Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the fifth Smash Bros. and the biggest by any measure. It brought back every fighter who had ever been in the series, 63 of them, and added eleven newcomers on the disc and twelve more as downloads, so that a select screen that began with eight starters ends with 86 fighters. Its 103 launch stages, almost all of them returning favourites, were the most the series had ever had.

The rules got some sensible upgrades too. You choose the stage before the fighters; every stage can be played in a Battlefield or an Ω form, with hazards switched off, or morphing into another stage halfway through. Eight players can fight on any stage, Stamina is a standard rule, and an optional Final Smash Meter hands everyone a weaker Final Smash once they have taken enough punishment.

Trophies are gone. In their place are spirits, characters from across video games reduced to a portrait that can be levelled up and equipped, and earned by winning Spirit Battles against fighters dressed and tuned to suit them. The new adventure, World of Light, is built around them: a vast map of Spirit Battles in which Kirby, the lone survivor of Galeem’s attack, has to win the rest of the cast back one by one.

Ultimate kept growing for three years. Piranha Plant arrived first, in January 2019; two Fighters Passes followed with eleven more fighters, from Persona 5’s Joker in April 2019 to Kingdom Hearts’ Sora in October 2021, along with stages, music, a Stage Builder and a Home-Run Contest added in free updates. It has sold 38.50 million copies, a figure no other fighting game has reached.

The questions people ask most about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, answered briefly here and in depth further down the page.

A Smash match is two to eight fighters on one stage, human or computer, trying to knock each other out of the arena. Time rules count knock-outs within a time limit, Stock gives everyone a set number of lives, and Stamina gives them hit points. Items can be on or off, and so can stage hazards and the Final Smash Meter.

Around that sit more modes than any Smash before it. World of Light is the adventure, retold below beat by beat; the Spirit Board keeps the Spirit Battles coming; Classic Mode gives every fighter a route of their own; and Games & More holds Mob Smash, the Home-Run Contest, Training, the Stage Builder and the Mii Fighter maker. Smash itself offers Squad Strike, Tourney and Special Smash. Every stage in the game, all 115, is listed at the end of this section.

World of Light: the end of everything

The adventure, revealed in the Nintendo Direct of 1 November 2018, opens with the whole roster lined up on a cliff, facing a sky full of Master Hands. The Hands dissolve into light and are drawn into Galeem, a being of light; Shulk has a vision of what is coming, and then the orb fires a storm of beams. Link blocks three with his shield before the fourth catches him. Bayonetta dodges three. Pit and Dark Pit take flight, until Palutena is hit and they fall. Samus, Zelda, Pikachu, Bowser, Sonic, Snake and almost everyone else are swallowed.

Only Kirby gets away, by pushing his Warp Star to warp speed. The light swallows the world, then the universe, and Kirby crash-lands alone in a canyon overlooking the World of Light, a landscape Galeem has built out of the fighters’ home worlds. Mario is shown held captive while golden liquid forms a lifeless copy of him; a spirit is forced into it and its eyes glow red. Galeem has made such puppet fighters of the entire cast except Kirby, and every one of them is driven by a captured spirit.

Sakurai chose Kirby as the only starter because he was one of the few fighters who could believably outrun Galeem, and the set-up revisits an idea he had once weighed for Brawl’s Subspace Emissary. Unlike that adventure, World of Light has few cutscenes, and only the opening has much to say.

The Light Realm

The first map is enormous. Each spot on it is a Spirit Battle: beat the puppet fighter and you can shoot the spirit free and add it to your team, while beating a puppet of a real fighter rescues that fighter for good. Mario is the first, freed right at the start. Skill Spheres buy permanent upgrades in a skill tree, and the master spirits you rescue open shops, a Gym and dojos.

Eight smaller worlds open off the map: the Molten Fortress, the Base, Forest Hill, the Power Plant, the Temple of Light, DK Island, Gourmet Race and World Tour. Giga Bowser guards the Molten Fortress, where Peach is waiting, and beating him is how you win back Bowser; the robot Galleom waits in the Base and the wyvern Rathalos in Forest Hill. Diddy Kong is rescued on DK Island and Dr. Mario on the road north of the city.

Master Hand guards both paths to Galeem. Beat Galeem, though, and the story turns: a second being, Dharkon, bursts in, Galeem retreats, and a whole new map opens up.

Dharkon and the Dark Realm

Dharkon commands the Crazy Hands, and his Dark Realm is a gloomier map with three worlds of its own: the Sacred Land, where Ganon waits; Dracula’s Castle, home of Dracula and the prison of both Daisy and Wario; and the Mysterious Dimension, ruled by Marx, where Luigi is found among the flames. Crazy Hand is fought three times, and Rosalina & Luma are freed on the northern paths.

Only after all five Dark Realm bosses have fallen does Dharkon himself come within reach.

The Final Battle and the three endings

The last map is split between light and dark, with Dharkon in the top left corner, Galeem in the top right and the player at the bottom. Master Hand and Crazy Hand are each fought twice, Galeem and Dharkon one at a time, and at the very end both together, with the player picking three fighters for the battle.

How it ends depends on where you fight. Beat enough dark spirits and few enough light ones, and Galeem’s light reaches Dharkon first: Galeem destroys him and swallows the universe again. Do the opposite and Dharkon spears Galeem with his chains and the world rots into a desert. The true ending, Restoration, needs the two sides kept in balance, Roy and Dark Samus rescued, and a puppet Master Hand and a puppet Crazy Hand defeated; then Master Hand becomes playable for one battle against fifty puppets. Defeat Galeem and Dharkon together and both are destroyed, and the spirits return to their own worlds. Both bad endings must also be seen for 100% completion.

World of Light can be played on Normal; Hard arrived with Ver. 1.1.0 at launch and Very Easy with Ver. 4.0.0. Downloadable fighters join the adventure once they have been bought and ten fighters have been freed.

The Spirit Board

Outside the adventure, spirits come from the Spirit Board: up to ten random Spirit Battles at a time, each on a timer, replaced by new ones as they are won or run out. Themed events, such as one called “Oh Yeah! Mario Time!”, give extra gold and SP for spirits from one series. Buying a Challenger Pack adds a separate board for that series, introduced with Ver. 3.0.0; its spirits never expire, are won outright without the shooting minigame, and pay out 10,000 gold when all are collected.

Classic Mode

Classic Mode goes back to Brawl’s style: a fixed series of opponents for each fighter, with a boss at the end. Mario’s route is called “Let’s-a Go!”; Bowser’s ends at New Donk City Hall against Mario and then Metal Mario; Daisy’s last round before Master Hand is a fight against Peach. You always start with one stock, and continuing restarts the fight at 0% with points docked. At intensity 7.0 and above, Crazy Hand joins Master Hand, and a Bonus Game dodging a black hole breaks up the route.

Every fighter has a victory picture for clearing the mode, and Daisy’s credits play Mario Tennis and Mario Golf music. Clearing Classic is also the quickest way to unlock fighters, through the trees described in the Cheats section.

Mob Smash, the Home-Run Contest and Training

Mob Smash has three rules. Century Smash is the old 100-Man Smash against the Fighting Mii Team; Cruel Smash pits you against Miis strong enough to launch you very far; and the new All-Star Smash, a merger of the old All-Star and Endless modes, sends every unlocked fighter at you in order of first appearance until you fall.

The Home-Run Contest returned in Ver. 5.0.0 in September 2019: ten seconds to batter the Sandbag, then one swing with the Home-Run Bat, alone, competitively for up to four or in pairs. Training has a stage marked with a grid to measure distances and can show the launch paths of a computer opponent at different damage levels.

Squad Strike, Tourney, Smashdown and Special Smash

Squad Strike is a team elimination battle, 3-on-3 or 5-on-5: one player can command a whole squad, or each player takes one fighter, and nobody may pick the same fighter twice. Tourney returns from Brawl with brackets for up to 32 players, generated automatically. Special Smash holds Custom Smash, Super Sudden Death and the new Smashdown, where any fighter who has been used cannot be picked again.

Stage Builder, Mii Fighters and Challenger’s Approach

The Stage Builder arrived with Ver. 3.0.0 in April 2019, along with a replay editor. You draw the ground by hand, pick a background and music, and add lava, cannons, portals and switches. Mii Fighters are built in Games & More as a Brawler, a Swordfighter or a Gunner, each with three choices of special move for every slot and twelve voices.

Lose a fight against a challenger and it does not come back by the usual routes; instead Challenger’s Approach appears in Games & More for a rematch, until every fighter is unlocked. In May 2019, Ver. 3.1.0 made the game work with the Nintendo Labo VR Kit.

Every stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

All 103 launch stages are available from the start, and twelve were added later: Small Battlefield as a free update and eleven with the Fighters Pass fighters. The cards list the new stages first, then the returning ones, grouped by the Smash game they first appeared in. Mario-universe stages have pictures.

