The 2024 rendition of Mario vs Donkey Kong on the Nintendo Switch builds upon the original Game Boy Advance game by introducing additional content, including new worlds. Nintendo’s trailer boasts of “over 130 levels,” but what does that entail exactly?
The count of worlds in Mario vs Donkey Kong is relatively definitive, but the tally of levels hinges on what qualifies as a level. Having completed the main game, I can confirm that fewer than 130 levels are required to finish it. However, considering all the supplementary content unlocked post-credits, Nintendo’s assertion seems accurate.
How many worlds are there in Mario vs Donkey Kong?
In total, there are eight worlds in Mario vs Donkey Kong, two more than the original 2004 GBA iteration. The Mario Toy Company, Donkey Kong Jungle, Fire Mountain, Spooky House, Mystic Forest, and Twilight City return from the original with their original levels. The two new additions are Merry Mini-Land and Slippery Summit, introducing fresh challenges. Merry Mini-Land becomes World 4, and Slippery Summit is designated as World 6, resulting in renumbering for some existing worlds: Spooky House becomes World 5, Mystic Forest becomes World 7, and Twilight City becomes World 8.
How many levels are there in Mario vs Donkey Kong?
Each of the eight worlds in the main game consists of nine levels: six regular levels, one Mini-Mario level, one Donkey Kong level, and one bonus Toad level. The inclusion of bonus Toad levels may be debatable due to their brevity and non-replayability. Therefore, depending on the inclusion of these levels, there are either 64 or 72 levels across the main game. Additionally, the final boss level, “vs. Donkey Kong,” brings the total to either 65 or 73 levels.
Upon completing the main game, several more levels are unlocked. Initially, seven “new game+” levels are accessible for each world, comprising six regular levels and one Donkey Kong level. While the regular levels are entirely new, the Donkey Kong levels undergo slight modifications. Whether these “DK+” levels are deemed separate is open to interpretation. Thus, the total level count may be 65 + 48 = 113, or 73 + 56 = 129, depending on inclusivity.
Furthermore, upon completion, 16 Expert levels (an increase from the original 12) become available, constituting distinct levels. Thus, under a strict definition of levels, Mario vs Donkey Kong encompasses 129 levels, just shy of 130. However, with a broader interpretation, the count reaches 145 levels.
