Key
- This article is about the recurring items in the Super Mario franchise. For other uses, see Key (disambiguation).
| Key | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) | ||
| Latest appearance | Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (2026) | ||
| Effect | Unlocks a door or sealed barrier | ||
| |||
Keys in the Super Mario franchise are items and objects typically used for opening locked doors or unlocking secret paths, and they have taken on a variety of designs throughout their appearances.
History[edit]
This section needs Mario & Sonic improvement. Specifically:
- Include information about Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 appearance in Museum Sneak
Donkey Kong franchise[edit]
Donkey Kong series[edit]
Donkey Kong Jr.[edit]
Keys in Donkey Kong Jr. are used to unlock Donkey Kong's cage in the Chain Scene. In the Game & Watch version, obtaining four keys is necessary to free Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[edit]
Keys in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong appear in every stage from Stage 1-1 onward. A key can be picked up by Mario standing on it, then he has to take it to the correct locked door to open it. Mario lifts the key above his head, and he often has to throw it upwards since he cannot hold the key while climbing a ladder. Keys can be thrown at enemies to defeat them.
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
Keys in Donkey Kong 64 appear only in the form of Boss Keys, which are rewarded after each boss battle and required to unlock padlocks on K. Lumsy's cage.
Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D / HD)[edit]
A key in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports known as a Map Key can be purchased from Cranky Kong's Shop in each world, for a total of eight keys. Each key costs 20 Banana Coins, and when purchased, unlocks an alternate route on the world map that will allow Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to reach additional levels. This totals up to a price of 160 Banana Coins for buying all 8 keys.
Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
Keys in Donkey Kong Bananza are used to progress through sublayers of a layer in the Underground World, usually held by an enemy, typically Crockoids and by Grumpy Kong and Poppy Kong after their boss fights, or in a hard-to-reach area. These can simply unlock the next sublayer by itself or remove the protective glass around a Void Stake, allowing Donkey Kong to break it to open the path. The keys bear Void Kong's likeness.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Bros. 2 are objects corresponding to locked doors, with both objects debuting in World 1-2. Each key is guarded by a Phanto,[1] which chases the player character when they carry it.[2] Keys are amongst the few objects that do not have to be uprooted from the ground. A key is dropped by the Birdo of World 7-2 when defeated,[3] whilst others drop a Crystal Ball.
Super Mario World[edit]
Keys and keyholes in Super Mario World appear in various levels. A key can be carried over a keyhole to unlock its secret exit.[4][5][6] A key can also be carried by Yoshi in his mouth.[7]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Keys in Super Mario 64 appear only as two Big Keys,[8][9][10][11] located in Bowser in the Dark World and Bowser in the Fire Sea respectively. Each Big Key can be obtained by Mario after defeating Bowser. The first Big Key unlocks the opens the door to the basement of the Mushroom Castle, while the second key opens the door to the upper floors of the Mushroom Castle. The player cannot use the basement key to unlock the doors to the upper floors.[12]
Keys in the Nintendo DS version appear in more varieties. The first key has to be obtained by Yoshi from a rabbit to unlock the doors to the Mushroom Castle.[13] More rabbits hold keys that are used to unlock mini-games.[14] The empty room can be unlocked with a key that is obtained after catching all eight glowing rabbits.[15][16] In addition, Goomboss, King Boo, and Chief Chilly have Mario's Key, the Luigi Key, and the Wario Key, respectively, and must be defeated to unlock Mario, Luigi, and Wario from their switching room, respectively.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
A Key in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 appears only in the World-e level, Doors o' Plenty. It is used the same way as in Super Mario World,[17] except it has to open a nearby door,[18] not a keyhole.
New Super Mario Bros. subseries[edit]
Keys in New Super Mario Bros. are rewarded for defeating every boss from World 2 to World 7.
Keys in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. 2 are items that appear only after defeating one of the Koopalings at their castles, and the player has to grab the key to both complete and exit the level. Keys in the Coin Battle mode of New Super Mario Bros. Wii grant five coins to whichever player had collected it.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Galaxy and its Nintendo Switch port can be collected to automatically open locked doors or cages. A Key in the Gateway Galaxy and the Ghostly Galaxy is held by a Grand Goomba and a Boo, respectively, both releasing the Key after the enemies have been defeated.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Galaxy 2 are functionally identical to their appearance in Super Mario Galaxy, and appear in galaxies such as the Haunty Halls Galaxy, the Battle Belt Galaxy, and also briefly in the Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Maker can be added to levels ever since the update released on March 9, 2016. Keys can be placed in blocks, or in an enemy, making them obtainable after Mario defeats it. Additionally, another new item included in the update, the Pink Coin, reveals a key once Mario collects every single one in the level. Keys cannot be carried by Mario, since they now follow him automatically, not unlike the keys of the Yoshi series. Up to eight keys can be obtained at one time.
