Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are both versions of the upcoming fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series being developed by Sora Ltd. and Namco Bandai Games. Each version has a different release date due to the time that it will take to finish each one. The Nintendo 3DS version was released on September 13, 2014 in Japan, and will be released in most other parts of the world on October 3, 2014. It will be released the day before in Germany (as to not coincide with a national holiday), and in Australia the day after. The Wii U version is set to be released in Q4 2014.

Gameplay
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U has some similarities and differences from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as differences between the two versions. Final Smashes and Footstool Jumping features make a return, while the "tripping" mechanic has been removed. The games' Adventure Mode will also be significantly different than The Subspace Emissary. The pace of battles has also been stated to be in between Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Both games will have the same roster of playable characters in order to keep them consistent, but the movesets and animations of returning characters will go through a larger amount of change than the returning characters did from the transition of Super Smash Bros. Melee to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with many returning characters being shown with completely new moves, and some appear to be getting significantly altered (such as Bowser). Aesthetic wise, the games are much more stylized and visually intense than previous entries, with the overall colors being bolder and brighter and many elements having been redone to stand out more.

Customization
It has also been stated that players will be able to send customized fighters from one version to the other. Players can customize fighter's special attacks with one of three variations for each; the Mii Fighters and Palutena, however, have different attack types rather than customizable moves, and customizable moves cannot be used in With Anyone online. Players can also equip items to fighters to increase specific attributes (attack, defense, or speed) while sacrificing others. Up to three items can be equipped at a time. It has been confirmed that there will be other elements that connect the two versions of the game, though said elements have not been revealed.

Nintendo 3DS version
For the Nintendo 3DS version, which is the first Super Smash Bros. game on a handheld, the fighters are given outlines during matches so as to be seen easier on-screen. The size of these outlines can be adjusted, as well as be removed. When playing a team match, the color of the characters' outlines match that of their team. This version will feature stages with a bigger focus on handheld games, and is planned to run at 60 frames per second even when using the stereoscopic 3D; the Assist Trophy and Pokémon characters, however, have been stated to run at 30 frames per second. The bottom screen displays the character's icons and damage percentages, and tapping one of the icons highlights that character.

The game will require 2.1 GB (17,300 blocks) of memory on an SDHC Card, if downloaded from the Nintendo eShop.

Smash Run
A new mode; Smash Run, has been confirmed to be a Nintendo 3DS-exclusive mode, strongly resembling the City Trial mode from Kirby Air Ride while including elements of the Subspace Emissary mode from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In this mode, players travel in a large maze-like map, fighting enemies from both Nintendo games and from Super Smash Bros. games, such as Magikoopas, Chandelure, Goombas, Shy Guys, and Kremlings. While fighting, players can collect several items similar to patches. These patches can increase attack power, special attack power, jumping, or movement speed. After five minutes, players are shown the stats of their attacks, courtesy of the patches they collected, and they are pitted in several modes, similar to the Stadiums from City Trial. The players then must fulfill certain conditions to win the game.

Wii U version
The Wii U version has been confirmed to not make use of the GamePad's touch screen during gameplay. This version has also been announced to be compatible with the upcoming amiibo NFC figurines. Using these figures allows players to have the figure's character appear in the game and fight, either with or against the player or against each other. Every time an amiibo competes in battle, it increases its level and battle stats, the highest level being fifty. Its moves are also customizable.

Online Play
Both versions of the game are to feature online play similar to Super Smash Bros. Brawl in that players from all over the world can face others in matches. When playing with friends, players can customize the rules to their liking. When not playing with friends, two basic modes are available for play: For Fun and For Glory. In For Fun mode, players can battle on any of the stages except Final Destination with any rules, the stages being picked at random; only victories are recorded in this mode. In For Glory mode, players can only play on the "Final Destination" versions of stages, without items. One-on-one matches are possible in this mode, and both victories and losses are recorded.

In addition, rather than have an online leaderboard, the games will make use of a different type of ranking system, called "Global Smash Power". When playing in single player, the player's score determines their Global Smash Power, which is used to determine how strong the player is compared to others around the world.

Playable characters
Due to limitations with the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, certain characters from the previous installments in the series have been cut from the rosters of both versions in order to keep them consistent. The removed characters include: Ice Climbers, Lucas, Snake, Wolf, and Pokemon Trainer (more specifically Squirtle and Ivysaur). This installment features a total of 49 playable characters, consisting of 34 veterans and 15 newcomers. 37 characters are available from the start of the game, whereas the other 12 must be unlocked by meeting certain conditions. Unlike previous games in the series, with the removal of in-game transformations, Sheik, Zero Suit Samus, and Charizard are now standalone characters.

Note: Characters in italics are unlockable.

