If you want your brand-new level to stand out in Super Mario Maker 2, you'll need to be bold. You need to make the best, most difficult level that there’s ever been. Coming from someone who made a whole three levels in the original game (with two being Waluigi-themed), you’ve got an expert on your hands.
The level that you will be creating will need to be excellently crafted, perfectly blending the high difficulty bar you’re looking for with the usual Mario fun we’re all accustomed to. With these tips to make the best hard level you can in Super Mario Maker 2, the sky’s the limit. Together, we will make any Toadette who dares to wander into our level quake with fear.
10 No Cheap Tricks
To begin, if you want a genuinely tough level, there can be none of this hidden block nonsense. We are building this level with a degree of integrity. We’re not using offscreen jumps, hidden blocks where you’re trying to jump, or anything else like that.
Honor is the name of the game, and Super Mario Maker 2 is no game—it’s a lifestyle. If you want the best hard level you can get, you want it to be fun, too. Without any fun, there would be no point in playing the level at all. So, in order to make sure the builder and the players have tons of fun, no cheap tricks will be utilized.
9 No Power-Ups
In any truly difficult level, second chances are not available. One hit, one chance. The removal of any and all Super Mushrooms will push the level of difficulty in the stage to new heights.
When navigating enemies and crazy platforming, it’s a safety blanket to know that you have some sort of a power-up to take a hit. Psychological warfare is the name of the game—keep them on edge at all times. One mistake, and any player will be done for.
8 Use Everything You Have Available
Like the first tip says, make sure you aren’t making the difficulty scale in your level by using cheap tricks. However, use every tool that the game gives you. Keep the level varied enough that the player never sees what is coming next.
Throw enemies in, some karts for a bit of random fun, or a well-placed Yoshi jump. Don’t get into any patterns that the player can easily predict.
7 Unforgiving Platforming
Of course, in any Mario game, the platforming is going to be the most important element of the level. For your nightmare level that you’ve chosen to create, push the platforming up to 11.
Huge jumps with only one block to stand on, far too much ice, jumps off of Koopas—don’t let up. Keep the platforming fair and consistent, but also as difficult as possible. That is, if anyone is still playing this monstrous level you’re crafting!
6 Maze-like Design
Another route that you can take to make a level difficult is taking inspiration from ghost houses. The use of P-switches, doors, and other tricks are sure to confuse any player that enters your level.
This is a completely different method of making a difficult level, but it can be just as much (or more) of a challenge as a platforming-heavy level. This type of level can also be combined with the next tip to just make things extra infuriating.
5 Hidden Keys
If you really want to mess up someone’s day, hidden keys that are needed to open doors and progress to the finish can crank up the difficulty of a Mario level if used correctly.
Whether you’re using a platforming-heavy style or the more puzzle-like style that was mentioned above, the placing of keys in hard-to-reach secret areas can push a level to a much higher difficulty. You can use up to eight keys, so use them all to just really make sure that no one can escape this deathtrap of a level.
4 Clear Requirements
Brand-new to Super Mario Maker 2 are clear conditions. These clear conditions allow for levels to have additional requirements for finishing them, such as needing to be Super Mario at the end or having a specific amount of coins.
There are a variety of ways you can use this feature to your advantage to, you know, make your level even trickier than it already is. If there's anyone still making their way through this level, though, add in a twist that requires a bit more than just moving to the right as far as you can.
3 Time Limits
While it might seem fairly obvious, time limits are essential to creating difficult levels. Many times, you’ll see timers set at the default amount, but you can use that time limit to your advantage.
If your level is based around speedy platforming, set it at something low, like 100, so the player doesn’t have time to check their surroundings and take things slow. This will essentially just make the player feel as manic as possible while playing through your level.
2 Scrolling Levels
Another option to keep the mania going is scrolling levels. Set the timer at 100 and make your level an auto-scroller to keep the panic at an all-time high. Utilizing this option will force the player to move, and move quickly, to avoid being pushed into a pitfall.
So far, this list has described how to make pure panic the driving force of difficulty in your Super Mario Maker 2 level. That's all well and good, but don’t worry—there’s one final step.
1 The More Bowsers, The Better
This doesn’t really need to be taken literally, but it sure can if you’re feeling spicy. Basically, just make it all fun! As previously stated, keep your levels fair and don’t make them cheap.
However, load your levels up with enemies and any other nonsense you want to keep them interesting. Mario is always, first and foremost, about being fun. If your Super Mario Maker 2 level isn’t fun, you'll have to head back to the drawing board.