Twenty-five years later, we're still talking about it. Super Smash Bros. Melee isn't just a game; it's a structural anomaly in the history of Nintendo. It was rushed, it's buggy in the most beautiful ways, and the process of how to unlock characters in Super Smash Melee remains one of the most nostalgic—and occasionally frustrating—grinds in the GameCube library. Honestly, if you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably heard at least one lie on the playground about unlocking Sonic or Toad by beating 100 Cruel Melee enemies. Spoiler alert: those don't work.
But the real methods? They’re a mix of endurance tests and specific skill checks.
When you first boot up Melee, the roster looks painfully small. You’ve got the basics: Mario, DK, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, Ness, Bowser, and Peach. That’s it. To double that count, you’ve got to put in the work. Some of these requirements are straightforward, while others feel like they were designed specifically to sell strategy guides back in 2001.
The Endurance Grinds: Mewtwo and Game Counts
Let’s talk about the pink psychic elephant in the room. Unlocking Mewtwo is legendary for being a massive pain. You have two options here, and neither is particularly "fast" in the traditional sense. You either need to log 20 hours of total VS. Mode playtime, or you have to play 700 VS. Mode matches. Back in the day, the "pro tip" was to leave your GameCube on overnight with four controllers plugged in during a literal infinite time match. Because the game calculates "combined" human play hours, four controllers plugged in means you only need five hours of real-world time.
It’s a bit silly, right? But that’s Melee.
Mewtwo isn't the only one tied to match counts. If you’re just playing naturally with friends, you’ll eventually hit Marth at 70 matches, Falco at 300, and Mr. Game & Watch at a staggering 1,000 matches. Most people get Marth almost immediately, but Mr. Game & Watch usually stays a silhouette for months unless you’re actively grinding.
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Actually, there’s a shortcut for Game & Watch that most people forget. Instead of the 1,000 matches, you can just complete Target Test or Classic Mode with every other character (including the other unlockables). It’s still a chore, but it feels more like playing a game and less like a chore.
How to Unlock Characters in Super Smash Melee via Single Player
If you aren't the type to sit through 700 matches, the single-player campaigns are your best friend. This is where the game’s difficulty spikes start to matter.
Take Jigglypuff, for example. She’s the easiest. Just beat Classic mode once. Any difficulty. Any stock count. You finish the credits, the "A New Foe Has Appeared" screen pops up, and you’ve got the world's deadliest balloon.
Dr. Mario is a bit weirder. To get Mario’s PhD-holding alter ego, you have to complete Classic Mode using Mario without using a single continue. If you’re playing on Easy, this is a breeze. If you’re playing on Very Hard, well, good luck with the Metal Mario brothers.
Then there’s Luigi. The way you find the younger Mario brother is genuinely cool and feels like a classic Nintendo secret. You have to play the first level of Adventure Mode (Mushroom Kingdom). When you cross the finish line, the timer’s seconds digit has to be a "2." If you time it right, a cutscene plays where Luigi stomps on Mario’s head and replaces him for the subsequent fight. Beat the rest of Adventure Mode, and Luigi is yours. If you miss that "2," you’re stuck waiting for the next run.
The Fire Emblem Duo
Most Western players didn't even know who Marth or Roy were when Melee dropped. Fire Emblem hadn't left Japan yet. To get Marth, you just need to use all 14 original starters in any mode (VS. or solo).
Roy is a bit more specific. You have to beat Classic Mode with Marth. Again, no continues. Roy is basically a "clone" character (or "echo fighter" in modern parlance), but his meta-game is entirely different because of the "sweet spot" at the base of his blade.
The Legend of Zelda Additions
Young Link requires you to beat Classic Mode with 10 different characters. Two of those characters must be Link and Zelda. It’s not hard, just time-consuming.
Ganondorf, the King of Evil himself, is tied to Event Mode. Specifically, Event 29: "Triforce Gathering." You play as Link and have to fight off Zelda and Ganondorf. It’s a classic 2-on-1 scenario that can be a bit tricky if you aren't used to Melee’s faster gravity and momentum. Once you clear that event, he challenges you.
