Beginner’s Guide#
The First Hour#
Starting the Game#
When you first boot Super Mario Odyssey, you’ll land on the title screen. Choose “New Game” and a cutscene plays: Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and destroys Mario’s cap. From there you arrive in the Cap Kingdom - the game’s opening area.
Speedrunning the Cap Kingdom#
| Step | Action | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interact with the lever | Opens the path upward |
| 2 | Learn to throw Cappy | Press Y to throw - attack enemies and flip switches |
| 3 | Collect Power Moons | 6 moons unlock the Odyssey |
| 4 | Your first Capture | Capture your first enemy - the Bullet Bill |
| 5 | Reach the Odyssey | Fuel the ship with Power Moons |
| 6 | Pick a destination | Head for the Cascade Kingdom |
Opening Tips#
| Tip | Notes |
|---|---|
| Learn the controls | Spend time in the Cap Kingdom trying every move |
| Explore | Any glowing spot is worth checking - usually a moon |
| Talk to NPCs | The Bonneters offer useful hints and info |
| Collect purple coins | The flashing blue-purple coins buy outfits |
| Save progress | The game auto-saves; manual saves also work |
| Use Snapshot Mode | ZL+Y enters Snapshot Mode - great while exploring |
Movement Basics#
Odyssey has the richest moveset in series history. Mastering these fundamentals is the key to a smooth run.
Basic Moves#
| Move | Input | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Run | Left stick | Basic movement, speed control |
| Jump | B | Clear obstacles, stomp enemies |
| Long jump | ZR + forward + B | Cross wide gaps |
| Triple jump | B, B, B | The highest jump - reaches high platforms |
| Backflip | ZL + B | Jump backward onto small ledges |
| Wall flip | B + direction against a wall | Sideways wall jump |
| Wall jump | B while against a wall | Bounce repeatedly between two walls |
| Crouch | ZL | Duck under low obstacles; prep for rolling |
| Rolling | ZL + left stick | Fast downhill, squeeze through narrow gaps |
| Ground pound | ZL in midair | Smash thin floor panels, trigger mechanisms |
| Swim | Left stick in water | Move in water; press B to dive |
| Climb | Approach vines or ropes | Vertical climbing; speed depends on button mashing |
Advanced Movement#
| Technique | Input | Difficulty | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap bounce | Throw Cappy and jump onto it | Medium | Extra height, cross platforms |
| Cap bounce chain | Bounce on the thrown cap repeatedly | High | Maintain height for long air travel |
| Throw cancel | Throw Cappy the instant you land | Medium | Cancels landing lag |
| Roll jump | Jump out of a roll | Low | A jump that keeps your speed |
| Cap cruise | Throw Cappy onto water and stand on it | Medium | Travel across water surfaces |
The Cappy System in Detail#
Cap Fundamentals#
| Function | Input | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Normal throw | Y | Throw Cappy straight - attack enemies, hit switches |
| Spin throw | Hold Y | Cappy spins around Mario, guarding nearby threats |
| Aimed throw | Motion or right stick | Precisely aim the throw direction |
| Cap bounce | Y then jump onto the cap | Bounce off the hat for extra height |
The Capture System#
Capturing is Odyssey’s core innovation. Throw Cappy onto specific enemies or objects and Mario controls them, gaining their unique abilities.
