Missable content

Missable content refers to items, equipment or other details that can be obtained or experienced at one point in the game, but can be missed permanently if the player does not do so before reaching a certain point in the game, or before its location cannot be revisited.

In Mario role-playing games, rare items and accessories are often more difficult to obtain past a certain point, and in some cases, missable content is rare to begin with (such as being rare drops from bosses), but not all rare items are missable.

Virtual Console versions of games that have features from accessories supported in their original consoles (Controller Pak for the Nintendo 64) may not be accessed at all.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
In the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, using any Warp Zone, even a backwards Warp Zone, permanently bars the player from ever accessing World 9 for that current save file. Similarly, if the player has completed the first eight worlds and unlocked World 9, but used Warp Zones while completing Worlds A-D, they will retroactively be barred from completing World 9 again for that same save file.

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
In earlier copies of the game, only one of the three Challenge-related pictures in the Album (for collecting all Red Coins, collecting all Yoshi Eggs, and reaching all target scores) can be obtained.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
If the player loses eight lives in a row on a course from one of the first eight worlds before completing it, a Super Guide Block appears when the player re-enters that course. If the player saves the game after seeing one, it permanently prevents the player from ever having shiny stars on their save file.

Super Mario 3D Land
Similarly to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, if the player loses five lives when attempting a course from one of the first eight worlds, an Assist Block will appear on re-entry, permanently preventing the player from ever having shiny stars on their save file.

In all subsequent Mario platformers, making the Super Guide Block or Assist Block appear will not void the player's chance to get shiny stars on their save file; any player who uses the Super Guide or Invincibility Leaf can regain shiny stars by completing the same level(s) without using it.

Super Mario Odyssey
There are three Checkpoint Flags that completely disappear once the player has reached a certain point (regardless of whether they have been activated or not): In the Luncheon Kingdom, there is a large coin pile on the left of Peronza Plaza behind some giant vegetables. After obtaining the kingdom's first Multi Moon, this coin pile disappears, even if it was not collected.
 * 1) Waterfall Basin (Cascade Kingdom): When the player arrives at this kingdom from the Cap Kingdom for the first time, there is a Checkpoint Flag in front of the player at the beginning. This flag disappears after the player has repaired the Odyssey and landed in the Sand Kingdom, since the flag at the Odyssey practically replaces its function.
 * 2) City Outskirts (Metro Kingdom): During the first mission when Mechawiggler takes over the New Donk City Hall, the player starts by taking a spark pylon into the city. Just as the player lands, there is a Checkpoint Flag in front of them (located southeast on the map). After Mechawiggler is defeated, the Checkpoint Flag is gone.
 * 3) Construction Access (Metro Kingdom): Similarly to the above, this Checkpoint Flag is placed on ground level just before the stairs that lead up the building next to the City Hall, where several Sherms are located. It also disappears after Mechawiggler is defeated.

From October 27, 2018 until November 7, 2018, for the first anniversary of Super Mario Odyssey, 39 pixel Luigis and Captain Toads were added in the ground around the concert of New Donk City in the mission A Traditional Festival!. Mario could explore the area and Ground Pound their spots to reveal them, each pixel character awarding him 200 coins at first discovery.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
The player has only one attempt to collect the Frog Coin inside a Surprise Box when Mario and Toad enter the Mushroom Castle's foyer for the first time, by jumping on Toad's head and climbing up to the Surprise Box at the end of the room. If the Surprise box was not obtained, leaving through the entrance before entering the throne room and then returning will reset Toad's position and allow the player to try again if they fail to reach the alcove.

The player has two opportunities to collect the items in the vault of the Mushroom Castle: 10 coins, a flower, and a mushroom. The two times these can be collected are right after meeting the Chancellor, and during the Shyster invasion. Even if these items were collected the first time, they reappear in the second time. Once Mack has been defeated, the vault is sealed, preventing these items from being obtained.

If the player fails to evade Booster and his Snifits three times in the curtain minigame in Booster Tower, the player will be forced to fight them and will not be able to obtain the Amulet accessory.

If the player fails to evade Dodo's pecking three times while Mario poses as a golden statue in Nimbus Castle, the player is forced to fight him and miss their chance to obtain the Feather accessory.

Donkey Kong 64
The five Banana Medals that appear in Hideout Helm do not respawn if the player leaves the area without collecting them, making 101% completion impossible.