1. 
   BattlefieldSuper Smash Bros. · starter · series stapleThe classic layout of three floating platforms over a main floor; every other stage can be turned into a Battlefield form like it.
2. Small BattlefieldSuper Smash Bros. · free update, Ver. 8.1.0, 4 August 2020A slightly smaller Battlefield with the top platform taken away.
3. Big BattlefieldSuper Smash Bros. · starterA larger Battlefield with extra platforms, first built for 8-Player Smash.
4. 
   Final DestinationSuper Smash Bros. · starter · series stapleOne flat platform and nothing else; every stage has an Ω form shaped like it.
5. 
   New Donk City HallSuper Mario (Super Mario Odyssey) · starter · new to UltimateA platform lifts the fighters up the city hall, and once they have passed Pauline and each member of her band, the band plays at the foot of the tower. Captain Toad sometimes pops up on the roof.
6. 
   Great Plateau TowerThe Legend of Zelda · starter · new to UltimateA flat floor under a roof that can be smashed, leaving only a thin platform until it rebuilds itself.
7. 
   Moray TowersSplatoon · starter · new to UltimateSloping floors stacked one above another, and Judd raising a flag for whoever is winning as time runs out.
8. 
   Dracula’s CastleCastlevania · starter · new to UltimateTwo platforms that rise and fall, a broken staircase, and candles in the background that drop items when struck.
9. 
   MementosPersona · DLC with Joker, 17 April 2019Trains rush past in the background, and the colours and music change with Persona 3 and 4 tracks.
10. 
    Yggdrasil’s AltarDragon Quest · DLC with Hero, 30 July 2019A flat platform that travels across Erdrea, where treasure chests may turn out to be Mimics.
11. 
    Spiral MountainBanjo-Kazooie · DLC with Banjo & Kazooie, 4 September 2019A fight on the peak of the mountain, whose slopes change as the stage turns.
12. 
    King of Fighters StadiumFatal Fury · DLC with Terry, 6 November 2019A flat tournament stage with walls at each side that break under enough knockback.
13. 
    Garreg Mach MonasteryFire Emblem: Three Houses · DLC with Byleth, 28 January 2020A travelling stage that stops at four places from Three Houses.
14. 
    Spring StadiumARMS · DLC with Min Min, 29 June 2020A floating platform where bounce pads pop up from time to time.
15. 
    Minecraft WorldMinecraft · DLC with Steve, 13 October 2020Six biomes, each with its own layout and blocks that can be broken.
16. 
    Northern CaveFinal Fantasy VII · DLC with Sephiroth, 22 December 2020A single floating platform in front of a background that replays Final Fantasy VII’s ending.
17. 
    Cloud Sea of AlrestXenoblade Chronicles · DLC with Pyra and Mythra, 4 March 2021A fight on the back of the Titan Azurda as it swims through the Cloud Sea.
18. 
    Mishima DojoTekken · DLC with Kazuya, 29 June 2021A flat dojo whose walls and ceiling break and then repair themselves.
19. 
    Hollow BastionKingdom Hearts · DLC with Sora, 18 October 2021A floating platform that turns into the Dive to the Heart when time, stocks or stamina run low.
20. 
    Peach’s CastleSuper Mario (Super Mario 64) · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)The Nintendo 64 arena in the clouds above the castle, with two slopes, a sliding board and a drifting Bumper.
21. 
    Mushroom KingdomSuper Mario Bros. · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)Super Mario Bros. rebuilt as an arena, with brick blocks, pipes, falling lifts and a POW Block.
22. 
    Kongo JungleDonkey Kong Country · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)A jungle that slopes in the middle, with a Barrel Cannon swinging beneath it.
23. Hyrule CastleThe Legend of Zelda · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)A long castle rooftop where a cyclone keeps appearing.
24. 
    Super Happy TreeYoshi’s Story · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)The Nintendo 64 game’s storybook Yoshi stage, built round the Super Happy Tree, with clouds at the sides that fade under your feet.
25. Dream LandKirby · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)A flat Kirby stage where Whispy Woods blows the fighters about.
26. Saffron CityPokémon · starter · from Super Smash Bros. (N64)Rooftops round the Silph Co. tower, where Pokémon step out of the doorway.
27. 
    Princess Peach’s CastleSuper Mario · starter · from MeleeThe castle roof, split in two by a central tower; switches make blocks appear, and every so often a Banzai Bill slams into the building.
28. 
    Rainbow CruiseSuper Mario 64 · starter · from MeleeMelee’s Super Mario 64 stage: a ride on the Rainbow Cruiser and its magic carpets.
29. 
    Mushroom Kingdom IISuper Mario Bros. 2 · starter · from MeleeLogs tumble down the waterfalls into the pits, Birdo spits eggs that can be caught and thrown, and Pidgit flies over on his carpet.
30. 
    Kongo FallsDonkey Kong Country · starter · from MeleeMelee’s Kongo Jungle under a new name: a raft above a waterfall, with a spinning Barrel Cannon below and Klaptraps about.
31. 
    Jungle JapesDonkey Kong Country · starter · from MeleeWooden platforms above a fast river that sweeps fighters away, with Klaptraps in the water.
32. Great BayThe Legend of Zelda · starter · from MeleeA Zelda stage back from Melee.
33. TempleThe Legend of Zelda · starter · from MeleeMelee’s vast temple in the sky.
34. BrinstarMetroid · starter · from MeleeAcid rises and falls in a set pattern.
35. Brinstar DepthsMetroid · starter · from MeleeA Metroid stage back from Melee.
36. 
    Yoshi’s Island (Melee)Super Mario World · starter · from MeleeMelee’s Super Mario World stage, with a Warp Pipe, Rotating Blocks and a sloping hill.
37. 
    Yoshi’s StoryYoshi’s Story · starter · from MeleeMelee’s Yoshi’s Story stage, back again.
38. Fountain of DreamsKirby · starter · from MeleeA Kirby stage back from Melee.
39. Green GreensKirby · starter · from MeleeWhispy Woods, blocks and Bomb Blocks.
40. CorneriaStar Fox · starter · from MeleeOn top of the Great Fox, with Arwings flying about.
41. VenomStar Fox · starter · from MeleeA Star Fox stage back from Melee.
42. Pokémon StadiumPokémon · starter · from MeleeA stadium that changes between grass, fire, water and rock layouts.
43. OnettEarthBound · starter · from MeleeCars speed through the streets of Onett.
44. FoursideEarthBound · starter · from MeleeAn EarthBound city stage back from Melee.
45. Big BlueF-Zero · starter · from MeleeA fight on top of speeding racing machines.
46. 
    Delfino PlazaSuper Mario Sunshine · starter · from BrawlA platform flies the fighters round Isle Delfino, stopping in different corners of the town.
47. 
    Mushroomy KingdomSuper Mario Bros. · starter · from BrawlWorld 1-1, scrolling on its own and sometimes turning into the underground World 1-2.
48. 
    Figure-8 CircuitMario Kart · starter · from BrawlBrawl’s Mario Circuit under a new name, with Shy Guys racing straight through the fight.
49. 
    Luigi’s MansionLuigi’s Mansion · starter · from BrawlBreak its pillars and the mansion comes down on the fighters.
50. 
    Mario Bros.Mario Bros. · starter · from BrawlThe arcade sewer, with Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers on the loose.
51. 
    75 mDonkey Kong · starter · from BrawlThe arcade girders, with Donkey Kong at the top and springs bouncing across.
52. Bridge of EldinThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess · starter · from BrawlA bomb blows a hole in the bridge until a portal mends it.
53. Pirate ShipThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker · starter · from BrawlA ship on the Great Sea, with cannons and rocks.
54. NorfairMetroid · starter · from BrawlLava rises, pours down and sweeps across in a great wave.
55. Frigate OrpheonMetroid Prime · starter · from BrawlA space frigate that flips round into a new layout.
56. 
    Yoshi’s IslandSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island · starter · from BrawlAn island that changes with the seasons while Fly Guys carry items overhead.
57. HalberdKirby · starter · from BrawlA ride on Meta Knight’s battleship, with its laser cannon to dodge.
58. Lylat CruiseStar Fox · starter · from BrawlTilted platforms on a ship flying through space.
59. Pokémon Stadium 2Pokémon · starter · from BrawlIce, electric, ground and flying layouts in turn.
60. Spear PillarPokémon · starter · from BrawlDialga, Palkia and other legendary Pokémon act as hazards.
61. Port Town Aero DiveF-Zero GX · starter · from BrawlRacing machines tear through when the platform lands on the track.
62. Castle SiegeFire Emblem · starter · from BrawlOutside the castle, inside it, then a lava cavern.
63. 
    WarioWare, Inc.WarioWare · starter · from BrawlMicrogames interrupt the fight, and whoever beats one gets a reward.
64. Distant PlanetPikmin · starter · from BrawlA Bulborb, rainstorms and Pellet Posies on a forest floor.
65. SmashvilleAnimal Crossing · starter · from BrawlA town square without hazards.
66. New Pork CityEarthBound · starter · from BrawlA huge stage where the Ultimate Chimera may prowl.
67. SummitIce Climber · starter · from BrawlA chunk of glacier that breaks off and floats away, and a fish that eats fighters.
68. SkyworldKid Icarus · starter · from BrawlCloud platforms that can be smashed.
69. Shadow Moses IslandMetal Gear Solid · starter · from BrawlA heliport with walls that break and rebuild themselves.
70. Green Hill ZoneSonic the Hedgehog · starter · from BrawlA dip in the middle that can crumble away.
71. HanenbowElectroplankton · starter · from BrawlLeaves to stand on and flying Hanenbows.
72. Boxing RingPunch-Out!! · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Bounce off the ropes, and watch out for the lighting rig.
73. Gaur PlainXenoblade Chronicles · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Two clifftops over a gap; at nightfall Metal Face may turn up as a stage boss.
74. Duck HuntDuck Hunt · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Trees, ducks and the dog popping up from the grass.
75. Wily CastleMega Man · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Moving platforms, and the Yellow Devil as a stage boss.
76. 
    Super Mario MakerSuper Mario Maker · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)A new course for every match, switching between the game styles.
77. Suzaku CastleStreet Fighter II · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Ryu’s rooftops.
78. MidgarFinal Fantasy VII · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)Materia summons can change the stage.
79. Umbra Clock TowerBayonetta · starter · from Smash 4 (both versions)A clock tower falling through the sky.
80. 
    3D LandSuper Mario 3D Land · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)An auto-scrolling course with Skewers and moving platforms.
81. 
    Golden PlainsNew Super Mario Bros. 2 · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Collect a hundred coins and your attacks and weight get a boost.
82. 
    Paper MarioPaper Mario · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)A paper diorama that folds between three layouts.
83. Gerudo ValleyThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)A breakable bridge, with Koume and Kotake casting spells.
84. Spirit TrainThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)A fight on top of a train that never stops.
85. Dream Land GBKirby’s Dream Land · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)A Game Boy-style stage whose music changes with each area.
86. Unova Pokémon LeaguePokémon Black and White · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Reshiram and Zekrom act as hazards.
87. Prism TowerPokémon X and Y · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Platforms circle Lumiose City’s tower.
88. Mute City SNESF-Zero · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)F-Zero racing machines to fight on, back from the 3DS game.
89. MagicantEarthBound · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Clouds to fight on, and Flying Men who join in.
90. Arena FeroxFire Emblem Awakening · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Platforms rise from the arena floor as the fight goes on.
91. Reset Bomb ForestKid Icarus: Uprising · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Platforms first, then breakable ledges.
92. Tortimer IslandAnimal Crossing: New Leaf · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Trees and a pier to stand on, and sharks in the water.
93. Balloon FightBalloon Fight · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Lightning, Flippers and a hungry fish.
94. Living RoomNintendogs + Cats · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)A giant floor where falling objects hurt.
95. Find MiiFind Mii · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)The Dark Emperor appears as a boss and boosts whoever beats him.
96. Tomodachi LifeTomodachi Life · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)An apartment block full of Miis.
97. PictoChat 2Nintendo DS · starter · from Smash 4 (3DS)Drawings appear, and each one changes the fight.
98. 
    Mushroom Kingdom UNew Super Mario Bros. U · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Areas from New Super Mario Bros. U, each with its own hazards, and Nabbit making off with fighters.
99. 
    Mario GalaxySuper Mario Galaxy · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A little planet whose gravity bends round it.
100. 
     Mario CircuitMario Kart 8 · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A Mario Kart 8 track, with Shy Guy racers to dodge.
101. SkyloftThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A platform that tours Skyloft.
102. The Great Cave OffensiveKirby Super Star · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A huge stage split into areas.
103. Kalos Pokémon LeaguePokémon X and Y · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Moves between the main hall and four other chambers.
104. ColiseumFire Emblem · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)An arena whose platforms rise and sink.
105. Flat Zone XGame & Watch · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Scenes from Game & Watch titles, after Flat Zone and Flat Zone 2.
106. Palutena’s TempleKid Icarus: Uprising · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A huge temple with platforms everywhere.
107. 
     GamerGame & Wario · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A big table at night, with 5-Volt on the lookout.
108. Garden of HopePikmin 3 · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)The Peckish Aristocrab wrecks what it touches.
109. Town and CityAnimal Crossing: City Folk · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Animal Crossing’s town and city, back from the Wii U game.
110. Wii Fit StudioWii Fit · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A mirror that sometimes shows yoga poses, and nothing more.
111. 
     Wrecking CrewWrecking Crew · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Bombs bring down the floors and barrels trap fighters.
112. PilotwingsPilotwings · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A fight on a red biplane, then a yellow one.
113. Wuhu IslandWii Sports Resort · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)Platforms tour the island.
114. Windy Hill ZoneSonic Lost World · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A rotating wheel above a curved hill.
115. Pac-LandPac-Land · starter · from Smash 4 (Wii U)A side-scrolling run through scenes from the game.

