Challenge Mode (New Super Mario Bros. U)

Challenge Mode is a new mode introduced in New Super Mario Bros. U. It is a collection of various challenges of varied difficulty divided into specific categories, including Special and 1-Up Rally. While some challenges take place in a specific part of a course from the main game, there are some challenges that take place in a course exclusive to Challenge Mode, such as Penguin Bowling and Bubble Up. Each challenge have a specific objective, and will award the player with medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) depending on how they completed the challenge. For example, the Time Attack challenges have three medals, the Gold being achieved by completing the challenge in a set amount of time. However, some Special challenges will award the player with only a Gold Medal for completing the challenge.

Every challenge have specific difficulties, with one star being the easiest, and five stars being the most difficult.

There are five categories of challenges: Time Attack (denoted by a clock), where the player must complete the course in the allotted time, Coin Collection (denoted by a Coin), where the player must collect a specific amount of coins or collect as little coins as possible, 1-Up Rally (denoted by a 1-Up Mushroom), where the player must finish the course while collecting a certain amount of 1-Ups, Special (denoted by a Question Block), a category with challenges whose objectives vary, and a category denoted by the Wii U GamePad, which presumably has challenges where the player must use Boost Mode.

Time Attack

 * An Acorn Plains course, presumably Rise of the Piranha Plants.
 * Acorn Plains Speed Run
 * Time Attack Trial

Coin Collection

 * A sky course with Parachute Coins. This course presumably requires Boost Mode to be played.
 * Stingy Big Piranha Plants
 * Hot Hidden Coin Hunt
 * Triple Jump for Coins

1-Up Rally

 * The Goombrat Stomp: ★☆☆☆☆
 * Stone-Eye Koopas: ★☆☆☆☆
 * Goomba Bounce Bash: ★★☆☆☆
 * Penguin Bowling: ★★☆☆☆
 * Three Dry Bones: ★★★☆☆

Special

 * Graceful Glide: ★☆☆☆☆
 * Mole to Goal: ★★☆☆☆
 * Marathon Glide: ★★☆☆☆
 * Bubble Up: ★★★☆☆