Super Mario Run[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Run are used to unlock Key Doors. They take on their design from the New Super Mario Bros. U style in Super Mario Maker. Keys can be found inside of Boos and ? Blocks inside of Ghost Houses, and are a requirement to beating level 5-3: Boohind Lock and Key.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Odyssey received a slight redesign, and are used for opening Keyhole Pedestals, which contain Power Moons when collected.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Maker 2 retain their function and purpose from Super Mario Maker, and additionally appear in the added fifth game style, Super Mario 3D World, where they resemble the key symbols seen on Key Coins in the original game. In multiplayer, a player can stomp on another player who is holding a Key to grab the Key for themselves. If the player holding the Key is defeated, the Key enters a bubble, allowing other players to grab it.
Keys in the version 3.0.0 update were given a variation exclusively in the Super Mario Bros. game style, Cursed Keys, which spawn a Phanto when picked up, just like keys do in Super Mario Bros. 2.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
Keys with cat ears appear in the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, specifically when a Key is needed to open a cage containing a Cat Shine. Unlike in previous games, the key must be carried all the way back to the lock, rather than simply touching it. They also disappear if they are on the ground other than their initial spawn point for too long, or if they get thrown into water, the black goop, or lava. In these cases, the key will respawn back at its original location.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]
Keys in Super Mario Bros. Wonder function similarly to how they functioned in Super Mario Maker and its sequel. They come in two colors and unlock the doors corresponding to their color. They are used in the level Color-Switch Dungeon.
Super Mario World animated series[edit]
Keys in the Super Mario World cartoon have a purpose in two episodes, "Ghosts 'R' Us" and "Mama Luigi". A Key in "Ghosts 'R' Us" is spawned by Oogtar from a ? Block after Wizenheimer is defeated, and uses it for the door. This key plays the same sound effect as a Cape Feather. A Key in "Mama Luigi" is shown off by King Koopa, who gloats that the Mario Bros. will never be able to find Princess Toadstool without it. However, Yoshi then eats it, and after Koopa retreats, Yoshi spits out the key to open the cell the Princess was being held in.
Wario Land series[edit]
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3[edit]
Keys in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 are hidden throughout many stages of the game, and are required to open the skull door[19] (also called Skeleton Door[19][20] or Treasure Room Door[21]) to a Treasure Room.[19] A key can sometimes be found inside of a Face Block. The keyhole in which the key fits is always found in the same stage as the key and the key cannot be taken out of the stage, so it has to be recollected after leaving the level. Inside the Treasure Rooms, Wario can find one of the collectible treasures. However, he cannot be Small Wario as he needs to Body Slam the treasure chest to open it (although breathing fire also works).
Virtual Boy Wario Land[edit]
Keys in Virtual Boy Wario Land are a requirement for unlocking the elevator at the end of each stage.
Wario Land 3[edit]
While being absent in Wario Land II, keys reappear in Wario Land 3. Four differently colored keys are hidden throughout the level: a Gray Key[22] (or Silver Key[23]), Red Key,[24] Green Key,[25] and Blue Key.[26] Wario can only clear a level if he finds one of the keys and manages to take them to their respective treasure chest. By doing so, he earns himself a new treasure that helps the player to proceed and find new levels. Usually, not all keys in a level are available from the start. The player has to obtain new abilities and meet certain requirements to find them all. After a key is taken to a treasure chest, the chest gets replaced by a goal door. After acquiring all treasures in every level and beating the final boss, starting the game will result in Time Attack, in which the objective of every level is to instead collect all four colored keys and exit through one of the goal doors. The fastest possible time will be recorded based on how fast this objective is achieved. Every key can be obtained in a level no matter if it is day or night, so the player will not be locked out of completion in any condition.
Wario Land 4[edit]
Keyzer is the only type of key to appear in Wario Land 4. Keys were originally required to unlock the four boxes (much like Wario Land 3) to obtain the four Jewel Pieces.
Yoshi franchise[edit]
Keys in Yoshi appear after the player clears levels 22 through 24 of the B-Type game, rewarding the player with 1,000 points.
Keys in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (and its reissue), Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi's New Island, Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World can be collected and carried like Yoshi Eggs, taking up one space of the player's maximum number of eggs. They can be used to unlock Mini Battle houses, locked doors in castles, and Corks that block pipes. Additionally, during the cutscene following the defeat of a castle boss, a large key appears and unlocks a keyhole.
