Game Completion & 100% Checklist

Achieving 100% completion in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is a rewarding endeavor that requires dedication to collecting every last item and conquering every challenge. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps for both the main game and the additional Bowser's Fury campaign.

Super Mario 3D World: The Road to 100%

To truly complete Super Mario 3D World, you'll need to go beyond simply reaching the end credits. Here's a detailed breakdown of everything you need to accomplish:

Collect All Green Stars: Every single level, including the Captain Toad levels, Mystery Houses, and bonus stages, contains three Green Stars. These are crucial for unlocking later worlds and the final secret levels. Revisit levels using the map screen to see which stars you're missing.
Collect All Stamps: Each main level, and some bonus levels, hides a single Stamp. These are often in tricky-to-reach locations or behind hidden walls. Pay close attention to suspicious-looking blocks or areas off the beaten path.
Reach the Top of Every Flagpole: For every main level, you must reach the very top of the flagpole at the end. This often requires precise platforming, a specific power-up (like the Super Bell for wall-climbing), or a well-timed jump. Achieving this will grant you a golden flag on the level's icon.
Unlock and Complete All Secret Worlds: After defeating Bowser in World Castle, you'll unlock the special Star World. Completing Star World will then unlock Mushroom World, and so on, leading to Flower World and Crown World. Each of these worlds contains challenging levels with their own sets of Green Stars, Stamps, and flagpole requirements.
Collect All Five Character Stamps: To earn the final five character-specific stamps, you must complete every single main level (excluding Captain Toad levels and Mystery Houses) with each of the five playable characters (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Rosalina). This means replaying levels multiple times. The easiest way to track this is to look for the character icon next to the level's flag on the map screen. A small crown next to the character's icon indicates you've completed the level with them.
Defeat the Final Boss in Crown World: The ultimate challenge awaits in Crown World. Successfully defeat the final boss here to truly "finish" the main game.

Strategies for Item Collection:

Green Stars:
- Hidden Blocks: Always hit suspicious-looking blocks, especially those that seem out of place.
- Puzzles: Many stars are locked behind simple environmental puzzles, like lighting torches or activating switches.
- Time Limits: Some Mystery Houses require quick reflexes to grab stars within a strict time limit.
- Power-Up Specific: Certain stars are only accessible with specific power-ups, such as the Super Bell for climbing walls or the Boomerang Flower for hitting distant switches.
Stamps:
- Illusory Walls: Look for discolored or slightly transparent walls that can be walked through.
- Hidden Pipes: Sometimes, a secret pipe will lead to a Stamp.
- Off-Screen Areas: Don't be afraid to explore areas that seem to go off-screen, as Stamps are often placed there.
- Boss Levels: Even boss levels have Stamps!

Bowser's Fury: Feline Frenzy Completion

Bowser's Fury offers a more streamlined, open-world approach to completion, but it still has its own set of requirements:

Collect All 100 Cat Shines: This is the primary objective of Bowser's Fury. Cat Shines are scattered across Lake Lapcat, earned by completing various challenges, defeating enemies, and solving environmental puzzles. Each island typically has 5 Cat Shines associated with it, though some have more.
Defeat Fury Bowser Multiple Times: To unlock all areas of Lake Lapcat and access all Cat Shines, you'll need to collect a certain number of Cat Shines to trigger Fury Bowser's appearance. Defeating him will temporarily clear the storm and open new pathways. You'll need to defeat him at least 5 times to see the true ending.
Collect All Five Luigi Cat Shines: These special Cat Shines are earned by finding and rescuing Luigi on various islands. He'll often be trapped or need assistance with a specific task.
Collect All Five Giga Bell Cat Shines: These are the most prominent Cat Shines, found on the main islands. Collecting them will allow you to transform into Giga Cat Mario and directly confront Fury Bowser.
Collect All Cat Shine Shards: Some Cat Shines are broken into five shards. Collecting all five shards in an area will combine them into a single Cat Shine.
Complete All Time Trials: Many islands feature Time Trials, where you must race to collect a Cat Shine within a strict time limit. These often require precise platforming and knowledge of the level layout.
Find All Hidden Cat Shines: Some Cat Shines are well-hidden, requiring you to break specific blocks, activate hidden switches, or explore every nook and cranny of an island.
Defeat the Final Fury Bowser: After collecting all 100 Cat Shines, you'll trigger the ultimate confrontation with Fury Bowser. Defeat him to achieve 100% completion for Bowser's Fury.

Strategies for Cat Shine Collection:

Explore Thoroughly: Lake Lapcat is full of secrets. Don't just rush to the next objective; take time to explore every island and its surroundings.
Look for Clues: Sometimes, NPCs or environmental cues will hint at the location of a Cat Shine or a puzzle solution.
use Plessie: Plessie is invaluable for quickly traversing Lake Lapcat and reaching distant islands. Some Cat Shines even require Plessie's assistance.
Power-Up Management: Keep several power-ups in your inventory. The Super Bell is almost always useful, but the Fire Flower, Boomerang Flower, and Super Leaf also have their specific uses for certain challenges.
Track Your Progress: The in-game map will show you how many Cat Shines you've collected on each island, making it easy to see what you're missing.