Part 117

Learn how to earn all five Save File Stars in Super Mario 3D Land, including completing World 8-Final Castle, collecting all Star Coins, and unlocking Special 8-Crown.

This guide details how to earn the various Save File Stars in Super Mario 3D Land, which are awarded for completing specific in-game achievements.

Save File Star #1: Complete World 8-Final Castle
This star is awarded simply for completing the final course of World 8. Collecting Star Coins or completing previous courses is not required.

Save File Star #2: Complete every course in Worlds 1 to 8
All courses from World 1 through World 8 must be cleared. This means finishing the course, not necessarily collecting all Star Coins within them. Mystery Boxes and Toad Houses do not count towards this requirement.

Save File Star #3: Complete World 8-Final Castle Revisited
This star is earned by clearing the revisited World 8-Final Castle, which becomes available after completing Special World 8-Bowser's Castle. The revisited version features a harder boss battle. Star Coins are not required for this star.

Save File Star #4: Collect every Star Coin in all courses
To earn this star, you must collect all 285 Star Coins found in the normal courses. Star Coins from Mystery Boxes do not count towards this total.

Save File Star #5: Unlock Special 8-Crown
This final Save File Star is unlocked upon accessing Special 8-Crown. To unlock it, you must complete every course with both Mario and Luigi, achieve a Golden Flag in every course, and find all 285 Star Coins.

Glittering Stars: Never see a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block
Glittering Stars are challenging to obtain and are awarded for completing all five Save File Stars without ever encountering a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block. These blocks only appear in normal Worlds (not Special Worlds) when a player dies five times consecutively in a single course without completing it. The death count persists even if you exit and re-enter the course. Once a course is completed, the Gold Tanooki Leaf Block will no longer appear in that specific course. The Gold Tanooki Leaf Block does not appear in World 8-Final Castle. If a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block appears, you can quit to the title screen via the pause menu to reset your progress in that course without it being saved, allowing you to try again. You earn the Glittering Stars when you earn the fifth Save File Star.