6 Hardest Levels in Mario History

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The Mario series is famous for balancing levels that are easy for beginners with incredibly tough challenges for experienced players. This list focuses on the hardest levels in Super Mario history. While difficulty is always a matter of opinion, most fans would likely agree these are some of the most challenging Mario levels ever created.

Here are the six most difficult Super Mario levels of all time.

6) Super Mario Maker 1 & 2

This entry feels a bit like cheating. Super Mario Maker 1 & 2 has tons of incredibly hard levels designed by very creative players. Because the most challenging levels weren’t made by the game developers themselves, it’s hard to fairly compare it to others.

It definitely feels strange to leave Super Mario Maker 1 & 2 off this list. These games fall between traditional Super Mario games and the incredibly difficult ‘Kaizo Mario’ levels, which are a bit too extreme for inclusion here. If you feel like including Super Mario Maker isn’t quite fair, feel free to swap it out with Luigi’s Purple Coin Chaos from Super Mario Galaxy 2 instead.

5) Longest Journey’s End – Super Mario Odyssey

The final challenge in Super Mario Odyssey is incredibly demanding, and the game designers really went all out. It’s a tough series of obstacles with no save points, meaning one mistake sends you back to the beginning. You’ll need to be a true Mario expert to complete it.

While you can find ways to make it easier, playing The Longest Journey’s End honestly will take a while. It’s a tough game, but definitely beatable. We’ll discuss specific challenges in future guides.

4) World 8 Airship – Super Mario Bros. 3

Many consider Super Mario Bros. 3 to be the pinnacle of the early Super Mario games, often ranking it above even Super Mario World. Fans particularly appreciate its simple, classic design. However, the Airship level in the final world is a commonly disliked challenge.

Similar to the previous level, there are ways to make this part a little simpler. Many players feel like using the P-Wing is practically essential to get through it, as attempting it on foot is incredibly difficult. There are simply too many obstacles and precise jumps to reliably complete without assistance.

3) Champion’s Road – Super Mario 3D World

The Champion’s Path is like the Longest Journey’s End, but it challenges you in a different way. This level is a tough series of obstacles designed to test all the skills you’ve developed throughout Super Mario 3D World.

Some parts of the level are really tricky, like the sections with lasers and the frustrating rhythm blocks. While using Mario’s skills can help a little, most players will still find these challenges difficult. It’s one of the most fast-paced and demanding platforming sections in Super Mario, and definitely deserves to be on this list.

2) The Impossible Pack – New Super Mario Bros. 2

As the name suggests, The Impossible Pack is a challenging set of three levels that are all linked together. Failing the final level will send you back to the beginning, so don’t rely on checkpoints to help you out.

You’ll face a huge number of challenges on your way to winning – think poisonous lakes, never-ending Bob-ombs, and rooms packed with things flying at you. When it comes to tricky platforming, The Impossible Level is among the hardest. It’s not quite the most difficult level ever, though, because as a 2D game, New Super Mario Bros. 2 doesn’t also make you battle a frustrating camera angle.

1) Grandmaster Galaxy – Perfect Run – Super Mario Galaxy 2

I wouldn’t mind seeing The Impossible Pack ranked number one – it’s definitely the hardest platforming challenge in any Super Mario game. But for me, the perfect run of the Grandmaster Galaxy level is even more difficult. Not only is the level itself tough, but you’re also constantly battling the camera while trying to finish.

Look, it’s not that the level isn’t tough – there are tons of enemies and stuff flying everywhere, so it is really challenging. But honestly, what makes this level in Super Mario Galaxy 2 so frustrating is the camera and how Mario controls. There’s just so much working against you in a 3D Mario game! Thankfully, you’ve already beaten a bunch of other hard levels to get here, which kind of prepares you. But even with that practice, The Perfect Run is easily the hardest 3D Mario level I’ve ever played – it’s on a whole other level of difficulty.

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2026-05-18 22:46