Ultimate plays by the series’ familiar rules. Damage is a percentage rather than a health bar, and the higher it climbs the further a fighter flies; a knock-out only comes when someone is launched past the edge of the screen. Every fighter has normal attacks, smash attacks and four special moves, and a Smash Ball or a full Final Smash Meter unlocks a cinematic Final Smash.

New rules for a new generation

The stage is picked first and the fighters second. Every stage has an Ω form, flat like Final Destination, and a Battlefield form with three pass-through platforms; hazards can be switched off; and the new Stage Morph swaps between two chosen stages during a match. Stamina, where fighters have hit points, is now a standard rule beside Time and Stock, can be given stocks and can be played online.

8-Player Smash returns from the Wii U game and now works on any stage from the beginning. Rule sets can be saved and picked from a list. The optional Final Smash Meter fills as a fighter takes and deals damage and grants a weaker Final Smash than the Smash Ball’s; only one may be in use at once, and from Ver. 4.0.0 a full meter runs out after 20 seconds.

Controllers and amiibo

Ultimate can be played with a single Joy-Con held sideways, a pair of Joy-Con, the Pro Controller or a GameCube controller through a USB adapter, and Nintendo released a GameCube controller with the Ultimate logo on 2 November 2018. Scanning an amiibo creates a computer-controlled Figure Player that gets stronger as it fights and can be given a spirit; figures trained in the Wii U and 3DS game can start from scratch or at level 12.

Echo Fighters

Seven fighters are Echo Fighters, built closely on another fighter’s moves but with their own Final Smash, taunts and victory poses: Lucina (from Marth), Dark Pit (Pit), Daisy (Peach), Richter (Simon), Chrom (Roy), Dark Samus (Samus) and Ken (Ryu). They share their original’s number with an ε mark, so Daisy is fighter 13ε. Some play noticeably differently; Daisy, since Ver. 3.0.0, plays exactly like Peach.

Spirits, cores and the Collection

Spirits are the new collectables, and there are 1,528 of them. Primary spirits raise a fighter’s attack and defence and have slots for support spirits, which add skills; each has a type, such as Attack, Shield or Grab, and a class from Novice to Legend. Master spirits run facilities, and fighter spirits are simply portraits of the cast.

In the Collection menu you can level spirits up with snacks, dismiss them for cores and combine cores to summon spirits that cannot be won any other way. Some evolve at level 99: Toad becomes Captain Toad, Boo becomes King Boo, and a Nipper Plant grows into Petey Piranha. Once their master spirits are freed in World of Light, Doc Louis runs a Gym, dojos teach strengths, and exploration trips find items.

Downloadable fighters: the Fighters Passes

Piranha Plant came first. It was free on 29 January 2019 to everyone who had bought the game digitally or registered a boxed copy with My Nintendo by 31 January, and on sale to everyone from 1 February for US$4.99 (£4.49). It is the only downloadable fighter outside the Fighters Passes, and it has no stage, music or spirits of its own.

Each later fighter came in a Challenger Pack with a stage, several music tracks and spirits, sold singly or through a pass. Fighters Pass Vol. 1 (US$24.99, £22.49) held five packs, Joker, Hero, Banjo & Kazooie, Terry and Byleth, and gave buyers a Rex Mii costume. Fighters Pass Vol. 2 (US$29.99, £26.99), announced on 16 January 2020, held Min Min, Steve, Sephiroth, Pyra and Mythra, Kazuya and Sora; it had been planned with five fighters, and Sora made it six. Alongside them came eleven rounds of Mii Fighter costumes, 97 pieces in all, among them a Geno hat and outfit from Super Mario RPG.

Online play

Everything online needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership and the latest update. Quickplay matches solo players by Global Smash Power, tracked for each fighter, and players with a high enough score enter Elite Smash. Battle Arenas are lobbies with their own rules and five-character IDs, public or for friends only, with an optional password. Ver. 4.0.0 added online tournaments.

Items and Assist Trophies

There are 87 items, 13 of them new to the series and 74 returning, plus 59 Assist Trophies (27 new). The chips below show the summoning items, every returning Mario-series item, the 13 new items and the six Mario- and Donkey Kong-series Assist Trophies. Among the other new Assist Trophies are Bomberman, Shovel Knight, Knuckles, Krystal and Rathalos, and Poké Balls release Pokémon from every generation.

• 
  Smash BallBreak it to unleash a full-strength Final Smash.
• 
  Assist TrophyCalls in one of 59 helpers.
• 
  Poké BallReleases a random Pokémon.
• 
  Super MushroomReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Poison MushroomReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Fire FlowerReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Super StarReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Super LeafReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Bob-ombReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Green ShellReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Spiny ShellReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Bullet BillReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Banana PeelReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  POW BlockReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  FreezieReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  HotheadReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Fire BarReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  LightningReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Metal BoxReturning Mario-series item.
• 
  Super Launch StarNew, from the Mario series: a Launch Star that fires whoever touches it across the stage.
• Banana GunNew.
• BeastballNew.
• Black HoleNew.
• BomberNew, from Kirby.
• Death’s ScytheNew, from Castlevania.
• Fake Smash BallNew: it looks like a Smash Ball.
• Healing FieldNew.
• Healing SproutNew.
• Killing EdgeNew, from Fire Emblem.
• Rage BlasterNew.
• Ramblin’ Evil MushroomNew, from EarthBound.
• StaffNew, from Kid Icarus.
• 
  WaluigiReturning Assist Trophy.
• 
  Chain ChompReturning Assist Trophy.
• 
  Hammer BroReturning Assist Trophy.
• 
  ThwompNew Assist Trophy.
• 
  Flies & HandNew Mario-series Assist Trophy.
• 
  KlaptrapNew Assist Trophy from the Donkey Kong series.

