Wall Jump

“While sliding down a wall, press to wall-jump! See how high you can get with this technique!”

—Board, Super Mario Galaxy 2

Mario performing a Wall Jump as illustrated in a Super Mario Sunshine manual

The Wall Jump (also known as the Wall Kick) is a special move that can be used by several characters, most notably Mario. The move is activated by jumping towards a wall and hitting the jump button again upon colliding with the wall. If done in narrow passages, characters can jump between the walls to ascend to a higher platform or over an obstacle.

History

Super Mario series

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario 64.

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario 3D Land.

In many early games, before the implementation of the actual wall jumping mechanic, maneuvers similar to the wall jump exist as glitches. For example, in Super Mario Bros., if Mario lands on a wall on a 16×16 boundary (so that his foot is on the top corner of a block), the player is able to jump from that point with frame-perfect timing. Similar glitches also exist in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

The Wall Jump itself was first implemented in Super Mario 64. Here, if Mario jumps at a wall, he will bounce off, but if the player presses as soon as Mario hits the wall, he will kick off of it instead, ascending higher than usual. If the player presses too late, Mario will simply fall down. The angle of the Wall Jump can also be adjusted, based on the angle Mario jumps at the wall. In games starting from Super Mario Sunshine onward, Mario slides down the wall, making Wall Jumping easier and the timing of the jump adjustable. This characteristic carries over to Super Mario 64 DS, where Mario is the only character that can Wall Jump. Due to the and buttons having their functions swapped, the text box after collecting the Mario Cap for the first time provides incorrect controls.

Starting from New Super Mario Bros. onwards, Luigi is able to Wall Jump as well. In the New Super Mario Bros. series, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are capable of Wall Jumping. In New Super Luigi U, Nabbit is also capable of Wall Jumping. In New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U, the player can perform a Spin Jump while Wall Jumping.

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Mailtoad mentions that Captain Toad has the ability to Wall Jump, as he was able to scale a canyon in pursuit of The Chimp in the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy; however, Captain Toad is unable to jump at all in Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, its Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS ports of the same name, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, likely due to his heavy backpack. Toad, Princess Peach, and Rosalina are able to Wall Jump in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury.

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario Run.

In Super Mario Run, characters can Wall Jump off of the sides of most walls and platforms by tapping the screen when they are holding on to a wall. In Toad Rally, performing consecutive Wall Jumps attracts more Toads.

In Super Mario Maker, its 3DS version, and Super Mario Maker 2, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Toadette can all Wall Jump, but only in the New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario 3D World styles.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Mini Marios can Wall Jump on Wall Jump Bars.

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Mini Mario executing the Wall Jump in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

The Wall Jump appears in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge as Mini Mario's special ability. From a horizontal surface, Mini Mario will automatically stick to a wall and bounce off of it, continuously jumping between it and any other wall until the toy reaches a platform. Wall Jumps are not performed if Mini Mario touches a wall as it walks up a slant or bounces from a Spring.

This ability is essential in reaching Mini Mario's assigned door in Level 5, located at the top of the stage. After clearing the level through said door, Mini Mario gains access to the Boost Pad Bonanza set of levels, which make extensive use of the Wall Jump ability.

Mario Superstar Baseball

In Mario Superstar Baseball, this move is used as a special fielding ability that Mario, Luigi, Bowser Jr., Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and Toadette can use. When one of these characters jumps near a wall, they take a great leap off of it, covering distance at a vertical angle. The move is used to catch low home run balls. In Mario Super Sluggers, this special ability is absent, possibly replaced by the Buddy Jump move.

Mario Tennis Aces

In Mario Tennis Aces, Mario uses this technique as part of his Special Shot, called the Blazing Wall Jump.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

Wall Jumping makes an appearance in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, where Donkey Kong is able to use it. While it operates similarly to its use in other games, the player must be constantly tapping the control stick or hitting the bongo in the direction of the wall to be able to slide down it.

Super Smash Bros. series

Starting in Super Smash Bros. Melee, several characters can wall jump in the Super Smash Bros. series, which works by tilting the control stick in the direction away from the wall when against a wall. Since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, some of these characters are able to wall cling as well, which allows them to indefinitely stick to a wall as long as they hold the control stick in the direction facing the wall. Only six characters are able to wall cling, those being Lucario, Diddy Kong, Squirtle, Greninja, Sheik, and Bayonetta.

Although Luigi was able to wall jump in the E3 demo of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, he cannot in the final game for unknown reasons.

Profiles

Super Mario Sunshine

• Instruction booklet description: Jump toward a wall then jump again as soon as Mario makes contact. Perform successive wall kicks between two walls to climb higher and higher.
  NOTE! Never give up! Try pressing even when sliding down walls!

Super Mario 3D Land

• North American website bio: Mario can do a long running leap to more easily clear wide gaps.
• European website bio: Press the B Button (or the A Button) when sliding down a wall to perform a Wall Jump, which will cause Mario to kick off the wall and jump in the opposite direction. Performing repeated Wall Jumps can take Mario up to some very high places!

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

• Digital manual description: against a wall midjump

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	カベジャンプ Kabe janpu カベキック Kabe kikku	Wall Jump Wall Kick
Chinese (simplified)	踢墙跳 Tī Qiáng Tiào	Kick wall jump
Chinese (traditional)	踢牆跳 Tī Qiáng Tiào	Kick wall jump
Dutch	Muursprong	Wall jump
German	Wandsprung	Wall Jump
Italian	Salto a parete	Wall jump
Korean	벽차기 Byeokchagi	Wall Kick
Portuguese (NOA)	Salto escalada	Climbing jump
Portuguese (NOE)	Salto Ricochete	Rebound Jump
Russian	Прыжок от стены Pryzhok ot steny	Wall jump
Spanish (NOA)	Salto escalada (Super Mario Odyssey) Rebotar en la Pared Salto de Muro (New Super Mario Bros. U) Salto de la patada en la pared (Super Mario 64 DS)	Climbing jump Bounce on the Wall Wall Jump Wall kick jump
Spanish (NOE)	Salto Escalada	Climbing Jump