy moons from the Crazy Cap shops using standard gold coins. It feels like cheating, honestly. You can just stand there, mash the A button, and watch your ship’s power level rise without ever touching a platform.
But those "bought" moons are hollow. The true Mario Odyssey moon moons—the ones with names, locations, and specific challenges—total 880. If you want that golden sail and the final unlockable portrait in the Wedding Hall, you’re going to need to dig into the obscure stuff. We’re talking about the moons that require you to herd sheep in the desert or find a specific bird that only appears at sunset in the Wooded Kingdom. It gets granular. Fast.
Breaking Down the Difficulty Spikes
Not all moons are created equal. Some are literally sitting in plain sight, glowing on top of a crate. Others require frame-perfect Cappy throws.
Take the "Jump-Rope Hero" in Metro Kingdom. It’s widely considered the bane of every completionist's existence. You have to jump 100 times in a row while the speed ramps up to a frantic pace. If you trip at 99, you start at zero. It’s brutal. Then you have the RC Car challenge, which controls like a nightmare unless you switch your brain into a totally different mode of spatial awareness.
Compare that to the "Moon Shards" missions. These are basically the "filler" content of Odyssey. You run around a small area, collect five pieces, and boom—a moon appears. They aren't hard. They’re just chores. But then you hit the Darker Side.
The Darker Side of the Moon is a singular, massive level called "Long Journey’s End." No checkpoints. If you die at the very end, you go back to the start. This is where the game stops being a playground and starts being a test of every mechanic you’ve learned, from the Glydon glide to the Pokio poke.
The Mystery of the Multi-Moon
Wait, what’s a Multi-Moon? It’s essentially three moons packed into one shiny, tiered cluster. You usually get these from boss fights. While they look impressive, they only count as one "entry" in your collection list, even though they add three points to your ship’s total power.
This is where the math for Mario Odyssey moon moons gets confusing for new players. You might think you're closer to the end than you actually are because your ship says 300, but your list only shows 250 entries.
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Hidden Details Most Players Miss
- The Toad Hint System: If you’re stuck, talk to Hint Toad. He charges 50 coins to mark a moon on your map. It’s a fair trade.
- Uncle Amiibo: You can tap any Amiibo to have it sniff out a moon location for you. It takes five minutes, but it's free.
- Talkatoo: That annoying bird? He gives you the name of a moon. Sometimes the name is a riddle. "On the Pillar" is obvious. "Shining in the Deepest Part of the Woods" is less so.
Why Bother With 999?
Is it worth it? Honestly, the reward for hitting 999 is... divisive. You get a giant golden top hat on top of Peach’s Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. That’s it. No secret ending. No new playable characters. Just a hat.
But the journey to get those Mario Odyssey moon moons is the real reward. This game is a masterclass in "just five more minutes." You go to the Luncheon Kingdom to find one specific moon, and three hours later, you’ve discovered a hidden volcano cave, dressed Mario up like a chef, and mastered the art of flickering through lava as a fireball.
Actionable Strategy for Completionists
If you’re serious about cleaning up the map, stop wandering aimlessly. It’s the fastest way to burn out. Instead, follow this workflow:
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- Clear the Story First: Don't obsess over every corner during your first visit. Many moons don't even spawn until you beat the world boss or finish the main game.
- The Moon Rock Phase: Once Bowser is defeated, go back to every kingdom and find the "Moon Rock." Smashing it releases a whole new set of high-difficulty moons across the map. These are often the most creative challenges in the game.
- Coin Farming for the Shop: To hit that 999 cap, you’ll need thousands of coins. The best spot is in the Bowser Kingdom. There’s a specific seed you can bring to a pot that leads to a "cloud" area where you can net 180 coins in about 60 seconds. Repeat this until your wallet is maxed.
- Use the Music: Listen for the chimes. If your controller vibrates or you hear a sparkling sound, you’re near a hidden moon. Sometimes it’s buried in the ground and requires a ground pound.
The beauty of the moon system is its flexibility. You don't have to be a pro. You just have to be curious. Whether you're doing the "Vanishing Road" challenge with your heart in your throat or just buying a moon because you're tired of jumping rope, the game respects your time. Just don't expect a parade when you hit 999. The satisfaction is purely internal.