Ultimate is the biggest celebration of the Mario series in any Smash game. Here are the Mario-family games it borrows from, with the stages, moves, music and spirits that come from each, and links to our pages on those games.

Super Mario OdysseyNew stage, costume, taunt and spiritNew Donk City Hall is the only brand-new Mario stage, complete with Pauline’s band and the Odyssey in the sky. Mario wears his wedding suit as an alternative costume, throws Cappy in his side taunt, can shake regional coins out of opponents with his Super Jump Punch, and Cappy is a spirit.

Super Mario GalaxyFighter, stage, item and Final SmashRosalina & Luma return, now with a Grand Star in their Final Smash, the Mario Galaxy stage keeps its curved gravity, and the Super Launch Star is one of the thirteen new items. Piranha Plant even turns into a Prickly Piranha Plant for its forward smash.

Luigi’s MansionStage, grab, Final Smash and musicLuigi now grabs with a Poltergust and finishes opponents with the Poltergust G-00; the mansion stage returns from Brawl; there is a new arrangement of the hummed title theme; and the Poltergust 5000 from Dark Moon is a spirit.

Super Mario Bros. 2Stage, sound, music and spiritsMushroom Kingdom II brings back Birdo, Pidgit and the waterfall logs; the sound Peach and Daisy make when pulling a Vegetable comes straight from the NES game; its overworld theme is rearranged; and Wart, Mouser and Pidgit are spirits drawn in its own art style.

Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3Stages, music and costumesThe Nintendo 64 game’s Mushroom Kingdom and Brawl’s scrolling Mushroomy Kingdom both return. Super Mario Bros. 3’s overworld, fortress-boss and Bowser themes are rearranged, the Super Leaf is an item, and Piranha Plant’s green and blue colours copy its overground and underground looks from Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario SunshineStage, move, music and Final SmashDelfino Plaza still gives its guided tour of the island, Mario still sprays F.L.U.D.D., there is an arrangement of the Isle Delfino theme, and Bowser Jr.’s Final Smash is Shadow Mario Paint. F.L.U.D.D., the Shine Sprite and Shadow Mario are all spirits.

Super Mario 64Two stagesPeach’s Castle from the first Smash Bros. and Rainbow Cruise from Melee both come back.

Mario KartStages, music, item and spiritsBrawl’s Mario Circuit returns as Figure-8 Circuit beside the Mario Kart 8 one, the Excitebike Arena and Ice Ice Outpost music from Mario Kart 8 can be picked, the Spiny Shell is an item, and the Goo-Goo Buggy from Double Dash!! is a spirit.

Super Mario RPGSpirits and a Mii costumeGeno is one of the most powerful Mario-series spirits and a Smash Tag icon, Mallow is a spirit too, and a Geno hat and outfit for Mii Fighters were sold in December 2020. Daisy’s forward smash includes a frying pan, a nod to the game.

Paper MarioStage, colours and spiritThe folding Paper Mario stage is back, Paper Mario himself is a spirit, Piranha Plant’s poison breath borrows the colours of a Putrid Piranha, and its black and blue costumes recall the Pale and Frost Piranhas.

The Yoshi gamesFour stages and a Final SmashSuper Happy Tree from the first Smash, Yoshi’s Story and Melee’s Super Mario World stage, and Brawl’s seasonal Yoshi’s Island all return. Bowser’s Final Smash borrows the look of Baby Bowser’s battle at the end of Yoshi’s Island, and Yoshi’s own is based on a scene in Melee’s opening.

Donkey Kong CountryFighter, stages and Assist TrophyKing K. Rool’s moves are full of his old disguises: the Blunderbuss wears Kaptain K. Rool’s pirate hat from Donkey Kong Country 2, the Propellerpack comes from Baron K. Roolenstein in Donkey Kong Country 3, and the Crownerang from his first boss fight. Kongo Jungle, Kongo Falls and Jungle Japes return, and Klaptrap is a new Assist Trophy.

Wario Land and WarioWareMoves and stagesWario’s dash attack and his ground-pound down throw come from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3. WarioWare, Inc. and the Game & Wario stage Gamer are both here, and Ashley is still an Assist Trophy.

Mario Bros., Donkey Kong and Wrecking CrewArcade stagesThe Mario Bros. sewer, the Donkey Kong girders of 75 m and the collapsing floors of Wrecking Crew all return as stages.

Super Mario Maker and New Super Mario Bros.Stages and a costumeMario’s Builder outfit comes from Super Mario Maker, and its stage rebuilds itself for every match. Golden Plains from New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mushroom Kingdom U from New Super Mario Bros. U return, along with 3D Land.

Mario Golf and Mario TennisDaisy and PeachDaisy swings a golf club, a tennis racket or a frying pan with her forward smash, depending on the angle. One of her victory poses is inspired by her eagle celebration in Mario Golf: World Tour and one of Peach’s resembles her hole-in-one celebration there, and clearing Classic Mode as Daisy plays Mario Tennis and Mario Golf music over the credits.

Mario Party, DDR and other cameosAnimations and spiritsMario’s down smash is now the breakdance from Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, one of Yoshi’s victory poses comes from his second-place animation in Mario Party 10, Tatanga from Super Mario Land and Chargin’ Chuck from Super Mario World are spirits, and Piranha Plant’s potted look follows the Potted Piranha Plant of Super Mario 3D World.

Mario-series spiritsMore than a hundredThe Mario series has well over a hundred spirits. The four-star elite include Dry Bowser, Fury Bowser, Geno, Gold Mario, the Shine Sprite and Pauline; Toadette is a master spirit freed in World of Light; and several only appear by enhancing another, from Toad into Captain Toad to Boo into King Boo. E. Gadd, Fawful, Nabbit, Kamek, Lakitu and the Koopalings are all in the collection.

Every fighter from every earlier Smash game is back, which is why Ultimate’s roster reached 86 fighters: 74 in the box, counting the three Mii Fighters, and twelve sold as downloads. Only eight are available at the start: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox and Pikachu. The Mario universe supplies fourteen, and they come first here, as befits a Mario site; then the headline newcomers and downloadable fighters. Every fighter, with how to get them, is in the full roster below.

