8-bit character
| 8-bit character | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Official screenshot of an 8-bit Cat Mario in the Luncheon Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey. This screenshot demonstrates his appearance in the VR Update. Screenshot of a Pixel Cat Mario from Super Mario Odyssey | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario 3D World (2013) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (2026) | ||
| |||
8-bit characters[1] are animated sprites in the 3D Super Mario games and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker . They resemble two-dimensional sprites from the Famicom/NES era and are hidden in a three-dimensional landscape. Locating one usually rewards the player character with an item. Outside of The Art of Super Mario Odyssey and a few other media, the attributive noun "Pixel" is usually applied to individual sprites. The first 8-bit characters, Pixel Luigis[2] (or 8-bit Luigis),[3] were introduced in Super Mario 3D World in commemoration of the Year of Luigi.
8-bit characters are not the same exact individuals they resemble, who often co-occur with these sprites. For example, while Pixel Luigis are found throughout Super Mario 3D World, Luigi himself is a playable character. The relationship between these 8-bit characters and the individuals they resemble is not conveyed.
History[edit ]
Super Mario series[edit ]
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit ]
- Main article: List of Luigi sightings in Super Mario 3D World
Pixel Luigis are hidden throughout Super Mario 3D World , in courses, menus, and the World Map Screen. They occur plastered onto the sides of walls or as flat 2D figures in the 3D environment. They are of a wide variety of sizes and behaviors, with snowflake-sized Pixel Luigis sometimes found blowing in the wind, and whale-sized ones swimming in the sea. Pixel Luigis resemble the sprites for Small Luigi and Super Luigi from the original Super Mario Bros. There are no tangible incentives given to the player for encountering one.
Pixel Luigis appear sometimes in the Bowser's Fury campaign of the Nintendo Switch port when a ? Block is hit. Similar cameos appear in New Super Luigi U , but they are inanimate fixtures of the environment made of blocks and terrain.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit ]
In Super Mario Odyssey , the most prominent 8-bit characters appear on the walls of terrain, often obscured or behind an obstruction. Striking one with a Cap Throw causes it to release an item before disappearing. It reappears in the same spot when the kingdom is exited and revisited. The most recurring 8-bit characters are Pixel Cat Marios[4] (or 8-bit Cat Marios)[1] and 8-bit Cat Peaches.[1] They are hidden within all but two kingdoms, the Cloud Kingdom and Ruined Kingdom. They are based on the powered-up Cat forms of the same name. Striking a Pixel Cat Mario awards Mario with ten coins. An 8-bit Cat Peach releases a Heart. Likely as an homage to Super Mario Galaxy , an 8-bit Rosalina[1] is hidden on the Dark Side and Darker Side of the moon. Striking her releases ten coins, like Cat Mario. Pixel Cat Marios sometimes fall out of bushes when they are walked through, seemingly caught on a breeze before disappearing.
Beginning on March 14, 2018, Nintendo posted Hint Art on social media that leads to hidden Pixel Luigis. If Mario ground pounds the exact spot as depicted in the Hint Art, a Pixel Luigi pops out and releases 200 coins for the first time he is discovered. Unlike other 8-bit characters, a Pixel Luigi lets out a distorted cry when exposed, and lingers in the environment after being struck. Striking him again makes him twirl. To commemorate the release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS, Pixel Luigis were replaced by Pixel Captain Toads[2] from July 11 to August 8, 2018.
There are 2D areas in Super Mario Odyssey that are entirely composed of 8-bit sprites on a 2D plane. Mario himself appears in these areas as an 8-bit sprite, as do enemies and platforms. However, 8-bit characters cannot be encountered in these areas. The Prima Games guidebook states 8-bit characters are apparently as old as the fossils found throughout the Cascade Kingdom,[5] some of which resemble sprites of enemies from the original Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit ]
In Super Mario Maker 2 , a Pixel Luigi sometimes replaces Weird Mario if a Warp Door is knocked on exclusively in the Super Mario 3D World game style, referencing the original game.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park[edit ]
- Main article: List of Prince Florian sprite sightings in Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park , hidden pixel Prince Florians have been added across the levels of the base game.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[edit ]
- Main article: Pixel Toad
In the original release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker , scanning the Toad amiibo causes a Pixel Toad to appear in a course, with which the player character plays Hide and Seek. This functionality is unlocked through normal progression in the port released on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.
