Monde Étoile : le monde secret de Super Mario World

Star World: The Secret World of Super Mario World

1520 words | Reading time : 7 minute(s)

LocationSuper Mario WorldSpecial Zone

A secret eighth world reached through five hidden entrances. The Star World in Super Mario World has five levels, reached through star signposts hidden in Donut Plains, Vanilla Dome, Twin Bridges, the Forest of Illusion and the Valley of Bowser. This guide covers every secret exit, the Yoshis of every color and the road to the Special Zone.

Nestled in the heart of Dinosaur Land, the Star World (Star World in English) is the most mysterious world in Super Mario World, released on the Super Nintendo in Japan on 21 November 1990 and in Europe on 11 April 1992. This secret eighth world holds only five levels, yet it conceals one of the finest challenges in the whole series: a network of shortcuts able to teleport you to the four corners of the map.

Far more than a simple bonus, the Star World is the gateway to the legendary Special Zone and its unforgettable visual reward. Here is the complete guide to this cult location: how to get in, what it holds and the legacy it left at Nintendo.

Contents

What is the Star World?

The Star World is the eighth world of Super Mario World, an entirely secret world that only shows up on the Dinosaur Land map once the player uncovers one of its hidden entrances. It is the shortest world in the game, with only five levels numbered 1 through 5.

What makes it special is its function: every Star World level is linked by a secret exit to a specific area of the main map. In short, this world works like a giant teleportation system. A player who masters its shortcuts can reach almost any region of the adventure in just a few levels, which also makes it the fastest route to finish the game.

The Star World map in Super Mario World
A parallel world of five levels, reachable only through secret exits.

The five entrances: how to reach the Star World

You reach the Star World through five star signposts scattered across the Dinosaur Land map. Each one appears only after you find one very specific secret exit:

  • Donut Plains: via the second exit of the Donut Secret House.
  • Vanilla Dome: via the secret exit of Vanilla Secret 1.
  • Twin Bridges: on an island downstream, reached by beating the Soda Lake level.
  • Forest of Illusion: via the secret exit of the Forest Fortress.
  • Valley of Bowser: via the secret exit of the Valley of Bowser 4 level.

Crossing one of these stars drops you onto the Star World map, where the five levels are waiting.

The five levels and their secret exits

To move forward in the Star World, finishing each level is not enough: you have to track down the secret exit (the key and its keyhole), except in the final level. Each secret exit opens both the next level and a shortcut route to a region of the map.

  • Star World 1: an underground level packed with rotating blocks. The key is found by climbing down the rightmost column of blocks. This exit opens up level 2 and a route to Vanilla Dome. It is also the only Star World level that hides Dragon Coins.
  • Star World 2: an underwater level. At the end, instead of entering the Warp Pipe, dive into the narrow passage right below it to reach the key.
  • Star World 3: right from the start, pick up a grab block and hurl it at Lakitu to defeat him and take his cloud.
  • Star World 4: its secret exit keeps the chain of shortcuts going.
  • Star World 5: the only level you can finish without a secret exit. But it is by tracking that exit down that you open the road leading to the Special Zone.

Yoshis in every color

The Star World has a surprise in store for fans of the famous dinosaur: several levels start you off with a baby Yoshi available, often in an unusual color. Star World 1, for instance, offers a rare red baby Yoshi that you can grow by feeding him enemies to swallow.

Each Yoshi color has its own powers in Super Mario World: the red Yoshi breathes flames when he swallows a shell, the blue one takes flight, the yellow one makes the ground shake. The Star World is therefore one of the best places in the game to walk away with a rare mount, ready to follow you through the rest of the adventure.

The road to the Special Zone and its secret reward

The real reason to explore the Star World all the way through is the secret exit in level 5. It unlocks one final star route leading to the Special Zone , the most fearsome world in the game, made up of eight levels of extreme difficulty bearing names lifted from 1980s slang: Gnarly, Tubular, Way Cool, Awesome, Groovy, Mondo, Outrageous and Funky.

Beating it hands the player a "gift" that has stayed famous ever since. Back on Dinosaur Land, the entire map changes palette: spring gives way to autumn, the green areas turn orange and the water takes on a turquoise tint. Better still, several enemies get a makeover: Koopa Troopas wear Mario masks, Piranha Plants sport pumpkin heads and some Bullet Bills turn into Pidgit Bills. Purely cosmetic changes, yet they have become one of the most legendary secrets in the series.

The legacy of a cult concept

The Star World made such an impression that it became a recurring reference at Nintendo. The idea of a secret star world hidden behind concealed exits spread across the whole series: there is a "World 9" named Superstar Road in New Super Mario Bros. U, a secret world that only opens once the main adventure is over, right in line with the 1990 original.

The place itself has even made a comeback: the Star World reappears in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge. Proof that a simple five-level world, dreamed up for the Super Nintendo, still fascinates fans more than thirty years after its creation.

The Star World as it reappears in Super Mario 3D World
The concept survived: nearly every installment hides its own bonus world.

Quick recap

Number of levels 5 (Star World 1 to 5)
Location Dinosaur Land, 8th secret world
Access 5 star signposts (Donut Plains, Vanilla Dome, Twin Bridges, Forest of Illusion, Valley of Bowser)
Progression Secret exit required on levels 1 to 4
Final destination Special Zone (via the secret exit of level 5)
Special Zone reward Autumn palette + restyled enemies (Mario masks, pumpkins)
Game release 21 November 1990 (Japan), 11 April 1992 (Europe)

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Discover our Mario posters in the shop.

FAQ

  • Where is the Star World in Super Mario World?
    It is the game's eighth, secret world, located on Dinosaur Land. You get there through five hidden star signposts, placed near Donut Plains, Vanilla Dome, Twin Bridges, the Forest of Illusion and the Valley of Bowser.
  • How many levels does the Star World have?
    It has five, numbered 1 through 5. It is the shortest world in Super Mario World, but every level hides a secret exit that works as a shortcut to the main map.
  • How do you reach the Special Zone?
    You need to find the secret exit in Star World 5. It opens one last star route leading to the Special Zone, a world of eight very hard levels with English slang names (Gnarly, Tubular, Funky...).
  • What happens when you finish the Special Zone?
    Back on the map, Dinosaur Land shifts from spring to autumn: the colors change, the Koopas wear Mario masks and the Piranha Plants turn into pumpkins. These changes are purely cosmetic.
  • What are the Star World Yoshis for?
    Several levels hand you a baby Yoshi, sometimes in a rare color like the red one in Star World 1. Once fed and fully grown, that Yoshi follows you through the rest of the game with his own powers.
↑ Back to top
Back to blog