Paper Mario
During Princess Peach's segments, there are a few chances to use the Mysterious Treasure Chest to deposit items and Badges, the last opportunity being the segment just after Chapter 6. Once Peach's segments are done, all items and badges she has collected (but not deposited into the chest) become unobtainable.

The player can miss out on an opportunity to fight the Anti Guys Unit in Bowser's Castle should the player correctly answer three questions from the second Bowser Door. The fight however does not contain any exclusive items and its purpose is for earning extra Star Points.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
If the player does not eat either slice of cake in the Glitz Pit after finishing a battle, Shellshock eats it instead.

Upon opening the chest containing a swarm of two hundred Boos in the basement floor of the Creepy Steeple, the player can be rewarded with an Ultra Shroom if they answer "200" to the Boo asking how many Boos were released. Otherwise, they are rewarded a single Coin.

Extra Flower Finder badges can be obtained as a rare drop from an X-Naut PhD. However, once Mario and his partner teleport back to Rogueport Sewers at the end of Chapter 7, they will not encounter any more X-Naut PhDs. This makes extra Flower Finder badges impossible to get after this point, even once the player has regained the ability to return to the moon in the postgame.

When the player faces and defeats Gloomtail in the Palace of Shadow, the player has an opportunity to blow up the eastern wall of the chamber with Bobbery to reveal a passageway to a hidden room with two ? Blocks containing an Ultra Shroom and a Jammin' Jelly. If the player does not obtain the items after setting the Star Key in the pedestal in the Riddle Tower, they cannot return to Gloomtail's chamber again to collect them.

Super Paper Mario
In Chapter 7-4, there is an area where a Nimbi locked himself in the chest. Before the chapter is completed, the player can open the chest and receive an Ultra Shroom Shake in return. Once the Chapter is completed, the player will be unable to open the chest if they come to the place again.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star
After subduing one of Wiggler's segments during the storyline of World 3, the player has one chance to bring each one to a specific location to create an entry for the optional Wiggler's Diary before being brought to Wiggler's Tree House. Once Wiggler's body is reunited, the player will not be able to obtain any more diary entries they may have skipped.

Paper Mario: The Origami King
At a Dress-Up Photo Studio in Shogun Studios, Mario can take pictures in a photo booth with Olivia and Bob-omb wearing different outfits. This is possible only if Mario returns to Shogun Studios immediately after arriving at Sweetpaper Valley. After Olivia gets crushed by a boulder, any pictures taken from that point will display only Mario and Bob-omb. After Bob-omb's sacrifice, any pictures taken from that point will no longer display him with different outfits and instead have him as a spirit with his standard appearance.

Prior to version 1.0.1, it was possible to miss a Toad turned into a surfboard in Shroom City should Mario leave the area after shutting off the water without rescuing the Toad, which in turn would also prevent Mario from getting a +10 HP MAX UP Heart that the Toad rewards him with.

Inside the foyer of Bowser's Castle, where Koopa Troop members are fighting the Folded Soldiers, Mario can optionally fight the Folded Soldiers and earn 1,000-coin sacks from the minions only after defeating the Folded Soldiers in actual battles without placing any unfolded minions in his range of attack. However, this is only possible before Olivia is snatched by Handaconda, as the Scissors cuts up the minions later on.

In Hotfoot Crater, there are two coins and a 1,000-coin sack on a platform south of the airship remains, and a breakable crate sitting on the remains containing another 1,000-coin sack inside. If the player exits the remains to the eastern platform without collecting any of them, they will become inaccessible, as the Paper Macho Goombas block up the airship remains.

In the final stretch of Origami Castle, Mario can hammer a wobbling King Olly statue and cause it to drop onto a flippable bridge to instantly defeat the last hoard of Folded Soldiers. If he does not do this early, he goes straight into battling them.

In this game, the player can get special achievements by completing the game without using any battle accessories or getting a Game Over, which adds banners to the ending image and more icons to the file select screen (a heart for no Game Overs, and a Mario glove for no battle accessories). However, if they get a Game Over or equip any battle accessories before beating the final boss, these achievements are lost forever, since Mario no longer meets the requirements for them. Accessories that only have effects in the overworld do not affect this.

Luigi's Mansion
The player has only one chance to capture Speedy Spirits in dark rooms: if the player fails to catch one, it will not appear again, even during the blackout. The player however has enough opportunities to capture Gold Mice as long as a room is dark: should the player fail to catch one, they only need to exit and re-enter the room, and if there is a piece of cheese, to re-scan it with the Game Boy Horror.