Unlocking Criteria
How to unlock every character in this installment of Smash is listed below:

Character movesets

 * F.L.U.D.D. (Mario attack)
 * Toad (Peach attack)
 * Pikmin (Olimar attack)
 * Rush (Mega Man attack)
 * Lloid (Villager attack)
 * Tom Nook (Villager's Final Smash)
 * Timmy and Tommy Nook (Villager's Final Smash)
 * Navi (Link taunt)
 * Phantom (Zelda attack)
 * Gordo (King Dedede attack)
 * Mega Man X (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Mega Man Volnutt (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * MegaMan.EXE (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Star Force Mega Man/Geo Stellar (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Wild Gunman (Duck Hunt's Final Smash)
 * Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and/or Clyde (Pac-Man attack)
 * Galaga (Pac-Man attack and taunt)
 * Mappy (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Pooka (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Don-chan (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Chrom (Robin's Final Smash)
 * Dunban (Shulk's Final Smash)
 * Riki (Shulk's Final Smash)

Stage bosses

 * Yellow Devil (Wily Castle)
 * Master Hand
 * Crazy Hand

Mario series

 * Banzai Bill
 * Bill Blaster
 * Bullet Bill
 * Flame Chomp
 * Goomba
 * Grand Goomba
 * Hammer Bro.
 * Koopa Paratroopa
 * Koopa Troopa
 * Lakitu
 * Magikoopa
 * Spike Top

Donkey Kong series

 * Kritter
 * Tiki Buzz

The Legend of Zelda series

 * Cucco
 * Darknut
 * Octorok
 * Stalfos
 * ReDead

Metroid series

 * Kihunter
 * Zoomer

Yoshi series

 * Shy Guy

Kirby series

 * Gordo
 * Parasol Waddle Dee
 * Plasma Wisp
 * Shotzo
 * Tac
 * Waddle Dee
 * Waddle Doo
 * Bronto Burt

Pokémon series

 * Chandelure
 * Gastly
 * Petilil
 * Koffing
 * Cryogonal

Ice Climber

 * Polar Bear

Kid Icarus series

 * Boom Stomper
 * Bumpety Bomb
 * Daphne
 * Orne
 * Mimicutie
 * Monoeye
 * Reaper
 * Skuttler
 * Clubberskull
 * Megonta
 * Flage
 * Souflee

Pikmin series

 * Bulborb
 * Iridescent Glint Beetle

Rhythm Heaven series

 * Sneaky Spirit

Find Mii

 * Ghost

Sonic the Hedgehog series

 * Eggrobo

Mega Man series

 * Mettaur

Pac-Man series

 * Pooka

Super Smash Bros. series

 * Glire
 * Glunder
 * Mite
 * Poppant
 * Roturret

Stages
According to Masahiro Sakurai, both versions of the game will feature different stages, with a few exceptions. So far, 54 stages (34 for the 3DS version, and 20 for the Wii U version) have been confirmed. The Wii U version will mostly feature stages based on games released on home consoles, while the 3DS version will mostly feature stages based on games released on handheld systems. In the Nintendo 3DS version, each stage has only two tracks that can play, whereas the Wii U version will have a comprehensive list similar to My Music from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Additionally, most of the stages in both versions feature a "Final Destination" variation in addition to the normal one, being a flat course with no obstacles or other platforms.

Items
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are confirmed to have some new items. Both versions will feature the same types of items.

Normal items
So far, 75 items, 25 of which are new, are set to appear.

Assist Trophies
In the games, Assist Trophies are set to return. 33 Assist Trophies have currently been confirmed, of which 18 are new, and the other 15 are returning from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Pokémon
Just like the Assist Trophies, Nintendo has implemented the use of Pokémon. This set of Pokémon will feature more focus on the fifth and sixth generations, but will still feature Pokémon from previous generations. So far, 33 different species have been announced, of which 21 are new.

Demo
A downloadable demo for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released on the Japanese Nintendo eShop on September 9, 2014, and an international release has been announced for September 19; however, select Platinum rank Club Nintendo members who achieved the status during the 2013-2014 year and have registered a Nintendo 3DS and software were e-mailed four download codes for an unlimited use version of the demo. The demo requires 1016 blocks of space and has 30 uses. The only mode available for play in the demo is Smash, playable both in solo and multiplayer via Download Play, though in the Games and More menu players can access the Tips option. Only five playable characters are available in the demo, those being Mario, Link, Pikachu, Villager, and Mega Man; each character also only has three alternate costumes available. The only stage available for play is Battlefield, both in normal and "Final Destination" form, and a select number of items appear, though only when playing on normal Battlefield, and each match is set to two minutes.

Nintendo 3DS
A patch for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released on launch day in Japan, updating the game to version 1.0.1. While players who buy a physical copy must manually download the update, the downloadable version comes with the update preinstalled. The update adds online functionality as well as a "Conquest" feature which is set to start up on September 15.