Super Mario Odyssey is easy to start, but it becomes much better when you understand how the game wants you to explore. This beginner guide gives you a practical route through the early kingdoms, explains which Power Moons are worth grabbing first, and shows how to avoid wasting time on moons that are easier to clean up later.
If you prefer watching routes instead of reading them, check the related video guides on Thegamingguidearchives on YouTube.
Quick Overview
For a first playthrough, focus on story-required moons, easy checkpoint moons, and obvious moons near your path. Do not try to 100% every kingdom immediately. Many moons become easier once you unlock later movement options, kingdom warps, and post-game moon rocks.
Best Beginner Route
- Cap Kingdom: learn Cappy throws, cap jumps, and basic captures. Grab nearby visible moons, then move on.
- Cascade Kingdom: practice chain chomps and collect the simple cliffside moons. This is where movement starts to matter.
- Sand Kingdom: unlock major checkpoints early. Sand Kingdom is large, so do not chase every moon on foot before opening warp points.
- Lake or Wooded Kingdom: choose whichever you prefer. Lake is more compact; Wooded has more layered exploration.
- Metro Kingdom: after the main objective, spend extra time here. It has many straightforward moons and teaches useful movement lines.
Movement Tips That Save Time
The biggest improvement you can make is learning Mario’s movement chain: throw Cappy, dive into Cappy, bounce, then dive again toward a ledge. You do not need advanced speedrun movement, but this simple chain helps you reach rooftops, platforms, and hidden areas without circling the map.
- Use long jumps on flat roads and open desert areas.
- Use roll boosts downhill or across safe open space.
- Throw Cappy before jumping when you need extra distance.
- Capture enemies when the game places them near suspicious terrain.
Which Power Moons Should You Get First?
Prioritize moons that are visible, close to checkpoints, tied to story objectives, or rewarded by short challenge rooms. Skip moons that require long searches, expensive purchases, or late-game knowledge unless you are specifically doing a completionist run.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Trying to clear every kingdom immediately: this slows the game down and makes exploration feel repetitive.
- Ignoring checkpoint flags: always activate them. They turn large kingdoms into quick routes.
- Forgetting Crazy Cap shops: some moons and outfits are tied to shops and local coins.
- Not experimenting with captures: if an enemy is placed near a puzzle, it is usually part of the solution.
When Should You Start 100% Collecting?
Start serious cleanup after finishing the main story. At that point, more moons are available, you understand each kingdom better, and backtracking is faster. For most players, the best experience is: finish the story first, then return kingdom by kingdom for collectibles.
Recommended Next Guides
- Super Mario Odyssey Guide Hub – return to the main hub for every kingdom route and collectible guide.
- Cap Kingdom Power Moon Guide – start the first full Power Moon checklist.
- Cascade Kingdom Power Moon Guide – continue into Fossil Falls with a compact early route.
- Sand Kingdom Power Moon Guide – use this when the game opens into its first large cleanup area.
- Sand Kingdom Purple Coin Guide – pair moon cleanup with regional coin routes when you are ready.
For visual routes and collectible walkthroughs, visit Thegamingguidearchives on YouTube.