When sucking up portrait ghosts, the player must try to capture them in one attempt to collect all the pearls they drop. If the suction breaks in the middle of an attempt, the player may not be able to collect medium-sized pearls or a large-sized pearl.

In the Boneyard is a lone plant in the garden that can be watered. If the player does so before fighting Bogmire, after defeating him, and after defeating Boolossus, it will grow and reward the player with ample amounts of treasure. If the player fails to water it after defeating either boss, it will wither and die.

Luigi's Mansion 3
In the Garage, a few Gold Bars can be obtained from a hole in the wall opposite the door. However, after Professor E. Gadd sets up his lab, it blocks the Gold Bars.

If Luigi captures Morty immediately after obtaining his elevator button (while Morty is still editing), Luigi will not be able to view the movie Morty was making.

Later in the game, Luigi revisits the Boilerworks to rescue a Toad that was sent by E. Gadd to retrieve a part for the Poltergust G-00. In this part of the game, Toad can be fired at walls and objects to knock them down and reveal money, as well as open a shortcut back to the start of the area. If Luigi does not do this at this point, he will be unable to do so later, since no alternative projectiles are provided for knocking down most of these walls and objects on repeat visits.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
The player only has one chance to collect all the items from ? Blocks in Peach's Castle, both visits of the Koopa Cruiser, Chucklehuck Woods Underground (the cavern area just after defeating Chuckolator), Guffawha Ruins, and the S.S. Chuckola, as these areas become inaccessible after leaving them.

The player has until the second destruction of Beanbean Castle Town to collect all ten Beanstones scattered about the western and eastern halves of the town to obtain the Bros. Rock accessory, as well as collecting all five Beanlets to earn a Golden Mushroom. The southeastern house on the western side contains a regular ? Block and three Hidden Blocks containing Hoo Beans, and the northern doubled-entrance house on the eastern side contains four ? Blocks. After the second invasion, the player will be unable to unearth Beanstones and locate the Beanlets, and the houses containing the ? Blocks will be locked for the remainder of the game.

Several bosses and enemies drop rare equipment that can only be gotten by equipping the Game Boy Horror SP simply by defeating the boss or enemy, or by using the Advanced Swing Bros. to steal it from them without equipping the former: The remake Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions retains the missable content from the original version. While some item and badge drops have changed, bosses that carry any items only have one and are guaranteed to drop it. Nevertheless, the player can still miss their chance to obtain them from several bosses if they flee from battle when they are the last one remaining: In Guffawha Ruins, the Mari-Lui Badge can be found at the dead-end east of the fourth area, in the ? Block on the right. Elite Chuck Guys and Limbo Bros now carry items that can only be obtained if Luigi defeats them while equipped with the Game Boy Horror SP: the Elite Chuck Guy Badge from Elite Chuck Guys, and the Defense Pants from Limbo Bros. Since the amount of beans required to make all seven blends from Starbeans Cafe in this game has been halved from the original version, the player can obtain the Game Boy Horror SP much earlier and have Luigi equipped with it at that point. Because the gates to the Guffawha Ruins are sealed after Bowletta kidnaps Peach once, the player has only one chance to obtain these three items.
 * Mecha-Chomp: Its malfunctioning version has a 16.13% chance of dropping the School Emblem accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions. If Mario or Luigi's Attack Power get high enough, this badge becomes impossible to obtain.
 * Trunkle: Its body has a 39.22% chance of dropping the Lucky Bros. accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions.
 * Hermie III: Has a 39.22% chance of dropping the Lucky Ribbon accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions. In the Japanese version, Birdo drops it instead.
 * Piranha Bean: Always drops the Piranha Swing accessory upon defeat, but its other item, Piranha Suit, is mutually exclusive from it in the American, European and Australian versions. The Piranha Suit can only be gotten when Luigi is equipped with the Game Boy Horror SP: the player needs to collect enough Hoo Beans to make all seven blends from Starbeans Cafe up to that point to obtain the Game Boy Horror SP before fighting Piranha Bean.
 * In the Japanese version, Ludwig always drops the Piranha Suit.
 * Popple: In the Japanese version, he has a 32.26% chance of dropping a Golden Mushroom when fought in Chucklehuck Woods; in the American, European and Australian versions, he has a 61.29% chance of also dropping a Golden Mushroom when fought in Teehee Valley. Using Advanced Swing Bros. or the Game Boy Horror SP guarantees the drop.
 * Jojora's Friend: Has a 39.22% chance of dropping the Sledge Heart accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions. Using the Game Boy Horror SP guarantees the drop.
 * Morton: Has a 39.22% chance of dropping the Bowser Fist accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions. In the Japanese version, Lemmy drops it instead. Using the Game Boy Horror SP guarantees the drop.
 * Roy: Has a 39.22% chance of dropping the Bowser Fang accessory when using Advanced Swing Bros. in the American, European and Australian versions. Using the Game Boy Horror SP will guarantee the drop.
 * Popple: The player can miss their chance to obtain Popple Badge A if Popple flees after the Mario Bros. defeat Rookie first in battle at Woohoo Hooniversity. In Popple's fourth battle, in Teehee Valley, the player can miss their chance to obtain Popple Badge AA if he flees when Birdo is defeated first.
 * Jojora: The player can miss the Revenge Jeans if Jojora flees when her friend is defeated first.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
The player only has one chance to collect all the items from ? Blocks from the Koopa Cruiser when playing as Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, and all the Beans and ? Blocks from the Shroob Mother Ship.

