While the rest of the game is fairly easygoing, the Special World levels in Super Mario Bros Wonder are meant only for the most hardened players, so if you’re looking for a challenge, here’s how to unlock them.
How to Unlock Special World Levels
The Special World in Super Mario Bros Wonder contains nine stages and they’re no joke. Seven of the Special World stages are accessed by finding flower petal portals in each of the seven other worlds. The remaining two stages are unlocked by collecting the Wonder Seeds in the Special World. Each stage accessed through the flower petal portals contains two to three Wonder Seeds, and you’ll need six of them to access the first locked stage.
You’ll then need every Wonder Seed in the Special World to unlock the game’s hardest level, “The Final Test Wonder Gauntlet.” Finding one entryway into the Special World may be easy but finding all of them… not so much. Here’s how you can access the seven gateways into the Special World in Super Mario Bros. Wonder:
All Special World Levels in Super Mario Wonder and How to Unlock Them
| Special World Level | World | Description |
| Pipe-Rock Plateau: Bounce, Bounce, Bounce | World 1 | Found behind a breakable wall in Bulrush Express |
| Fluff-Puff Peaks: Climb to the Beat | World 2 | Complete Jump, Jump, Jump and Spring Feet I Expert Badge |
| Shining Falls: Triple Threat Deluge | World 3 | Speak to Master Poplin after completing World 3 regular levels |
| Sunbaked Desert: Pole Block Allure | World 4 | In Secrets of Shova Mansion, push a green block for the secret exit, and complete two additional levels |
| Fungi Mines: Dangerous Donut Ride | World 5 | Replay Operation Poplin Rescue and rescue the Poplins a second time |
| Deep Magma Bog: Solar Roller | World 6 | Beat the three levels at the bottom of the world map |
| Petal Isles: Way of the Goomba | Hub | Connect the worlds in the hub and complete Wiggler Race |
Pipe-Rock Plateau Special: Bounce, Bounce, Bounce
In the stage “Bulrush Express,” find the secret exit at the end of the stage by destroying the wall on the right after collecting the Wonder Seed rather than taking the red Warp Pipe. Once you complete a few more levels following “Bulrush Express” on this path, you’ll find the gateway to the Special World Level.
Fluff-Puff Peaks Special: Climb to the Beat
This is one of the simpler Special World Levels to unlock. To do so, complete “Jump! Jump! Jump!” on the right side of the world as well as the level after it, “Spring Feet I Expert Badge Challenge.” After this, the portal to the secret level, “Climb to the Beat” will appear in World 2.
Shining Falls Special: Triple Threat Deluge
Upon completion of all the regular levels in World 3, including collecting the Royal Seed, return to the “Royal Seed Mansion” and speak to Master Poplin. Seeing that the player is still looking for a challenge, he will create the warp point to the Special World Level to the left of “Royal Seed Mansion.”
Sunbaked Desert Special: Pole Block Allure
In the last section of “Secrets of Shova Mansion,” push the green block into the pit to reach the level’s secret exit. After entering it, defeat the enemy and push the green block into the hole, creating a pipe that will take you to the secret exit. This will create a path to “Flight of the Bloomps” and “Invisibility I Expert Badge Challenge.” Completing both levels will create the warp point to the world’s Special World Level.
Fungi Mines Special: Dangerous Donut Ride
After completing the world’s regular levels, replay “Operation Poplin Rescue.” Whereas rescuing the Poplins the first time rewards the player with a Royal Seed, rescuing them a second time results in them leading the player to an alternate exit. After completing the level this way, the warp point to the Special World Level will appear near the portal back to Petal Isles.
Deep Magma Bog Special: Solar Roller
After gaining 25 Wonder Seeds, you can access “Jet Run II Expert Badge Challenge” at the bottom of the world map. Completing this leads to “Invisibility II Expert Badge Challenge,” followed by “Spring Feet II Expert Badge Challenge,” also at the bottom of the map. Completing these three levels unlocks the portal to the Special World Level at the bottom-left corner of the world map.
Petal Isles Special: Way of the Goomba
After completing a full loop around the island, finish the stage “Wiggler Race – Spelunking!” by the entrance to World 6. For help in outpacing the Wiggler in the race, consider using the Jet Run Badge to take advantage of its additional abilities. Successfully completing the level will result in the worlds around the hub connecting and a portal to the special level will appear near the entrance to Pipe-Rock Plateau.
And that’s how to access each of the seven portals to the Special World levels so you can unlock the final two stages of Super Mario Bros Wonder!