Character	Who they are	In this game	Abilities & notes
MarioSuper Mario · #01 · starter	The default fighter, and in Ultimate a short, all-round middleweight with quick air speed, excellent jumps and strong combos, held back by short reach and a predictable recovery.	Fireball, Cape, Super Jump Punch and F.L.U.D.D. are his specials, and Mario Finale sends two giant fireballs across the screen. Super Mario Odyssey gave him a wedding suit to wear, a side taunt that throws Cappy and a Super Jump Punch that can shake out regional coins; Super Mario Maker gave him his Builder outfit. His Classic Mode route is called “Let’s-a Go!”	Starter · Classic tree: Sonic, Bayonetta, Little Mac, Ike, Luigi, Roy, Dr. Mario, Olimar
LuigiSuper Mario · #09 · unlockable	A middleweight with excellent frame data and a strong air game, whose down throw starts long combos; his weaknesses are slow air speed, short reach and a recovery that is easy to read.	New for Ultimate, his grab fires a Poltergust, which also gives him a suction-cup grab in the air, and his Final Smash is the Poltergust G-00. Fireball, Green Missile (which can misfire for far more damage), Super Jump Punch and Luigi Cyclone complete his set.	Unlock: 5th in Mario’s Classic tree; 33rd challenger by play; Dark Realm, Mysterious Dimension in World of Light. Challenge fight on Luigi’s Mansion
PeachSuper Mario · #13 · unlockable	A light, floaty fighter whose float, about two and a half seconds long, makes her approaches and edge-guarding hard to read. She pulls up Vegetables to throw, and very rarely one turns out to be a Bob-omb or Mr. Saturn.	Toad, Peach Bomber, Peach Parasol and Vegetable are her specials, and Peach Blossom dances nearby fighters to sleep. Her forward smash lets the player choose between a golf club, a racket and a frying pan by angling it, and in her artwork she holds her parasol for the first time.	Unlock: 3rd in Fox’s Classic tree; 12th challenger by play; Molten Fortress in World of Light. Challenge fight on Princess Peach’s Castle
DaisySuper Mario · #13ε · unlockable · newcomer	Daisy finally fights, revealed at E3 on 12 June 2018 as the first new Echo Fighter. She is Peach’s Echo: the same moves, with a blue Toad, flowers in place of hearts, and her own voice, Deanna Mustard, from the Mario spin-offs.	Daisy Blossom grows giant daisies that send foes to sleep. Since Ver. 3.0.0 she plays exactly like Peach, the only fighter of whom that is true. One of her victory poses ends like her eagle celebration in Mario Golf: World Tour, and the last round of her Classic Mode route before Master Hand is against Peach.	Unlock: 5th in Fox’s Classic tree; 28th challenger by play; Dracula’s Castle in World of Light. Challenge fight on Figure-8 Circuit
BowserSuper Mario · #14 · unlockable	The heaviest fighter in the game, with a constant armour that shrugs off weak hits, enormous power and better mobility than his size suggests.	Fire Breath, Whirling Fortress, Flying Slam and Bowser Bomb are his specials. Giga Bowser Punch turns him into Giga Bowser for one aimed blow that knocks out anyone already on 60% or more, and its look borrows from Baby Bowser’s final battle in Yoshi’s Island. His Classic route ends at New Donk City Hall against Mario and then Metal Mario.	Unlock: 1st in Donkey Kong’s Classic tree; 3rd challenger by play; or beat Giga Bowser in World of Light. Challenge fight on Mushroom Kingdom U
Bowser Jr.Super Mario · #58 · unlockable	Bowser’s son fights from the Junior Clown Car, which has its own hurtbox and takes less damage than he does. His seven alternative costumes are the Koopalings: Larry, Roy, Wendy, Iggy, Morton, Lemmy and Ludwig.	Clown Cannon, Clown Kart Dash, Abandon Ship! and Mechakoopa are his specials, and his Final Smash, Shadow Mario Paint, comes from Super Mario Sunshine. His recovery is his weak spot: a hit during Abandon Ship! can finish him.	Unlock: 6th in Fox’s Classic tree; 61st challenger by play; World of Light. Challenge fight on Delfino Plaza
Dr. MarioSuper Mario · #18 · unlockable	Mario in a lab coat: his attacks do about a sixth more damage than Mario’s, but he walks, runs and moves through the air more slowly.	Megavitamins, Super Sheet, Super Jump Punch and Dr. Tornado are his specials; Doctor Finale is his Final Smash. In World of Light he waits on the road north of the city.	Unlock: 7th in Mario’s Classic tree; 62nd challenger by play; World of Light. Challenge fight on New Donk City Hall
Rosalina & LumaSuper Mario · #48 · unlockable	The guardian of the Comet Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy fights with a Luma that can be sent across the stage to attack on its own. The Luma has 40 HP and comes back after about ten seconds when knocked out; without it, Rosalina is much weaker.	Luma Shot, Star Bits, Launch Star and Gravitational Pull are their specials. Her reveal trailer showed a Power Star in the Final Smash, but the finished game uses a Grand Star.	Unlock: 3rd in Donkey Kong’s Classic tree; 45th challenger by play; Dark Realm in World of Light. Challenge fight on Mario Galaxy
Piranha PlantSuper Mario · #70 · downloadable · newcomer	Revealed in November 2018 as a bonus for early buyers, the humble Piranha Plant is the first downloadable fighter and, by most counts, making its first playable appearance in any game. It fights from a pot or a pipe and is surprisingly heavy.	Ptooie juggles a spiked ball, Poison Breath leaves a cloud of poison, the Piranhacopter carries it back to the stage and Long-Stem Strike is a chargeable lunging bite. Its Final Smash calls in Petey Piranha, who traps fighters in cages and slams them down. In one victory pose Mario hops over its pot and gets bitten.	Free from 29 January 2019 to buyers registered by 31 January; on sale from 1 February 2019 for US$4.99 / £4.49
YoshiYoshi · #05 · starter	A heavyweight starter with excellent air speed and a high double jump that carries armour against knockback. His egg-shaped shield covers his whole body.	Egg Lay, Egg Roll, Egg Throw and Yoshi Bomb are his specials, and Stampede! sends a herd of coloured Yoshis trampling over everyone, a scene based on Melee’s opening. One of his victory poses comes from Mario Party 10.	Starter · Classic tree: Lucario, Marth, Ryu, Ganondorf, Lucina, Ridley, Chrom, Ken
WarioWario · #30 · unlockable	A short heavyweight with some of the best air speed and acceleration in the game, a strong combo game and the comeback power of his Wario Waft.	Chomp, Wario Bike, Corkscrew and Wario Waft are his specials, and Wario-Man is his Final Smash. He can wear his biker outfit or his classic overalls, his dash attack and down throw come from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, and he is voiced by Charles Martinet.	Unlock: 7th in Samus’s Classic tree; 24th challenger by play; Dracula’s Castle in World of Light. Challenge fight on WarioWare, Inc.
Donkey KongDonkey Kong · #02 · starter	A starter and the third-heaviest fighter, behind Bowser and King K. Rool, yet one of the faster heavyweights. His cargo throw can carry opponents and hurl them in eight directions.	Giant Punch (stronger after ten wind-ups), Headbutt, Spinning Kong and Hand Slap are his specials, and Jungle Rush his Final Smash. He is the only fighter in the base game who can meet Master Hand and Crazy Hand away from Final Destination in Classic Mode.	Starter · Classic tree: Bowser, Pokémon Trainer, Rosalina & Luma, King Dedede, Sheik, Greninja, Diddy Kong, Duck Hunt
Diddy KongDonkey Kong · #36 · unlockable	A small, fast middleweight built around his Banana Peels, which trip opponents and set up combos and knock-outs; his weak spots are his air mobility and recovery.	Peanut Popgun, Monkey Flip, Rocketbarrel Boost and Banana Peel are his specials; Hyper Rocketbarrel is his Final Smash. In World of Light he is rescued on DK Island.	Unlock: 7th in Donkey Kong’s Classic tree; 37th challenger by play; World of Light. Challenge fight on Kongo Falls
King K. RoolDonkey Kong · #67 · unlockable · newcomer	The Kremling King, revealed in the trailer “The Rivals” on 8 August 2018; Sakurai said his popularity in the Smash 4 Fighter Ballot earned him the place. It was his first major game appearance since Mario Super Sluggers in 2008.	The second-heaviest fighter, with belly armour that cracks if it takes too much. Blunderbuss fires a Kannonball, Crownerang throws his crown, the Propellerpack flies him back and Gut Check counters and reflects; his Final Smash, Blast-o-Matic, destroys Donkey Kong Island.	Unlock: 1st in Link’s Classic tree; 16th challenger by play; World of Light. Challenge fight on Jungle Japes
KirbyKirby · #06 · starter	The hero of World of Light: the only fighter to escape Galeem, on his Warp Star, and the only one available when the adventure begins.	Sakurai picked him as one of the few fighters who could plausibly get away. His Final Smash is Ultra Sword.	Starter · Classic tree: Ness, Jigglypuff, Pac-Man, Zelda, Robin, Corrin, Lucas, Palutena
InklingSplatoon · #64 · newcomer	An Inkling appeared at the end of the teaser in the Nintendo Direct of 8 March 2018, before the game even had a name, and was formally announced in the “Everyone is here!” trailer at E3.	Final Smash: Killer Wail. Moray Towers is the Splatoon stage, and the Squid Sisters are an Assist Trophy.	Unlock: 1st in Samus’s Classic tree; 5th challenger by play
RidleyMetroid · #65 · newcomer	Samus’s old enemy, revealed at the end of the E3 2018 presentation in the trailer “A Piercing Screech”. He was redesigned to stand upright.	Playable for the first time in any Nintendo game. Final Smash: Plasma Scream.	Unlock: 6th in Yoshi’s Classic tree; 25th challenger by play
Simon and RichterCastlevania · #66 and #66ε · newcomers	The Belmont vampire hunters, revealed together in the trailer “Vampire Killer” on 8 August 2018. Richter is Simon’s Echo.	Both use Grand Cross as a Final Smash. They bring the Dracula’s Castle stage, Dracula himself as a boss in World of Light and Classic Mode, and the Alucard Assist Trophy.	Unlock: Simon 3rd and Richter 7th in Link’s Classic tree
IsabelleAnimal Crossing · #68 · newcomer	Animal Crossing’s secretary, revealed in the trailer “All In A Day’s Work” in the Nintendo Direct of 13 September 2018.	Final Smash: Dream Town Hall.	Unlock: 5th in Pikachu’s Classic tree; 21st challenger by play
IncineroarPokémon · #69 · newcomer	Revealed with Ken in the trailer “Clash of Flames” on 1 November 2018. The team had reserved a place for a Pokémon from Sun and Moon before Incineroar existed.	Final Smash: Max Malicious Moonsault.	Unlock: 4th in Samus’s Classic tree; 46th challenger by play
JokerPersona · #71 · downloadable · newcomer	The first Fighters Pass fighter, unveiled with the trailer “Take Your Heart” at The Game Awards 2018.	Released on 17 April 2019 with the Mementos stage and Ver. 3.0.0, which also brought the Stage Builder. Final Smash: All-Out Attack.	Challenger Pack 1 · Fighters Pass Vol. 1
Banjo & KazooieBanjo-Kazooie · #73 · downloadable · newcomer	Rare’s bear and bird. Nintendo met Rare’s studio head Craig Duncan at E3 2018, and Xbox head Phil Spencer later called the arrangement an easy one to agree.	Released on 4 September 2019 with Spiral Mountain and Ver. 5.0.0, which added the Home-Run Contest. Final Smash: The Mighty Jinjonator.	Challenger Pack 3 · Fighters Pass Vol. 1
SteveMinecraft · #77 · downloadable · newcomer	Minecraft’s hero, with Alex, a Zombie and an Enderman among his alternatives. Mojang’s Daniel Kaplan said talks had begun about five years before he was added, and every stage in the game had to be reworked so that Steve could mine and build on it.	Released on 13 October 2020 with Minecraft World. Final Smash: House of Boom.	Challenger Pack 7 · Fighters Pass Vol. 2
SoraKingdom Hearts · #82 · downloadable · newcomer	The final fighter, revealed at The Final Mr. Sakurai Presents on 5 October 2021. Talks began when Sakurai met a Disney representative at an awards event, and Nintendo, Disney and Square Enix all oversaw his inclusion.	Released on 18 October 2021 with the Hollow Bastion stage and Ver. 13.0.0. Final Smash: Sealing the Keyhole.	Challenger Pack 11 · Fighters Pass Vol. 2

The full roster

All 86 fighters in number order, which follows the order in which they were announced. Unlockable fighters can be won in three ways: by clearing Classic Mode with the starter whose tree they belong to, by playing until they appear as a challenger (the order is given), or by freeing them in World of Light. Except in World of Light, a challenger must be beaten before it joins.