Keys in Yoshi's Story are required to open locked doors in the Lift Castle, Ghost Castle, and Magma Castle. They are obtained by defeating a certain ComBat in the Lift Castle, popping a certain ? Bubble in the Ghost Castle, and defeating the two slugs in the Magma Castle. One key in the Ghost Castle is out in the open in an underground section.
Yoshi (Nintendo Entertainment System)
Yoshi (Game Boy)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
A key in Yoshi's Island DS
A key in Yoshi's Story
Fort Key Calamity (Yoshi's New Island)
Burt the Bashful's Castle (Yoshi's Woolly World)
A key in Yoshi's Crafted World
Mario Party series[edit]
- Main article: Skeleton Key
Keys in the Mario Party series appear in different varieties. Keys owned by Bowser are called Bowser Keys, and appear usually in Bowser Minigames, where using them is a requirement to escape from Bowser. Bowser Keys in earlier games of the Mario Party series are simply keys shaped like Bowser's head, but later installments engrave Bowser Keys with Bowser's likeness. Keys in Mario Party 3 appear in the minigame Locked Out, and have key heads shaped like mushrooms, flowers and stars.
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario[edit]
There are many key designs in Paper Mario and its sequel, but each only opens doors in the area they are found. There are Castle Keys for every castle and fortress, and various others keys in different locations. Keys in Paper Mario are used in Tubba Blubba's Castle, Bowser's Castle, and Peach's Castle. Tubba Blubba's keys look like three-leaf clovers, while Bowser's look like a gold three-leaf clover with a blue ball in the middle. There are about three of Tubba's keys and five of Bowser's keys. Peach's Castle Keys are pink versions of Bowser's Castle Keys. Also, a living key called Yakkey locked the Gusty Gulch Windmill.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
Keys in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and its Nintendo Switch remake are used to unlock not only locked doors but also chests and other mechanisms. They come in many varieties including Black Keys used to open Black chests, and card keys to access X-Naut-secured areas:
| Image | Function |
|---|---|
 Black Keys |
Unlock Black chests, which grant curses on Mario. There are four Black Keys, found in Rogueport Underground, Hooktail Castle, Twilight Town, and the Pirate's Grotto. |
 House Key |
Unlocks Garf's house in Rogueport's east side. Obtained through the Need a key! mission at the Trouble Center. |
    Castle Keys |
Unlock doors to navigate through Hooktail Castle. |
  Blue Key / Red Key |
Open the corresponding cells holding captive Punis in The Great Tree. The Blue Key rescues ninety Punis, and the Red Key rescues the Puni elder. |
  Storage Keys |
Gain access to storage rooms in the Glitz Pit. There are two keys, found in the main plaza of Glitzville and inside the Glitz Pit lobby. |
 Shop Key |
Unlocks the storage room of the Twilight Town's shop, where Mario can be cursed with Tube Mode. |
  Steeple Key |
Gains access to Doopliss and unlocks the door to his parrot's room ( ) / a shorcut to Twilight Town. ( )
|
 Grotto Key |
Unlocks a gate to explore further into the Pirate's Grotto. |
  Entrance Key / Station Key |
Unlocks the entrance to Riverside Station and a door leading further inside, respectively. |
 Elevator Key (Riverside Station) |
Activates the Riverside Station elevator, making the drawbridge switch accessible. |
  Elevator Keys (X-Naut Fortress) |
Access the X-Naut Fortress elevator to traverse to sublevels 1 and 2 and sublevels 3 and 4, respectively. |
     Security Keys |
Gain clearance to enter through doors in the X-Naut Fortress. The star-symbol card is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch remake. |
   Palace Keys |
Unlock doors to explore further into the Palace of Shadow. There are three Palace Keys. |
 Tower Keys |
Open pedestals within the Palace of Shadow Tower to activate the planetarium and unlock a path to the Shadow Queen. There are eight Tower Keys. |
Super Paper Mario[edit]
Keys in Super Paper Mario appear prominently due to the abundance of doors, now being portrayed in an upright position. They are found in many levels as a reward for completing puzzles. Excluding rest floors at multiples of ten and the boss rooms, every room within the Flipside and Flopside Pit of 100 Trials contain a key found within a random enemy, which must be used within the five-minute time limit to proceed. Several keys have the same design yet are used for different purposes.
| Image | Function |
|---|---|
 Ruins Keys / Pit Keys |
Unlock doors to progress further into the Yold Ruins. There are three Ruins Keys. Opens the door to complete a given room in the Flipside and Flopside Pit of 100 Trials. |
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