Steam rises from the rusty, mechanical floorboards. You’re standing in Steam Gardens, but it doesn't feel like a garden. Not really. Most people remember Super Mario Odyssey for the bright colors of Tostarena or the jazz-infused streets of New Donk City, but the Super Mario Odyssey Wooded Kingdom is a different beast entirely. It’s dense. It’s vertical. Honestly, it’s a little bit claustrophobic compared to the open sands of the Desert Kingdom.
Nintendo did something weird here. They took nature and shoved it inside a giant, decaying greenhouse managed by watering-can robots called Steam Gardeners. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s also where the game’s difficulty starts to spike if you aren't paying attention.
You’ve got the Deep Woods lurking at the bottom, a literal pit of despair where a T-Rex chases you through the dark. Then you have the Uproots—those stretchy-legged onions—that completely change how you perceive vertical space. If you’re trying to 100% this game, this kingdom is usually where the "casual fun" turns into a serious grind for Power Moons.
The Secret Terror of the Deep Woods
Most players discover the Deep Woods by accident. You fall. You expect to lose a life or respawn at a checkpoint, but instead, the screen fades to black and you land in a murky, prehistoric jungle. It’s quiet. Too quiet. There’s no map down here.
The Super Mario Odyssey Wooded Kingdom hides its most terrifying secret in this basement. A massive T-Rex stalks the perimeter. Unlike the dinosaur in the Cascade Kingdom, you can’t just capture this one and go on a rampage—well, you can, but it’s much harder to pin down, and the atmosphere makes it feel like a survival horror game. To get the Moons here, you have to find specific seeds and bring them to pots, all while avoiding a predator that can end your run in seconds. It’s a masterclass in level design because it uses the fear of the "bottomless pit" to actually hide more content.
✨ Don't miss: Marvel Rivals Sexiest Skins: Why NetEase is Winning the Aesthetic War
Master the Uproot or Fail
Mechanically, this kingdom is built around the Uproot. This capture is probably the most underrated in the entire game. By stretching its legs, Mario can reach high platforms, break nut-shaped blocks, and dodge the poisonous goop that the Piranha Plants spit out.
If you aren't comfortable with the Uproot’s timing, you’re going to have a rough time. The boss fight against Spewart (one of the Broodals) and the later encounter with the Torkdrift mechanical flower require precise vertical movement. Torkdrift, in particular, is a highlight. You’re underneath a giant floating saucer, and you have to use the Uproot to smash its core from below. It’s rhythmic. It’s satisfying. But if you mistime a stretch, the lasers will catch you.
Getting the Hardest Moons
Let’s talk about the frustration of the "Iron Road." To get some of the trickier Power Moons, you have to navigate thin walkways and use Cappy to flip switches that create temporary platforms.
- The "Path to the Secret Flower Field" is a long, winding trek that tests your mastery of the Uproot.
- "Flower Road Dash" requires you to use Rocket Flowers to sprint across collapsing paths.
- "Walking on the Clouds" is a sub-area that forces you to use the Nut-growing mechanic while navigating a 2D-style platforming section in a 3D space.
The Nut-growing mechanic is actually a bit polarizing among speedrunners. You have to find these large metal nuts, hit them with Cappy, and wait for the vine to grow. It slows down the pace. In a game that is usually about momentum and "triple-jump-dive" combos, the Wooded Kingdom demands patience. It’s a stop-and-go rhythm that feels more like a puzzle-platformer than an action game.
🔗 Read more: Why EA Sports Cricket 07 is Still the King of the Pitch Two Decades Later
Exploring the Secret Entrance and the Sky Garden
The Sky Garden Tower is a landmark you can see from almost anywhere in the kingdom. Climbing it feels like a genuine achievement. You start at the Iron Road, work your way through the internal machinery, and eventually emerge at the top where the air feels thinner.
There’s a specific Moon here—"Atop the Highest Point"—that requires you to climb the very tip of the tower. Many players miss it because they think the boss arena is the end. It isn't. You have to look up.
Semantic Details You Might Have Missed
The music in the Super Mario Odyssey Wooded Kingdom is a surf-rock-inspired track that honestly has no business being as catchy as it is. It creates this bizarre contrast between the "rusty machine" aesthetic and a beach party. It’s a "vibe," as people say.
But look closer at the Steam Gardeners. These robots are obsessed with flowers, yet they live in a world of metal. There is a subtle environmental story being told here about preservation and the clash between technology and the natural world. Nintendo doesn't hit you over the head with it, but the crumbling architecture speaks for itself. The "Secret Café" area is tucked away behind a breakable wall near the entrance, and it's one of the few places where the robots seem truly at peace.
💡 You might also like: Walkthrough Final Fantasy X-2: How to Actually Get That 100% Completion
Actionable Steps for 100% Completion
If you’re stuck at 40 Moons and can't find the rest, stop looking at the trees and start looking at the ground. Or the sky. Here is how you actually finish this map:
- Find the Nut behind the Odyssey. Right at the start, turn around. There’s almost always something hidden behind the ship in every kingdom, and the Wooded Kingdom is no exception.
- Master the Long Jump into a Dive. To reach the far-off platforms in the Charging Chuck area, you need to chain your movements. Run, long jump, throw Cappy, and then dive onto him for extra distance.
- The Deep Woods Seed. Find the robot in the Deep Woods who gives you a seed. You have to carry it all the way to a specific pot near the edge of the woods. It’s tedious, but it’s a guaranteed Moon.
- Talk to the Sphinx. He’s guarding a secret area. If you answer his riddle correctly, he moves out of the way. If you don't, you're locked out of a chunk of the map’s completion percentage.
- Check the Painting. Don't forget that one Moon is likely locked behind a warp painting from another kingdom (usually the Luncheon Kingdom or the Bowser Kingdom depending on your play order).
The Super Mario Odyssey Wooded Kingdom isn't just a level; it's a test of how well you can handle verticality. It lacks the wide-open freedom of the Sand Kingdom, but it replaces it with complexity. Get used to the Uproot, don't fear the T-Rex in the basement, and keep your eyes peeled for those tiny glowing spots in the dirt.
Once you clear the main story and the "Moon Rocks" explode, come back here. The kingdom gets populated with even more difficult challenges, including the "Vanishing Road" which will absolutely test your sanity with its timed platforms and lack of a scooter. It’s tough, it’s rusty, and it’s easily one of the most rewarding parts of the game to fully master.