There are so many Super Mario games it can be hard to keep track of all the levels. Mario games are known for being difficult, especially the earlier games. There are some levels that are short, some that are long, and some that are incredibly difficult.
This list will help show Super Mario fans challenging levels that will drive them to madness if they attempt to complete them. From Super Mario World all the way back to Super Mario Bros 2, here are the hardest Super Mario levels of all time that will have you questioning whether saving Princess Peach is worth the trouble.
Updated August 23, 2021 by Michael Caruso: The Super Mario franchise isn’t going anywhere, and each new game adds dozens of new 2-D and 3-D levels to experience. With this in mind, it’s important to discuss a few of the hardest Super Mario levels that came from 3D Mario games and why they’re so difficult. Here are more levels that even long-time Super Mario fans have trouble completing.
15 Lava Spire Daredevil Run
Super Mario Galaxy introduced unique mechanics into the franchise and many challenging levels that wouldn’t be possible in other Super Mario games. One of the hardest levels in Super Mario Galaxy is the Lava Spire Daredevil Run level, which takes place in the Melty Molten Galaxy.
The most challenging part of this level is that you have to outrun the lava, which moves quickly and can easily defeat you if you get touched by it.
14 The Watermelon Festival
The Watermelon Festival is one of the most frustrating levels in Super Mario Sunshine. In this stage, you have to push a large watermelon to the end of a pier, which is easier said than done.
The watermelon breaks very easily, and enemies stand in your way to block you from making it to the end. Aside from the enemies, the hardest part about The Watermelon Festival is the pier, which is a small boardwalk where you can easily push the watermelon into the water accidentally.
13 Luigi’s Purple Coin Chaos
Super Mario Galaxy 2 was an improved-upon version of the original game, and it came with many challenging levels that fans found difficult to complete. Luigi’s Purple Coin Chaos is hard both because of how many coins you have to collect and because of the disappearing platforms.
You have to move quickly to obtain all the coins, or you’ll fail the level, and although this mechanic is different from other Super Mario levels, it’s still one of the hardest stages in the history of 3D Super Mario video games.
12 Super Mario Bros. Wii, 6-2
Although it’s not quite as challenging as some of the earlier Super Mario Games, Super Mario Bros. Wii had many annoying levels ranging from moderately hard to incredibly challenging.
One of these levels is 6-2, a cavern-based stage that has many challenging aspects. The hardest part about completing this underground stage are the moving platforms, which make it hard to run through since the platforms often push you towards enemies, including Hammer Bros which are especially challenging since you’re getting pushed into their hammer attacks.
11 Super Mario Bros. 3, 7-4
It isn’t surprising that Super Mario Bros. 3 7-4 is one of the most difficult levels in the franchise because it’s an underwater level, which are famous for having many obstacles that are difficult to overcome.
However, 7-4 is even harder than the average underwater stage because you have many enemies chasing you at once, including Cheep Cheeps and Bloopers. There are even additional obstacles that you need to avoid while maneuvering around the enemies and all of this adds up into a seriously challenging level.
10 New Super Mario Bros. Wii, 6-6
6-6 is a challenging level that takes place in an underground cavern. Using the Wii remote as a controller, you must control a boat that Mario stands on in the level and it creates quite the challenging task.
In 6-6 you’ll run into multiple enemies including Cheep Cheeps and Fire Bros, which can create a challenging dynamic while on the boat. There is a secret location inside of this level if you move through a red tube that is found near where the Fire Bros are located. This is a very challenging level and the unique boat mechanic adds to the atmosphere.
9 Super Mario Bros. 3, 7-7
7-7 is made up of pipes, and there are many Pirhana Plant enemies in this level. This level is basic but difficult because you have to avoid Pirhana Plant enemies and collect power-ups so you can avoid being one-shot by all the plants.
With a bit of practice, you can become quite adept at this level, but for new players, it can be somewhat of a roadblock. Any Super Mario fan that enjoys difficult levels will get a kick out of 7-7 and will have an enjoyable time completing it.
