? Block

The Question Block (shortened as ? Block, also known as the Mystery Block in Super Mario Land and the Prize Block in Super Mario World) is one of the many blocks found in the Mario universe, and one of the most common. Question Blocks are usually seen floating in midair, often containing Gold Coins, Super Mushrooms, or Fire Flowers. In some games (for example Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, as well as several classic platformers) there are some invisible Item Blocks. Beginning in Super Mario Bros. 3, there are different ways to hit the block other than simply punching it from below. One example is when Mario or Luigi use the Super Leaf, Tanooki Suit or Cape Feather, they can use their tails or cape to whack the Question Block. Another example is using the Koopa Shell; Mario or Luigi can kick the Koopa Shell at the Item Block. In New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a Ground Pound may also be used.

Much mystery enshrouds the Question Blocks, and little detail has been given about their origin. Super Mario Bros., however, gave the explanation that Bowser, using the Koopa Clan's famous dark magic, had cursed the Mushroom Kingdom, turning its citizens (presumably the Toads) into a variety of objects, including bricks (which the Item Blocks could alternately be thought of as). The game's manual later talked about how Mario could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official history origin of the Item Blocks, it would appear to have been long retconned out of Mario games, with Question Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. Item Blocks are not to be confused with Exclamation Mark Blocks, which are similarly floating blocks.

Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. was the Question Block's debut appearance in the Mario series, along with a handful of other items. They appeared to be flashing and they gave Mario either coins or items that can help Mario. They are very common, since they are sometimes needed to complete a level or help Mario in a tough situation. Some blocks are hidden and can be only seen when Mario happens to hit them. Some blocks also release Beanstalks into the air, making it available of climbing.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
These blocks reappeared in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels with the exact same appearance and function. Because of that, no changes has been made to these blocks.

Super Mario Bros. 3
Question blocks had a slightly different design change; they were no longer flashing and the ? marks on the blocks seem to be moving in the game, Super Mario Bros. 3. They still cough up coins and other items that can help Mario when hit upon.

Super Mario World
The Prize Blocks of Super Mario World had eyes and seemed to be re-animations of that game's Rotating Blocks. They also gave Rotating Block-like angry eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed Question Blocks today, making the Prize Block a possible relative of the Rotating Block. Otherwise, no function-related changes has been made. There are also flying variants called Flying Question Blocks (or Flying ? Blocks), which fly left to right while moving up and down, but some of them fly always at a same direction. A red one only found in the dark area of Bowser's Castle activates a spotlight.

Super Mario Land
Question Blocks could be found once again in Super Mario Land. Here, they serve the exact same purpose and function as the previous games they appeared in.

Super Mario 64 DS
In Super Mario 64 DS, red Question Blocks replace the red, blue, and green ! Blocks. They are initially transparent, and had to be activated by hitting the ? Switch. They contain either Power Flowers, Feathers or Bob-ombs, depending on character and hat status.

New Super Mario Bros.
In New Super Mario Bros., red Flying Question Blocks similar to the ones from Super Mario World fly around the world map, moving to different levels every time Mario or Luigi lose a life, complete a level, enter a Toad House, etc. Five items can be inside: a Fire Flower, 1-Up Mushroom, Mini Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, or a Blue Shell. Normal Flying Question Blocks from Super Mario World also appear, but all of them fly left to right, and some ones don't move from place, but still move up and down. Also, in two Ghost Houses, Question Blocks that contain Boos appear. The original yellow Question Blocks also appear and the Beanstalk sprouting blocks make an appearance again. The game also features rare red blocks in World 6 with spikes on the top, which rotate one side at a time. Mario must be careful to hit the block only on a spikeless side. If the player hits the question block fast enough, a mushroom will come out.

Unlike in the other games, where the player could only hit Question Blocks from below or throw something at them to release an object, Question Blocks in this game can also be ground pounded.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, Question blocks contained Star Bits and coins, and could usually be hit multiple times before vanishing. If the player manages to hit a Question Block with Star Bits, it would release a multitude of Star Bits before disappearing. Unlike in New Super Mario Bros., Question Blocks in this game cannot be ground pounded.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
The Question blocks make a return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Here, they have the exact function and appearance as in New Super Mario Bros. but some behave differently from the average Item block. In some levels, for example, some blocks tend to sway left and right along with other objects such as brick blocks and coins. Others lay in the water in some levels, where it is easier to ground pound them. Flying Question Blocks also appear, acting the same way as in the previous game, but the red ones that appear in the map didn't reappear.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Question Blocks from Super Mario Galaxy re-appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2. In this game, they once again release a bunch of Star Bits when hit, or act as Coin Blocks, but Question Blocks that release one Star Bit at a time when hit repeatedly do not return. The Flying Question Blocks from Super Mario World also appear, and they act the same, however, they don't move up and down while flying, and they vanish when they are hit, the same as normal Question Blocks in this game. They make chirping noises while they fly (like a bird).

Super Mario (Nintendo 3DS)
Question Blocks are confirmed to be featured in Super Mario for the Nintendo 3DS. They are seen in one of the currently only screenshots.

Paper Mario series
In the Paper Mario series, Red Question Blocks contain badges and yellow ones contain coins or items. Question Blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using Watt in Paper Mario). Once they're visible, they can also be used as stepping stones.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door during Bowser's event, Meat will come out of the Question blocks. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.

Question Blocks will also appear in the upcoming Paper Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS.

Mario Kart series
In the Mario Kart series, from Mario Kart 64 and onwards, similar item blocks, called Item Boxes are found on every track. However, they are usually not flying up in the air but they are floating on the ground and they are usually semi-transparent and reappear when they get hit.

In Mario Kart Wii, on the track Coconut Mall, there is shop that is selling Question Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track Grumble Volcano, there are giant Question Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.

Super Smash Bros. series
Question Blocks make an appearance as objects in the latter two games in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Question Blocks appeared on the Mushroom Kingdom stage and could contain items if attacked or simply smashed from below. They also appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, with the same purpose.

Mario & Luigi series
Question Blocks were one of many types of block to appear in the Mario & Luigi series. They can give Mario and Luigi coins or items that can help them, similar to the series the blocks normally appear in. One hit on, they turn brown and they won't offer any more items. If Mario and Luigi happens to have 99 of the item found in the block, the item will remain in the block. This does not apply if the player has 999 coins.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, there is a room in the Woohoo Hooniversity which is designed to study different kinds of Question Blocks. The blocks found in this room are from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, Paper Mario and Super Mario 64.

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Question Blocks look more like those in New Super Mario Bros.. This game also featured a character named Broque Monsieur, who appears to be made from Question Blocks. Some other characters also appeared to be made from blocks.

Trivia

 * In both versions of Nintendo Monopoly, the Question Block cards replace the traditional Chance Cards.