Boost Mode

Boost Mode is a new feature introduced in New Super Mario Bros. U, where the player with the Wii U GamePad can interact with the game, not by controlling a playable character, but by using the GamePad's touch screen to manipulate the current gameplay.

Boost Mode allows the GamePad player to place platforms in the game to help or hinder the other players. These platforms can be placed by tapping an empty/vacant area on the Touch Screen, and the platforms come in a variety of colors. They include blue spade platforms, red heart platforms, green club platforms, and magenta diamond platforms. The icons on the blocks will disappear over time, and the platform itself soon after. Only four platforms may be on screen at one time, and placing another results in the first platform placed disappearing.

If another player steps on the platform with the icon still on it, it will spit out three coins and a star meter on the GamePad will have a section filled. Standing on ten platforms will fill the meter entirely, and as a result a Boost Star appears; by tapping the Boost Star on the GamePad, the player enters Super Boost Mode, allowing them to instantly defeat enemies and hit blocks by tapping them for a limited time, similar to a Starman.

Boost Mode is not limited to platforms, however, as the player using Boost Mode can also stun/damage enemies by tapping them, which can be done repeatedly to keep them from attacking. Additionally, 3-Up Moon Blocks (which will release a 3-Up Moon after being hit and then remain solid) can only be seen on the GamePad player's screen, and become usable for the other players only after being tapped; the block will revert after about 5 seconds, after which it can be hit again.

Nothing happens if the player taps Mario or any other character. Boost Mode also cannot be used in Toad Houses.

If the player manages to collect ninety-nine extra lives, the Boost Blocks become Mini-Boost Blocks.

Boost Mode is not available in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe due to being unable to access the Nintendo Switch's touch screen easily during docked play or multiplayer.

Effects when touching enemies
The following is a list of the effects on enemies that occur when touching them in Boost Mode:
 * Goomba and its variants, Monty Mole, Porcupuffer, Broozer - Jumps backward
 * Koopa Troopa, Buzzy Beetle, Big Buzzy Beetle, Spiny - Retreats to its shell
 * Dry Bones, Bony Beetle - Collapses
 * Waddlewing - Jumps in the air; jumps and starts to glide if it is on ground; drops Super Acorn
 * Hammer Bro and its variants - Trips and cannot attack
 * Piranha Plant and its variants (pipe) - Retreats to its pipe
 * Piranha Plant and its variants (ground) - Cannot attack
 * Bob-omb - Fuses
 * Foo - Disappears then reappears
 * Lava Bubble, Spiny Egg, Piranha Pod - Performs another jump
 * Swoop - Swoops down
 * Amp and Big Amp - Loses its electricity for a while, and can be stomped on
 * Blooper, Mecha Cheep, Torpedo Ted, Rocky Wrench, Cannonball, Lakitu, Boo and its variants, Dragoneel and its purple variant, Skewer, Thwomp and Big Thwomp, Cheep Chomp, Spike Top - Pauses
 * Mechakoopa, Burner - Deactivates
 * Targeting Ted, Bull's-Eye Bill, Flame Chomp - Explodes
 * Cheep Cheep and its variants - Swims/jumps to the other direction
 * Goomba (balloon) - Its balloon pops if the balloon is touched
 * Para-Beetle - Flies down
 * Heavy Para-Beetle - Flies up
 * Clampy - Opens its mouth when closed
 * Grrrol and its larger counterpart - Rolls in the other direction
 * Bramball - Smiles and moves in the other direction
 * Bouncy Cloud - Blushes
 * Magmaw, Magmaargh - Minimizes
 * Paragoomba, Koopa Paratroopa - Loses its wings
 * If a Boo from Circling Boo Buddies is touched, it pauses for a brief moment and quickly floats back to its original position.

New Super Mario Bros. U

 * Instruction manual description: "Use to help out your friends in a variety of different ways."

Trivia

 * The icons on the blocks spawned via Boost Mode are the same as the four symbols used to sync the Wii U console and GamePad during the system setup.