8 Super Mario World, Soda Lake
Soda Lake is an underwater level that is found in world four of Super Mario World. In this level, you’ll find the Torpedo Ted and Blurp enemies. Underwater levels are notorious for being frustrating, and this level is definitely not the exception to the rule.
With all the Torpedos in Soda Lake, you’ll find a unique challenge on this level, and because it is set underwater, it will be even harder. You should get ready for an annoying level with this stage; Torpedo Ted is ready to defeat every Mario Bro.
7 Super Mario Bros 3, 8-1
8-1 is located in Dark Land in the difficult game of Super Mario Bros. 3. There are many different enemies which consist of Bullet Bill, Boo, and Pirahna plants just to name a few. The background of the level is forest-themed and it has a lot of pipes in it.
8-1 has so many different enemies that it can make for a challenging level to learn for new players. The time limit on this level is 300 seconds, so you’ll at least have a lot of time to complete it. Fans of Super Mario Bros. 3 had quite the frustrating time learning and completing this woodsy level.
6 Super Mario Bros. 2, 5-1
5-1 is the beginning level in world 2 of Super Mario Bros. It starts outside, leading you into a cavern. It’s much easier to complete this level while playing as Luigi or Princess Toadstool because the timing on certain platforms in the level is fast-paced.
There are some enemies in this level, and it’s the first appearance of the Green Birdi that shoots fire which you can find a few times throughout this stage. 5-1 will give the easily disheartened a run for their money, and even seasoned players of Super Mario games will find difficulty in this level.
5 New Super Mario Bros. DS, 7-Castle
7-Castle is the last level in World 7 in New Super Mario Bros. DS. This level has the boss Lakithunder; it rides a cloud that shoots lightning under it. Lakithunder also throws Spinies at you while your in the level.
7-Castle has Amps, Thwomps, and Ball ‘N’ Chains in it. The difficult platforming mechanics in this level combined with the challenging boss fight earns 7-Castle a high difficulty rating because it’s caused frustration to every DS player in the history of its existence. New Super Mario Bros. DS had some very challenging levels.
4 Super Mario Bros. 3, 8-Airship
8-Airship is an auto-scrolling level that scrolls much faster than the usual level, and it’s full of small platforms. There are only 3 types of enemies on this level which are Rocket Engines, Rocket Wrenches, and Boom Booms. These enemies make for some tough platforming.
Because of the tiny platforms and the extra fast side-scrolling, this level has gone down in history as one of the hardest levels in Super Mario Bros. 3. It’s one of the most difficult levels in any Super Mario game. Small platforms and tough enemies create a deadly combination.
3 New Super Mario Bros. DS 8-7
8-7 is quite the Koopa-Haven. There are many different varieties of Koopa enemies in this level, some of which are Boomerang Bros. and Fire Bros. This level also has flying Koopas that you can jump on to gain height and advance to the next platform.
Because of the large diversity of Koopa enemy types in 8-7, it’s a difficult 2D level for fans to memorize and this makes it one of the hardest levels in a Super Mario game to date. If a player is looking for a level to challenge themselves, 8-7 will not disappoint.
2 New Super Mario Bros. 2, Impossible Pack
This is technically three levels in one level pack; however, it deserves a spot for also being three of the hardest levels in the history of Super Mario games. The pack consists of three levels that are extremely difficult to complete and will create quite a challenge for you.
The first level takes place on a beach, the second is a lava-themed level, and the third is a castle with a poison lake under Mario’s feet. Each level has unique challenges that are different than the usual obstacles that you would find in the average Super Mario level.
1 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, World C-3
World C-3 is both a challenging level, and it has interesting-looking color-patterns in it. The enemies on this level consist of Spinies, Lakitus, Koopa Paratroopers, and Pirahna Plants among others. What makes this level so challenging are the springs that you launch from to get from platform to platform.
Many Super Mario fans have a very hard time trying to complete C-3. This level is one of the hardest Super Mario levels because of the Lakitus flying around while you’re jumping from spring to spring. C-3 has a high reputation for being a difficult level that many fans couldn’t finish without multiple attempts.
NEXT: Nintendo: The Best Super Mario 64 Courses, Ranked