• 
  Mario#01 · Super Mario · starterThe default fighter. Final Smash: Mario Finale.
• 
  Donkey Kong#02 · Donkey Kong · starterThe third-heaviest fighter. Final Smash: Jungle Rush.
• 
  Link#03 · The Legend of Zelda · starterFinal Smash: Ancient Bow and Arrow.
• 
  Samus#04 · Metroid · starterFinal Smash: Zero Laser.
• 
  Dark Samus#04ε · Metroid · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 50th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerEcho of Samus, and one of three fighters playable here for the first time in any Nintendo game. Final Smash: Phazon Laser.
• 
  Yoshi#05 · Yoshi · starterArmour on his double jump. Final Smash: Stampede!
• 
  Kirby#06 · Kirby · starterThe only fighter you start World of Light with. Final Smash: Ultra Sword.
• 
  Fox#07 · Star Fox · starterFinal Smash: Team Star Fox.
• 
  Pikachu#08 · Pokémon · starterFinal Smash: Volt Tackle.
• 
  Luigi#09 · Super Mario · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 33rd challenger by play, or World of LightNow grabs with a Poltergust. Final Smash: Poltergust G-00.
• 
  Ness#10 · EarthBound · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 1st challenger by play, or World of LightThe first fighter to appear by play. Final Smash: PK Starstorm.
• 
  Captain Falcon#11 · F-Zero · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 11th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Blue Falcon.
• 
  Jigglypuff#12 · Pokémon · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 15th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Puff Up.
• 
  Peach#13 · Super Mario · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 12th challenger by play, or World of LightFloats for about two and a half seconds. Final Smash: Peach Blossom.
• 
  Daisy#13ε · Super Mario · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 28th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerEcho of Peach. Final Smash: Daisy Blossom.
• 
  Bowser#14 · Super Mario · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 3rd challenger by play, or World of LightThe heaviest fighter. Final Smash: Giga Bowser Punch.
• 
  Ice Climbers#15 · Ice Climber · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 10th challenger by play, or World of LightBack after missing Smash 4. Final Smash: Iceberg.
• 
  Sheik#16 · The Legend of Zelda · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 47th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Sheikah Dance.
• 
  Zelda#17 · The Legend of Zelda · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 2nd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Triforce of Wisdom.
• 
  Dr. Mario#18 · Super Mario · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 62nd challenger by play, or World of LightHits harder than Mario but moves more slowly. Final Smash: Doctor Finale.
• 
  Pichu#19 · Pokémon · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 34th challenger by play, or World of LightBack from Melee. Final Smash: Volt Tackle.
• 
  Falco#20 · Star Fox · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 32nd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Team Star Fox.
• 
  Marth#21 · Fire Emblem · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 7th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Critical Hit.
• 
  Lucina#21ε · Fire Emblem · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 23rd challenger by play, or World of LightEcho of Marth. Final Smash: Critical Hit.
• 
  Young Link#22 · The Legend of Zelda · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 8th challenger by play, or World of LightBack from Melee. Final Smash: Triforce Slash.
• 
  Ganondorf#23 · The Legend of Zelda · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 40th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Ganon, The Demon King.
• 
  Mewtwo#24 · Pokémon · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 60th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Psystrike.
• 
  Roy#25 · Fire Emblem · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 29th challenger by play, or World of LightRescuing him is a step towards World of Light’s true ending. Final Smash: Critical Hit.
• 
  Chrom#25ε · Fire Emblem · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 59th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerEcho of Roy. Final Smash: Awakening Aether.
• 
  Mr. Game & Watch#26 · Game & Watch · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 52nd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Octopus.
• 
  Meta Knight#27 · Kirby · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 38th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Darkness Illusion.
• 
  Pit#28 · Kid Icarus · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 4th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Lightning Chariot.
• 
  Dark Pit#28ε · Kid Icarus · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 54th challenger by play, or World of LightEcho of Pit. Final Smash: Dark Pit Staff.
• 
  Zero Suit Samus#29 · Metroid · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 19th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Zero Laser.
• 
  Wario#30 · Wario · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 24th challenger by play, or World of LightRides his bike and breaks wind. Final Smash: Wario-Man.
• 
  Snake#31 · Metal Gear · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 39th challenger by play, or World of LightBack after missing Smash 4. Final Smash: Covering Fire.
• 
  Ike#32 · Fire Emblem · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 14th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Great Aether.
• 
  Pokémon Trainer#33–35 · Pokémon · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 26th challenger by play, or World of LightCommands Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard. Final Smash: Triple Finish.
• 
  Diddy Kong#36 · Donkey Kong · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 37th challenger by play, or World of LightBanana Peels and a Rocketbarrel. Final Smash: Hyper Rocketbarrel.
• 
  Lucas#37 · EarthBound · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 36th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: PK Starstorm.
• 
  Sonic#38 · Sonic the Hedgehog · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 17th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Super Sonic.
• 
  King Dedede#39 · Kirby · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 30th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Dede-Rush.
• 
  Olimar#40 · Pikmin · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 48th challenger by play, or World of LightAlph is one of his alternatives. Final Smash: End of Day.
• 
  Lucario#41 · Pokémon · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 27th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Aura Storm.
• 
  R.O.B.#42 · R.O.B. · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 31st challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Guided Robo Beam.
• 
  Toon Link#43 · The Legend of Zelda · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 44th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Triforce Slash.
• 
  Wolf#44 · Star Fox · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 51st challenger by play, or World of LightBack after missing Smash 4. Final Smash: Team Star Wolf.
• 
  Villager#45 · Animal Crossing · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 6th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Dream Home.
• 
  Mega Man#46 · Mega Man · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 42nd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Mega Legends.
• 
  Wii Fit Trainer#47 · Wii Fit · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 9th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Wii Fit.
• 
  Rosalina & Luma#48 · Super Mario · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 45th challenger by play, or World of LightTwo bodies, one player. Final Smash: Grand Star.
• 
  Little Mac#49 · Punch-Out!! · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 20th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Giga Mac Rush.
• 
  Greninja#50 · Pokémon · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 58th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Secret Ninja Attack.
• 
  Mii Brawler#51 · Mii · create in Games & MoreFinal Smash: Omega Blitz.
• 
  Mii Swordfighter#52 · Mii · create in Games & MoreFinal Smash: Final Edge.
• 
  Mii Gunner#53 · Mii · create in Games & MoreFinal Smash: Full Blast.
• 
  Palutena#54 · Kid Icarus · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 63rd challenger by play, or World of LightThe last fighter to appear by play. Final Smash: Black Hole Laser.
• 
  Pac-Man#55 · Pac-Man · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 49th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Super Pac-Man.
• 
  Robin#56 · Fire Emblem · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 53rd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Pair Up.
• 
  Shulk#57 · Xenoblade Chronicles · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 22nd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Chain Attack.
• 
  Bowser Jr.#58 · Super Mario · unlock: Fox’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 61st challenger by play, or World of LightThe seven Koopalings are his alternative costumes. Final Smash: Shadow Mario Paint.
• 
  Duck Hunt#59 · Duck Hunt · unlock: Donkey Kong’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 56th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: NES Zapper Posse.
• 
  Ryu#60 · Street Fighter · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 13th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Shin Shoryuken or Shinku Hadoken.
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  Ken#60ε · Street Fighter · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (8th), or the 57th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerEcho of Ryu. Final Smash: Shippu Jinraikyaku or Shinryuken.
• 
  Cloud#61 · Final Fantasy · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 55th challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Omnislash (Omnislash Ver. 5 from Ver. 10.1.0).
• 
  Corrin#62 · Fire Emblem · unlock: Kirby’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 41st challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Torrential Roar.
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  Bayonetta#63 · Bayonetta · unlock: Mario’s Classic Mode tree (2nd), or the 43rd challenger by play, or World of LightFinal Smash: Infernal Climax.
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  Inkling#64 · Splatoon · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 5th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerTeased at the end of the March 2018 Direct. Final Smash: Killer Wail.
• 
  Ridley#65 · Metroid · unlock: Yoshi’s Classic Mode tree (6th), or the 25th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerPlayable for the first time. Final Smash: Plasma Scream.
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  Simon#66 · Castlevania · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (3rd), or the 18th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerFinal Smash: Grand Cross.
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  Richter#66ε · Castlevania · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (7th), or the 35th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerEcho of Simon. Final Smash: Grand Cross.
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  King K. Rool#67 · Donkey Kong · unlock: Link’s Classic Mode tree (1st), or the 16th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerThe second-heaviest fighter. Final Smash: Blast-o-Matic.
• 
  Isabelle#68 · Animal Crossing · unlock: Pikachu’s Classic Mode tree (5th), or the 21st challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerFinal Smash: Dream Town Hall.
• 
  Incineroar#69 · Pokémon · unlock: Samus’s Classic Mode tree (4th), or the 46th challenger by play, or World of Light · newcomerFinal Smash: Max Malicious Moonsault.
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  Piranha Plant#70 · Super Mario · DLC, 29 January 2019 for early buyers, 1 February 2019 on sale; sold separately · newcomerThe first downloadable fighter. Final Smash: Petey Piranha.
• 
  Joker#71 · Persona · DLC, 17 April 2019 · Challenger Pack 1, Fighters Pass Vol. 1 · newcomerFinal Smash: All-Out Attack.
• 
  Hero#72 · Dragon Quest · DLC, 30 July 2019 · Challenger Pack 2, Fighters Pass Vol. 1 · newcomerFinal Smash: Gigaslash.
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  Banjo & Kazooie#73 · Banjo-Kazooie · DLC, 4 September 2019 · Challenger Pack 3, Fighters Pass Vol. 1 · newcomerFinal Smash: The Mighty Jinjonator.
• 
  Terry#74 · Fatal Fury · DLC, 6 November 2019 · Challenger Pack 4, Fighters Pass Vol. 1 · newcomerFinal Smash: Triple Wolf.
• 
  Byleth#75 · Fire Emblem · DLC, 28 January 2020 · Challenger Pack 5, Fighters Pass Vol. 1 · newcomerFinal Smash: Progenitor God Ruptured Heaven.
• 
  Min Min#76 · ARMS · DLC, 29 June 2020 · Challenger Pack 6, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerFinal Smash: ARMS Rush.
• 
  Steve#77 · Minecraft · DLC, 13 October 2020 · Challenger Pack 7, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerAlex, a Zombie and an Enderman are among his alternatives. Final Smash: House of Boom.
• 
  Sephiroth#78 · Final Fantasy · DLC, 22 December 2020 (early access from 17 December through the Sephiroth Challenge) · Challenger Pack 8, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerFinal Smash: Supernova.
• 
  Pyra / Mythra#79/80 · Xenoblade Chronicles · DLC, 4 March 2021 · Challenger Pack 9, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerCounted as two fighters. Final Smashes: Burning Sword and Sacred Arrow.
• 
  Kazuya#81 · Tekken · DLC, 29 June 2021 · Challenger Pack 10, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerFinal Smash: Final Blaster.
• 
  Sora#82 · Kingdom Hearts · DLC, 18 October 2021 · Challenger Pack 11, Fighters Pass Vol. 2 · newcomerThe last fighter added. Final Smash: Sealing the Keyhole.