Several bosses have a 15% chance of dropping rare equipment, even though there are duplicates of said items found elsewhere.
 * Hit-POW Badge: Drops from Mrs. Thwomp in her small form in the North American version, or in her regular form in the European and Japanese versions. Its duplicate can be found in the Koopaseum.
 * Dynamic Badge: Drops from Bowser, and its duplicate can also be found in Thwomp Caverns.
 * Item-Fan Badge: Drops from Baby Bowser. Its duplicate can be found in Peach's Castle.
 * Dynamic Badge A: Drops from Commander Shroob, and its duplicate can be found in Toad Town.
 * Hit-Free Badge: Drops from Elder Shrooboid in its giant form, and its duplicate can also be found in Star Shrine.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
The player only has one chance to collect all the items from ? Blocks in Peach's Castle at the beginning of the game.

The player can miss out on an opportunity to do quizzes with the three Nutsoglobins in the Flab Zone if Mario and Luigi answer the questions incorrectly. The quizzes are entirely optional and its purpose is for earning coins.

Like the previous games, several bosses and "support enemies" can drop rare equipment, even if there are duplicates of said items found elsewhere, or dropped by enemies with lower drop rates. Much like the first remake, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey gives all items dropped by bosses 100% drop rates. Additionally, there are no bosses that flee from battle, so all boss drops are guaranteed to be obtained, including the Shroob Boots, meaning that if the player decides to fight the Shroobs, they will get three pairs. Nevertheless, the player can still miss their chance to obtain extra experience points from several support enemies of bosses if they flee from battle when they're the last one remaining:
 * Fighter Wear: Has a 10% chance of being dropped by Leaf Guys in the battle against Wiggler in Dimble Wood. Its duplicate can be found in Pump Works.
 * Siphon Boots: Has a 40% chance of being dropped by Wisdurm. Its duplicate can also be purchased in Toad Town for 1000 coins.
 * Grown-up Wear: Has a 10% chance of being dropped by both Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory L.
 * Shroob Boots: Has a 30% chance of being dropped by each of the Shroobs in Bowser's Castle.
 * Special Gloves: Has a 50% chance of being dropped by Junker.
 * Power Fangs X: Has a 10% chance of being dropped by Blizzard Midbus, but it can also be dropped by Dark Mechawfuls.
 * D-Star Wear: Has a 20% chance of being dropped by the Dark Star. Its duplicate can be found in Peach's Castle on the first floor.
 * Lucky Charm: Has a 10% chance of being dropped by Dark Fawful, but it can also be dropped by Dark Fawful Guys.
 * Stone Blooper: Drops an additional 30 EXP if the Stone Blooper is defeated first in the battle with the Sea Pipe Statue.
 * Leaf Guy: Drops an additional 20 EXP per every Leaf Guy defeated during the battle with Wiggler in Dimble Wood.
 * Snawful: Drops an additional 220 EXP per every Snawful defeated during the battle with Blizzard Midbus.
 * Vacuum Helmet: Drops an additional 220 EXP if the Vacuum Helmet is defeated first in the battle with Dark Fawful.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
While almost all bosses in the game always drop a rare piece of equipment upon defeat unlike the previous three games, Mammoshka is the only one to drop a potentially missable accessory, the 1-Up Gloves, with a 50% chance of being dropped.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
All missable items in this game are beans from drill spots and items from ? Blocks in Bowser's Castle, as this area cannot be revisited. These items are the Spin Hammer, the Bros. Wear, and the SPEED Mush Jams.