Hidden Block (Mario Party series)

A Hidden Block is an invisible block that contains coins, a Star or random items in the Mario Party series, appearing in every installment up to Mario Party 5, and in Mario Party DS and Super Mario Party. Its appearance changes with each game, sometimes resembling Brick Blocks, other times looking more like a small Treasure Chest. They only appear after landing on a Blue Space in all of its appearances except Mario Party, where it can also appear after landing on a Red Space. It can give out anywhere from five to twenty coins or give out items such as Skeleton Keys, or even Stars. In Mario Party 5, Hidden Blocks will always give ten coins.

In Mario Party, Hidden Blocks are known as Event Blocks.

In Mario Party DS, in addition to coins and Stars, a Hidden Block may also contain a Ztar, which causes the player who hit it to lose a Star. The game also features a one-time use item called a Block Sensor that makes a Hidden Block appear on the space the player lands on after using it. The Hidden Block may also contain an item, though it happens rarely.

In Super Mario Party, in addition to finding them on Blue Spaces, the player can also use a Hidden Block Card to summon one instantly. The blocks themselves now resemble Gold Blocks from New Super Mario Bros. 2.

Mario Party 2

 * Wii Virtual Console manual: "If you choose to have bonuses, Hidden Blocks will sometimes appear when you land on a Blue Space. You can get coins or stars when you hit a hidden block."

Trivia

 * Before hitting the Hidden Block in Mario Party DS, it is possible for the player to find out if it contains a Star (or Ztar) or coins. If the block appears right when the player lands on the space, the block holds coins. If the block appears later, it contains a Star or Ztar.
 * Another way the game indicates this is through the camera. The block will contain a Star or Ztar if the camera zooms in before the game tells the player to tap/press repeatedly. If the camera does not zoom in quickly, the block most likely contains coins.