| Capture type | Examples | Ability gained |
|---|---|---|
| Enemies | Bullet Bill, Goomba | That enemy’s signature attacks and movement |
| Objects | Tanks, power lines | The object’s mechanical function |
| Environment | Trees, rocks | Special ways to interact with the terrain |
Capture Basics Tutorial#
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aim at the target | Point the camera at the enemy or object |
| 2 | Throw Cappy | Press Y to land Cappy on the target |
| 3 | Capture succeeds | Cappy covers the target’s head; control mode begins |
| 4 | Use abilities | Access that target’s unique moves |
| 5 | Release | Press Y to jump off, or get knocked out by damage |
Controls While Captured#
| Action | Input | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Left stick | Controls the captured target |
| Attack | Y | Uses that target’s special attack |
| Jump | B | The captured target jumps (some can) |
| Release | Stick + L | Actively exit the capture |
| Special action | ZR | Some targets have unique specials |
Capture Techniques#
| Technique | Notes |
|---|---|
| Chain captures | Some puzzles require capturing several targets in sequence |
| Combat captures | Capture a strong enemy to fight other enemies |
| Exploration captures | Use capture abilities to reach normally unreachable places |
| Release timing | Time your release to link advanced tricks |
Core Exploration Principles#
| Principle | Notes |
|---|---|
| Observe closely | Watch for anomalies - glowing spots, odd shapes |
| Listen | Power Moons emit a distinctive chime |
| Check the map | Kingdom maps show found and unfound moon locations |
| Hunt hidden passages | Behind murals, waterfalls, and tall grass |
| Talk to every NPC | They leak moon locations and secrets |
| Try capturing everything | Almost every enemy can be captured |
| Throw Cappy at anything suspicious | Hidden mechanisms love a cap to the face |
| Collect purple coins | They buy outfits and hint items in shops |
Assist Features#
| Feature | Effect | How to enable |
|---|---|---|
| Help Mode | Shows an arrow pointing to the next objective | In settings |
| Time limits | Shows remaining time in specific stages | Automatic |
| Assist mode | Less fall damage, more warning markers | In-game prompts |
| Two-player mode | P2 controls Cappy independently | In settings |
Recommended Settings#
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Camera speed | 3-4 (default) | Balances exploring and fighting |
| Motion controls | On | Some actions need them |
| Vibration | On | Better feedback |
| Volume | 70-80% | Enjoy the music and still hear cues |
| Display | TV mode | The best experience |
| Subtitles | On | Follow the story easily |
Recommended Early-Kingdom Route#
| Order | Kingdom | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cap Kingdom | Finish the tutorial; collect at least 6 moons |
| 2 | Cascade Kingdom | Collect enough to reach Sand |
| 3 | Sand Kingdom | Your first real exploration; 16 moons |
| 4 | Lake Kingdom | Underwater exploration; learn swimming |
| 5 | Wooded Kingdom | Use captures to traverse complex terrain |
| 6 | Cloud Kingdom | A short platforming challenge |
| 7 | Lost Kingdom | Jungle exploration with more combat |
| 8 | Metro Kingdom | City exploration, tons of side content |
Common New-Player Mistakes#
| Mistake | The right move |
|---|---|
| Ignoring purple coins | They’re the key to outfits and souvenirs |
| Rushing without exploring | Hidden moons hide in every corner |
| Fear of dying | Death only costs 10 coins - experiment freely |
| Skipping technique practice | Drill triple jumps and cap bounces |
| Ignoring captures | Every capture target has a unique use |
| Never buying hints | 50 coins per moon hint is excellent value |
Key Bindings#
| Action | Default | Custom advice |
|---|---|---|
| Jump | B | Keep it |
| Cap throw | Y | Keep it |
| Dash | Click left stick | Best left alone |
| Crouch | ZL | Keep it |
| Long jump | ZR+B | Keep it |
| Camera | Right stick | Adjust sensitivity to taste |
| Motion controls | On | Recommended on |
The In-Game Hint System#
| Hint type | How to get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Moon location hints | Buy from the hat vendor | 50 coins |
| General strategy hints | Talk to the Hint Toad | Free |
| NPC clues | Chat with kingdom NPCs | Free |
| Map markers | Auto-shown after buying hints | Included in the 50 coins |
Mindset Advice#
| Advice | Notes |
|---|---|
| Enjoy the ride | Odyssey is a journey, not a sprint |
| Don’t fear getting lost | Wandering is the point |
| Try new things | Capture everything at least once |
| Take your time | Everything can be finished post-game |
| Ask for help | Consulting a guide when stuck is normal |
This beginner’s guide was produced by NTGame - may every new player’s Odyssey journey start smoothly.