Key staff and studios

The people and companies credited by our sources.

How Sakurai’s team brought every fighter back, as told in interviews with Famitsu, Video Games Chronicle, Game Informer and others, and in Nintendo’s own presentations.

Iwata’s last request

Planning for a Switch Smash Bros. was under way by December 2015, while the downloadable fighters for the Wii U and 3DS game were still being made; full development began once they were finished. Sakurai later said that a Smash game for Switch had been the last thing Satoru Iwata asked of him before Iwata’s death in 2015.

Sakurai set himself an outrageous goal: bring back every character who had ever fought in Smash, something he knew would be hard both to build and to license. To make it possible he kept the existing team together rather than assembling a new one, and built on the systems of the previous game, which shortened development. Reports at the time, quoting Nintendo localisation manager Nate Bihldorff, described new assets and much better lighting and textures than the Wii U engine had managed. Bandai Namco Studios and Sakurai’s Sora Ltd. returned as developers, with help from Hatena and tri-Crescendo.

Some ideas fell by the way: Sakurai considered making the game play differently docked and in handheld mode, then decided the handheld screen was good enough. Ridley was redesigned to stand upright, and a slot was set aside for a Pokémon from Sun and Moon before Incineroar itself existed.

From a teaser to “Everyone is here!”

Nintendo announced a new Smash for Switch at the end of its Direct on 8 March 2018, with a teaser called “Super Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo Switch!” that ended on an Inkling but gave no title. The name, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the release date of 7 December came at E3 on 12 June 2018, in a trailer called “Everyone is here!” in Europe and “Challenger Approaching” in America, which showed that every veteran was back. Daisy was revealed straight afterwards as an Echo Fighter, and Ridley closed the show. Nintendo then held an invitational tournament with Wii U and Melee players, and visitors could try the game at E3 and, a month later, at San Diego Comic-Con.

Two more Directs were given over to the game. On 8 August 2018 came Simon and Richter, Chrom, Dark Samus and King K. Rool; on 1 November came Ken and Incineroar, World of Light, Piranha Plant and the news of paid downloadable fighters. Isabelle slipped in between, in a general Direct on 13 September. Each time, the panoramic artwork of the whole roster was redrawn to include the newcomers.

Music, movies and voices

Sakurai started contacting composers more than a year before release, handing them a database of more than a thousand suggested tracks, and composers could put forward favourites of their own, which were given priority. Hideki Sakamoto wrote the main theme, “Lifelight”, which threads through much of the new music, and the finished game has more than 800 tracks, with a music player for listening on the go.

Digital Frontier made the cinematic movies, Xander Mobus voiced the announcer, Master Hand and Crazy Hand, and Mario was voiced, as ever, by Charles Martinet: Ultimate was his hundredth game as Mario, which earned him a Guinness World Record.

Launch: bundles, a free Piranha Plant and a leak

Pre-orders and pre-loading opened on the eShop on 1 November 2018, and Nintendo announced that month that Ultimate was the most pre-ordered Switch game and the most pre-ordered Smash game. It came out everywhere on 7 December 2018, alongside Switch bundles with a download code, one of them with Smash-themed Joy-Con and dock, and a GameCube controller with the Ultimate logo, released on 2 November. Anyone who bought or registered the game by the end of January 2019 got Piranha Plant free.

Not everything went to plan. A copy leaked about two weeks early, and Nintendo had videos of data-mined content taken down. And after launch, a Mr. Game & Watch attack animation was criticised on social media; Nintendo of America apologised and an update removed it.

Two Fighters Passes and a final fighter

This time Nintendo chose the downloadable fighters itself, rather than through a fan vote as with Bayonetta. Joker was unveiled at The Game Awards 2018 and released in April 2019, and the first pass ended with Byleth in January 2020. Fighters Pass Vol. 2 was announced alongside Byleth on 16 January 2020 as the last planned content. It was built during the pandemic, with Sakurai’s team working from home, and its fighters were introduced in Mr. Sakurai Presents broadcasts.

Some deals took years. Rare’s Banjo & Kazooie followed a meeting at E3 2018, Mojang said talks about Steve had begun five years earlier, and Sora came after Sakurai met a Disney representative at an awards ceremony. Sora was revealed as the final fighter at The Final Mr. Sakurai Presents on 5 October 2021 and released on 18 October. Sakurai had already said that he expected Ultimate to be the only Smash game that could ever bring everyone back, calling the undertaking unprecedented.

What Ultimate added to the series, as stated by our sources.

Ultimate starts you with just eight fighters, so unlocking the rest is the first job. There are three ways, and they can be mixed: Classic Mode trees, challengers who appear as you play, and World of Light. Here is how to get the Mario family quickly, and a few secrets besides.

The Classic Mode trees

Each starter has a tree. Clear Classic Mode with that starter, or with anyone already unlocked from its tree, and the next fighter in it challenges you. Mario: Sonic, Bayonetta, Little Mac, Ike, Luigi, Roy, Dr. Mario, Olimar. Donkey Kong: Bowser, Pokémon Trainer, Rosalina & Luma, King Dedede, Sheik, Greninja, Diddy Kong, Duck Hunt. Link: King K. Rool, Ice Climbers, Simon, Meta Knight, Snake, Young Link, Richter, Toon Link. Samus: Inkling, Wii Fit Trainer, Pit, Incineroar, Dark Samus, Cloud, Wario, Dark Pit. Yoshi: Lucario, Marth, Ryu, Ganondorf, Lucina, Ridley, Chrom, Ken. Kirby: Ness, Jigglypuff, Pac-Man, Zelda, Robin, Corrin, Lucas, Palutena. Fox: Captain Falcon, Zero Suit Samus, Peach, Falco, Daisy, Bowser Jr., Wolf, Mewtwo. Pikachu: Villager, Shulk, R.O.B., Mega Man, Isabelle, Mr. Game & Watch, Pichu.

So the quickest Bowser is one Classic run with Donkey Kong, and the quickest King K. Rool one run with Link.

Challengers by play

After a match, a Mob Smash or Home-Run run, a Spirit Board battle or leaving World of Light, a new challenger may appear, usually once ten minutes have passed since the last. The first five come without the wait, and closing and reopening the game resets the timer. They always come in the same order: Bowser is 3rd, Peach 12th, King K. Rool 16th, Wario 24th, Daisy 28th, Luigi 33rd, Diddy Kong 37th, Rosalina & Luma 45th, Bowser Jr. 61st and Dr. Mario 62nd of 63.

Lost to a challenger? Use Challenger’s Approach

A challenger you lose to will not return by the usual routes. Instead, Challenger’s Approach appears in Games & More, where you can try again with any fighter you have. It disappears for good once every fighter is unlocked.

Where the Mario family waits in World of Light

Mario is freed at the very start. Peach is in the Molten Fortress, where beating Giga Bowser gives you Bowser, the only fighter won by defeating another form of himself. Dr. Mario is on the road north of the city and Diddy Kong on DK Island. In the Dark Realm, Luigi is in the flames of the Mysterious Dimension, Daisy and Wario are in Dracula’s Castle, and Rosalina & Luma are on the northern path, second route from the left.

The true ending of World of Light

In the Final Battle, keep the light and dark sides even, rescue Roy and Dark Samus, and beat the puppet Master Hand and puppet Crazy Hand. Master Hand then becomes playable for one battle against fifty puppets, and the way to the real ending opens. For 100% you must also see both bad endings.

