Spade Panels are mini-games found on the World Map, usually appearing after clearing a certain number of stages in a world. They offer a chance to earn extra lives.
When you enter a Spade Panel, you'll play a 'Match Card' game similar to the Green Toad House, but with a different layout. You'll see a grid of cards, and you need to match three identical cards to win. The cards typically feature various power-ups (Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Starman) and a 1-Up Mushroom. Successfully matching three 1-Up Mushrooms is the best outcome.
N-Cards: After clearing a stage, you receive a 'Goal Card' (Mushroom, Flower, or Star). Collecting three matching Goal Cards (e.g., three Stars) will award you extra lives. The N-Card display on the World Map shows your current sequence of Goal Cards. You can strategically try to get specific cards by timing your jump to hit the Goal Card block at the end of a stage.