Honestly, it’s wild to think that New Super Mario Bros DS came out in 2006. Back then, 2D Mario was basically a relic. We had the GBA ports, sure, but a brand-new, original side-scroller? That hadn't happened since the early '90s. Nintendo took a massive gamble by going "backwards" to 2D after the success of 64 and Sunshine, and they ended up moving over 30 million copies. It basically saved the genre.
You probably remember the first time you grabbed that Mega Mushroom. Watching Mario grow into a screen-filling behemoth while the DS speakers crunched under the weight of his footsteps—it was pure dopamine. But there’s a lot more to this game than just crushing pipes and flagpoles.
The Secret World 4 and 7 Skip Most People Missed
Here is something that still trips people up: you can beat the whole game without ever seeing World 4 or World 7. Because of how the map branches, if you just play "normally," you’ll jump straight from World 3 to World 5.
To get to the jungle (World 4), you have to defeat the boss of the World 2 Castle while you're in Mini Mario form. It’s a total pain. You’re tiny, one hit kills you, and your jumps feel like you’re floating in moon gravity. But if you land that final ground pound on Mummipokey as a speck of dust, a secret path opens up. The same rule applies to World 5's Petey Piranha if you want to reach the clouds of World 7.
That Hidden Challenge Mode You Didn't Know Existed
Most players think they’re done once they rescue Peach and watch the credits. They aren't. There is a "Secret Challenge Mode" baked into the code that changes the fundamental physics of the game to mimic the NES original.
If you pause the game on the map screen and input L R L R X X Y Y, a message pops up confirming you’ve activated it. From that point on, the screen will no longer scroll backwards. If you move right, the left side of the screen becomes a solid wall. It sounds simple, but it completely breaks certain levels where you need to backtrack for Star Coins. It’s a brutal, old-school way to replay a game that many critics originally called "too easy."
Modern Context: Playing in 2026
Even now, as we look at the 40th anniversary of the franchise in 2025/2026, the DS version holds a weirdly specific charm. The 2.5D art style—3D models on 2D planes—has a crunchiness that the later Wii U or Switch versions lost. Those later games felt too "clean." The DS version has grit.
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- The Blue Shell: This was easily the best "lost" power-up. Sliding around like a Koopa was fun, but it was actually a high-skill movement tool. If you timed your crouch right, you were basically invincible.
- The Mario vs. Luigi Mode: This was the underrated MVP of recess. It only required one cartridge via Download Play. It was chaotic, mean-spirited, and featured unique arenas you couldn't find in the main game.
- The Minigames: Half of these were recycled from Super Mario 64 DS, but "Sort or 'Splode" and the Luigi poker games were genuinely addictive.
How to 100% Your Save File Properly
Getting those three stars on your save file is the ultimate flex. To do it, you need to:
- Clear every single level (including the lettered secret stages like 1-A).
- Spend every single Star Coin to open all the signposts on the map.
- Find all 18 secret exits.
A lot of people forget that you actually have to spend the coins at the gates for the game to register them toward your 100% completion. Once you do, you unlock the ability to save anywhere on the map screen, which is a godsend for hunting down the last few secrets you missed.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re digging your DS out of a drawer or using an emulator, try these right away:
- Play as Luigi: Hold L and R while selecting your save file. It doesn't change the physics (unlike Super Mario Bros. 2), but it just feels right.
- Infinite 1-Ups: Head to World 1-1. Get the Mega Mushroom, but wait until the very end of the level. If you destroy enough of the level—including the flagpole—you’ll get a massive stack of lives.
- Timer Fireworks: If you hit the flagpole when the last two digits of the timer match (like 244 or 155), you get the classic theme music and fireworks. If they're 11, 22, or 33, a red Toad House appears. 44, 55, or 66 gives you a green one (lives), and 77, 88, or 99 gives you an orange one (Mega Mushroom).
New Super Mario Bros DS isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s a masterclass in how to modernize a franchise without losing its soul. It might not have the "Wonder" of the newest entries, but it has the tightest level design of the entire "New" era. Go back and try to find that secret exit in World 1-2. You probably walked past it a thousand times as a kid.
To truly master the game today, focus on mastering the wall jump and ground pound cancel—mechanics that were relatively new to 2D Mario at the time but are essential for speedrunning the trickier World 8 castles.