Super Mario 3D Land: Tanooki tail in your pocket

GameSuper Mario 3D LandNintendo 3DS

The return of the Tanooki tail, gone since 1988. Released on 3DS on 3 November 2011 in Japan and 18 November in Europe, developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, Super Mario 3D Land proves that a 3D Mario fits in your pocket. This guide breaks down the Super Leaf, the Boomerang Flower, stereoscopic 3D and the Special worlds waiting once the credits roll.

Super Mario 3D Land (same international title, Super Mario 3D Land) is the game that proved a Mario in three dimensions could fit in your pocket. Launched on Nintendo 3DS in November 2011, it brings back above all a power missing since 1988: the famous Tanooki tail.

Here's a look back at this clever hybrid of 3D platformer and 2D Mario, its power-ups, its fearsome Special worlds and the success that relaunched the 3DS.

Contents

• A 3D Mario built for your pocket
• The Super Leaf and the return of the Tanooki tail
• Boomerang Flower and stereoscopic 3D
• The Special worlds: the real challenge after the ending
• A commercial hit that relaunched the 3DS
• From 3D Land to 3D World: a direct legacy
• Quick recap
• FAQ

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A 3D Mario built for your pocket

Released on Nintendo 3DS on 18 November 2011 in Europe (3 November in Japan), Super Mario 3D Land takes on a bet long thought impossible: fitting a true 3D Mario, in the spirit of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, inside a handheld console. It is the very first 3D entry in the series designed from start to finish for gaming on the go.

Its big idea lies in an unprecedented marriage: freedom of movement through space comes from 3D, but the pacing follows the linear, compact level design of the 2D Marios. Every level wraps up in a few minutes and ends on the traditional goal flag, all while unfolding in a space where you can move around the scenery. The Nintendo EAD Tokyo studio, led by Kōichi Hayashida — already at the helm of Super Mario Galaxy 2 —, pulls off this balancing act between two traditions of the plumber.

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The Super Leaf and the return of the Tanooki tail

The game's most nostalgic selling point is the return of a cult item: the Super Leaf. Pick it up and Mario sprouts two ears and sports a raccoon tail, the famous Tanooki tail. This power had been absent from the main entries since Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1988; seeing it again on 3DS spoke instantly to long-time players.

The tail is more than a decorative nod. It knocks out enemies with a whip-like swipe and, above all, lets you slow your fall by spinning through the air. On a machine that bets everything on precise jumps, this little airborne safety net makes the adventure friendlier without ever dumbing it down.

The game pushes the reference further with a rare variant, the Statue Leaf, which freezes Mario into a statue just long enough to dodge an enemy. It's a direct tribute to the original 1988 Tanooki Suit, whose statue transformation was its signature.

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Boomerang Flower and stereoscopic 3D

Alongside the timeless Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, Super Mario 3D Land introduces a brand-new power: the Boomerang Flower. It turns Mario into Boomerang Mario, able to throw a projectile that curves away and comes back to him, handy for grabbing coins and items out of reach. The nod is aimed at the Boomerang Bros., iconic enemies first met back in Super Mario Bros. 3.

The game is also the console's great technical showcase. Its stereoscopic 3D without glasses is no gimmicky depth effect: it genuinely helps you judge jump distances and place hanging platforms. Several stretches, with blocks to hit from below and gaps to clear, are built to exploit the depth, making this Mario one of the rare titles where 3D delivers real playing comfort rather than a mere marketing line.

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The Special worlds: the real challenge after the ending

Clearing the eight classic worlds and rescuing Princess Peach doesn't close the book. The credits unlock eight Special worlds, numbered S1 to S8, which vastly extend the adventure's lifespan.

These stages ramp up the demands sharply: devious reworkings of familiar levels, tight timers and, above all, the arrival of the fearsome Cosmic Clone, a double that mirrors your every move with a slight delay. You also unlock Luigi as a playable character here, more slippery but with a higher jump.

The high point is the final level of world S8, regularly cited among the toughest challenges in the whole line of 3D Marios. Enough to keep completionists busy long after the first credits have rolled.

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A commercial hit that relaunched the 3DS

In the autumn of 2011, the Nintendo 3DS was still struggling to win people over; Super Mario 3D Land played the role of driving force. The game clearly boosted console sales from launch and became the first 3DS title to pass 5 million copies.

One clarification is in order against a stubborn myth: this is not the best-selling game on the 3DS, a record that belongs to Mario Kart 7. With roughly 12.9 million units sold, it still ranks among the machine's very best sellers (around 7th place) and critics rewarded it with a solid average of 90/100.

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From 3D Land to 3D World: a direct legacy

The influence of Super Mario 3D Land didn't stop at the handheld. Two years later, in 2013, its formula was taken up and amplified on Wii U with Super Mario 3D World, presented as its direct sequel.

That one adds four-player multiplayer, the famous Cat Suit and larger levels, but keeps the DNA invented on 3DS: compact, readable, finely chiselled 3D courses. Proof enough that a Mario in three dimensions could win people over just as well in your pocket as on the living-room TV.

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Super Mario 3D Land at a glance

Title	Super Mario 3D Land
Console	Nintendo 3DS
Release (Europe)	18 November 2011
Release (Japan)	3 November 2011
Developer	Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Signature power-up	Super Leaf (Tanooki tail)
Sales	≈ 12.9 million (approx. 7th best-selling 3DS game)
Direct sequel	Super Mario 3D World (2013)

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FAQ

• Which console did Super Mario 3D Land come out on?
  Only on Nintendo 3DS, in November 2011 (18 November in Europe, 3 November in Japan).
• Why do people talk about the return of the Tanooki tail?
  The Super Leaf gives Mario back his Tanooki tail, a power absent from the main entries since Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1988.
• What are the Special worlds?
  Eight bonus worlds, numbered S1 to S8, unlocked once the game is finished and far harder than the classic worlds.
• Is Super Mario 3D Land the best-selling game on the 3DS?
  No. It was the first 3DS game to pass 5 million and ranks among its best sellers (around 12.9 million), but the record belongs to Mario Kart 7.
• Which game continues Super Mario 3D Land?
  Super Mario 3D World, released on Wii U in 2013, which directly takes up and expands its concepts.

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