The Spaced-Out Star Fox Pilot
Falco is a fan favorite for a reason. His "pill" lasers and incredible dair (down-air) make him a top-tier threat. While you can get him through 300 VS. matches, the "proper" way is to beat the 100-Man Melee.
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This is an endurance test. 100 Multi-Man Mario enemies. They die easily, but they can swarm you. Use a character with a strong, wide-reaching attack like Donkey Kong’s down-B or Pikachu’s Thunder. If you get knocked off once, you start over. It’s frustrating, but seeing Falco’s silhouette at the end makes it worth it.
Why the Order Matters
If you're starting a fresh save file today—maybe you're getting into the Slippi scene or just dug your Wii out of the attic—there is an optimal path.
Don't just play VS. matches. Start with Adventure mode to get Luigi. Then do Classic mode runs with different characters to chip away at the Marth/Young Link requirements. By the time you’ve explored the single-player content, you’ll have slashed the "matches played" requirement for the heavy hitters like Mr. Game & Watch and Falco.
One thing to keep in mind: Pichu.
To get the self-damaging baby mouse, you have to complete Event 37: "Legendary Pokémon." Or, you know, play 200 VS. matches. Honestly, Pichu is widely considered the worst character in the game, but for completionists, that 200-match mark is a major milestone.
Hidden Mechanics and Common Pitfalls
A lot of players get confused about the "Challenger" fights. If you lose to an unlockable character when they challenge you, don't panic. You don't have to redo the 20 hours of play or the 100-Man Melee. You just need to play one more VS. match, and they will reappear.
Wait, what about the stages?
Unlocking characters is only half the battle. To truly "complete" the roster screen, you need the stages too. Most are tied to character unlocks (like getting the Great Bay stage when you get Young Link), but others, like Final Destination or Battlefield, require clearing all 51 Events or All-Star mode.
Speaking of All-Star mode, you can’t even play it until you’ve unlocked every single character. It’s the game’s way of saying "congratulations, now play the real version."
The Complexity of the Melee Meta
It’s worth noting that the version of the game you have matters. If you’re playing on a PAL (European/Australian) disc, some character stats are different compared to the NTSC (North American/Japanese) version. However, the unlock methods remain identical across all regions.
Also, a quick word on "clones." In Melee, Dr. Mario, Young Link, Roy, Falco, Ganondorf, and Pichu are considered clones. They share animations with the base cast but have different weights, damage values, and fall speeds. In a game as fast as Melee, these small differences make them entirely different entities in competitive play. Ganondorf might look like Captain Falcon, but he plays like a tank whereas Falcon plays like a Formula 1 car.
Pro-Tip for Fast Unlocking
If you are strictly looking for the fastest way to get everyone:
- Jigglypuff: 1 Classic run.
- Marth: Use everyone once in a 1-stock suicide match.
- Luigi: Adventure mode (The "2" second trick).
- Roy: Marth Classic run.
- Dr. Mario: Mario Classic run.
- Young Link: 10 more Classic runs.
- Falco: 100-man Melee (use DK).
- Ganondorf: Event 29.
- Mewtwo: The "overnight" controller trick in VS. mode.
- Mr. Game & Watch: Clear Target Test with everyone else.
Actionable Next Steps
Now that you know the roadmap, here is exactly what you should do to get your roster filled out tonight.
First, check your internal clock. If you're going for the Mewtwo "time" unlock, make sure you aren't just sitting in menus. The game only counts time spent inside an actual match. Set a 4-player Infinite Time match on Fountain of Dreams, plug in four controllers, and go grab dinner.
Second, focus on Event Mode. Many people ignore it, but it’s the gateway to Ganondorf and several of the best stages in the game. It also teaches you the weird niche mechanics of the game that Classic mode ignores.
Finally, if you’re playing on an emulator like Dolphin or using a memory card with "20XX" or "UnclePunch" installed, you might already have everything unlocked. But there’s something genuinely satisfying about hearing that alarm sound and seeing the "New Foe" silhouette on a vanilla save file.
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Go grab a WaveBird controller, blow the dust out of the disc drive, and get to work. That 1,000-match grind for Mr. Game & Watch isn't going to finish itself.