Enhance and summon Mario spirits

Some spirits change when they reach level 99 and are enhanced: Toad becomes Captain Toad, Boo becomes King Boo, and a Nipper Plant becomes Petey Piranha. Others can only be summoned from cores: Gold Mario from Metal Mario, a Super Mushroom and a Fire Flower; E. Gadd from the Poltergust 5000 and F.L.U.D.D.; and Cappy from Ezlo and Boo Mario.

Downloadable fighters in World of Light

Bought fighters appear in the adventure once ten fighters have been freed, or at once if you are already past that point.

Sephiroth before release day

From 17 December 2020, five days before Sephiroth went on general release, he could be unlocked early through the Sephiroth Challenge, a limited-time event removed again by Ver. 10.1.0.

Ultimate’s documented glitches are mostly crashes and oddities patched in early updates.

Piranha Plant save data

On a digital copy, setting a record in All-Star Smash as Piranha Plant, and reportedly in Classic Mode too, could crash the game and erase the save data.

Joker’s Classic crash

Finishing a Classic Mode battle with Joker’s Final Smash crashed the game. Ver. 3.0.1 fixed it in April 2019.

The Slingshot crash

If Villager and Isabelle faced each other, one fired a Slingshot, the other caught it with Pocket and the first then released it, the game crashed. Fixed in Ver. 2.0.0.

Endless Assist Trophies

When two Isabelles reeled in the same Assist Trophy with Fishing Rod at once, the player who caught it kept spawning copies until hit. Fixed in Ver. 2.0.0.

Bigmin

Pikmin thrown by Olimar at an opponent’s Mother Brain grew along with her, though only in looks.

Two trailers from the official Super Smash Bros. YouTube channel: the E3 2018 reveal that brought every fighter back, and King K. Rool’s arrival.

• Ultimate was Charles Martinet’s hundredth game as the voice of Mario, and Guinness World Records recognised him for voicing the same video-game character more times than anyone else.
• Piranha Plant is the only unique newcomer whose reveal trailer, “Piranha Plant Pipes Up!”, has no cinematic animation. In one of its victory poses Mario jumps over its pot and gets bitten.
• Since Ver. 3.0.0 Daisy is the only fighter whose every move works exactly like another fighter’s: Peach’s.

• 

  Lemmy is the only Koopaling who sits entirely outside the Junior Clown Car when he replaces Bowser Jr.
• Rosalina & Luma’s reveal trailer showed a Power Star in their Final Smash; the finished game uses a Grand Star.
• Rosalina is the only Mario-series fighter whose animations are not mirrored.
• Mario’s down smash is now the breakdance from Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix.
• The sound of pulling up a Vegetable is taken straight from the NES Super Mario Bros. 2.
• Bowser keeps the realistic roars he had in the previous game rather than the voice of his Mario-series actor.
• The Odyssey floating over New Donk City Hall carries 21 Power Moons, a number it cannot actually show in Super Mario Odyssey. Pauline’s pose before the fight matches her statue souvenir in that game.
• King K. Rool’s propeller backpack comes from his Baron K. Roolenstein disguise in Donkey Kong Country 3, and his Blunderbuss wears Kaptain K. Rool’s hat from Donkey Kong Country 2.
• Luigi is the only returning fighter whose standard grab turned into a tether grab between games.
• After Simon’s trailer showed Death taking Luigi’s soul, Nintendo UK reassured fans on social media that Luigi was fine.
• Daisy’s Classic Mode credits play music from Mario Tennis and Mario Golf.
• Peach is missing the Daisy-coloured costume she had before, probably because Daisy is now her Echo Fighter.
• Wario’s overall buttons were gold by mistake in the E3 2018 footage and were corrected before release.

• 

  Rosalina’s voice actress, Kerri Kane, is spelt “Kerry Kane” in the credits.
• Spirit Board events had themes; one devoted to the Mario series was called “Oh Yeah! Mario Time!”.
• Destructoid’s reviewer joked that once Geno and Waluigi were added as downloads, Sakurai could rest easy. Neither ever joined: Geno got a spirit and a Mii costume, and Waluigi stayed an Assist Trophy.

Box art from around the world, plus the cover shown before launch and the North American console bundle.

The Mario family in action, from Nintendo’s E3 2018 screenshots, the New Donk City Hall stage and Masahiro Sakurai’s own screenshot posts.

Logos, panoramic art, the Koopalings, Classic Mode victory pictures for the Mario family and some of Sakurai’s screenshots.

Ultimate has had no re-release, but for three years it changed with almost every month, and Nintendo was still patching it in 2026.

Announcements, releases and updates

• Announcement 8 March 2018A teaser at the end of a Nintendo Direct, with an Inkling.
• E3 reveal 12 June 2018The title, the date and “Everyone is here!”, plus Daisy and Ridley.
• Smash Directs 8 August and 1 November 2018Newcomers, World of Light, Piranha Plant and the Fighters Pass.
• Release, Ver. 1.1.0 7 December 2018Worldwide; Hard difficulty for World of Light and online play switched on.
• Piranha Plant, Ver. 2.0.0 29 January and 1 February 2019Free to early buyers, then on sale.
• Joker, Ver. 3.0.0 17 April 2019With Mementos, the Stage Builder and DLC Spirit Boards.
• Hero, Ver. 4.0.0 30 July 2019With Yggdrasil’s Altar, Very Easy difficulty and online tournaments.
• Banjo & Kazooie, Ver. 5.0.0 4 September 2019With Spiral Mountain and the Home-Run Contest.
• Terry, Ver. 6.0.0 6 November 2019With King of Fighters Stadium.
• Byleth, Ver. 7.0.0 28 January 2020With Garreg Mach Monastery; the end of Vol. 1.
• Min Min, Ver. 8.0.0 29 June 2020With Spring Stadium; the first Vol. 2 fighter.
• Small Battlefield, Ver. 8.1.0 4 August 2020A free stage and music choice for the Battlefield stages.
• Steve, Ver. 9.0.0 13 October 2020With Minecraft World.
• Sephiroth, Ver. 10.0.0 and 10.1.0 17 and 22 December 2020With Northern Cave, after an early-access challenge.
• Pyra and Mythra, Ver. 11.0.0 4 March 2021With Cloud Sea of Alrest.
• Kazuya, Ver. 12.0.0 29 June 2021With Mishima Dojo.
• Sora, Ver. 13.0.0 18 October 2021With Hollow Bastion; the last fighter.
• Ver. 13.0.1 1 December 2021The last balance changes.
• Ver. 13.0.2 to 13.0.4 February 2024 to June 2025Support for the Sora amiibo, and small fixes.
• Ver. 13.0.5 September 2026A fix for invalid data in online battles.

The competitive scene

At EVO 2019, from 2 to 4 August, it drew 3,534 entrants, the biggest offline Smash tournament ever held, and more than 279,000 people watched its top eight at once, an EVO record. In 2020 the pandemic moved tournaments online, and the independent Smash World Tour, announced that February with a US$250,000 prize pot for Melee and Ultimate players, lost several qualifiers to it before returning in 2021.

In 2022 a separate, officially licensed circuit, the Panda Cup, was set up. Then, on 24 November 2022, Nintendo said that the Smash World Tour could not continue because its organisers had no licence. After accusations against the Panda Cup’s organiser, many qualified players pulled out, and the Panda Cup, the 2022 Smash World Tour Championships and the 2023 Smash World Tour were all cancelled.

What came before

Every Smash game has its own page here: the Nintendo 64 original, Melee, Brawl and the Wii U and 3DS games, whose roster Ultimate swallowed whole. The GameCube controller, reissued with Ultimate’s logo on it, works with the game through a USB adapter.

Sakurai has said that he thought Ultimate would be the only Smash game to bring every fighter back, and that any future game would probably be smaller. Nintendo’s sales figures suggest a hard act to follow: it outsells every other fighting game ever made.

Sales

Nintendo’s investor-relations figures, as of 30 September 2026, put Ultimate at 38.50 million copies, third among Switch games behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Guinness World Records lists it as the best-selling fighting videogame, with 36.24 million as of 31 March 2025; Wikipedia dates the moment it passed Street Fighter II to September 2020, at 21.10 million.

It started at a gallop. Wikipedia records 1.2 million copies sold in three days in Japan, and Nintendo of America reported more than three million in eleven days in the United States, the fastest start of any Switch game there. It was the fastest-selling Switch game in Europe and the UK too, and in the UK its launch sales beat the Wii U game’s by a wide margin and the 3DS and Brawl games’ by smaller ones. In January 2019 Nintendo announced that 12.08 million had been shipped, and Amazon named it its best-selling video game product of the year.

• 38.50 millionNintendo IR, as of 30 September 2026
• 3rdBest-selling Switch game
• 12.08 millionShipped, announced January 2019
• 1.2 millionFirst three days in Japan

Reviews

Scores as listed by Wikipedia; Metacritic’s average is 93, and OpenCritic shows 97% of critics recommending it.

Critics agreed that Ultimate was the most complete Smash yet. Nintendo Life gave it full marks, IGN praised bringing back every fighter as an ambitious and excellent decision, Jeuxvideo.com rated it the finest Smash of all for blending a gigantic amount of content with nostalgia, and The Verge singled out the enormous soundtrack and the portable music player. The complaints were about online play, with lag, matchmaking that ignored players’ chosen rules and trouble joining friends, and World of Light divided opinion.

Honours

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has yet to receive a community review on Super Luigi Bros.

If you’ve played Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and would like to submit a review, please get in touch.

Every fact on this page was checked against the 18 sources listed here.