Though released after the Year of Luigi concluded, the original Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker includes Pixel Luigis throughout the game, just like Super Mario 3D World.
Gallery[edit ]
Screenshot from Super Mario 3D World (Pixel Luigi)
Screenshot from Super Mario 3D World (Pixel Luigi)
Screenshot from Super Mario 3D World (Pixel Luigi)
Sprite from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Pixel Toad)
Artwork from Super Mario Odyssey
Sprite from Super Mario Odyssey (Pixel Cat Mario)
Sprite from Super Mario Odyssey (8-bit Cat Peach)
Sprite from Super Mario Odyssey (8-bit Rosalina)
Sprite from Super Mario Odyssey (Pixel Luigi)
Sprite from Super Mario Odyssey (Pixel Captain Toad)
"Mario: Purrfect Pals" 3DS theme (Pixel Luigi)
Holiday artwork for the Nintendo Switch / Nintendo 3DS port of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Pixel Toad)
Names in other languages[edit ]
Pixel Luigi[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドットルイージ Dotto Ruīji |
Dot Luigi | [6] [7] |
Pixel Cat Mario[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドットネコマリオ Dotto Neko Mario |
Dot Cat Mario | [8] |
8-bit Cat Peach[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドットネコピーチ Dotto Neko Pīchi |
Dot Cat Peach | [9] |
8-bit Rosalina[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドットロゼッタ Dotto Rozetta |
Dot Rosalina | [9] |
Pixel Captain Toad[edit ]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドットキノピオ隊長 Dotto Kinopio Taichō |
Dot Toad Captain | [10] |
References[edit ]
- ^ a b c d Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors (2019). "Metro Kingdom". The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (First English Edition). Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books . Page 175.
- ^ a b @NintendoAmerica (27 Oct. 2018). To celebrate #SuperMarioOdyssey’s one-year anniversary, Pixel Luigis and Pixel Captain Toads have been hidden around the festival area in New Donk City! Can you find all 39 of them? Do a Ground Pound in the correct spots to also collect some coins.. Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
- ^ "Sometimes, 8-bit Luigi appears when hitting a ? Block." – November 23, 2025. Guess the game! #11. Nintendo Today! . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ^ @SuperMario_UK (8 Dec. 2017). Throw Cappy at some shrubbery and you'll likely get a coin or two. But sometimes, you'll find a Pixel Cat Mario instead! #SuperMarioOdyssey. Twitter. (Archived via Nitter.)
- ^ Walsh, Doug, and Joe Epstein (2017). Super Mario Odyssey: PRIMA Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition). Roseville: Prima Games . Page 22.
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario 3D World."『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 235.
- ^ @mario_odysseyJP (31 Oct. 2018). 発売1周年を記念して「都市の国」のフェスティバル会場にドットルイージとドットキノピオ隊長が39(サンキュー)人も遊びにきていますよ。会場の気になるところでヒップドロップしてみてください。コインをたくさん手に入れるチャンスです! (期間:11/7(水)23時59分まで). Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
- ^ @mario_odysseyJP (18 Apr. 2019). 本編と同様に、ちょっとしたところにドットネコマリオが隠れているので、是非探してみてくださいね。. Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
- ^ a b Sakai, Kazuya, and kikai, editors (2018). "Metro Kingdom".『スーパーマリオ オデッセイ公式設定資料集』. Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten (Japanese). Page 175.
- ^ @mario_odysseyJP (19 Jul. 2018). 『進め!キノピオ隊長』発売記念!8/8(水)まで、全てのお宝写真の場所から「ドットキノピオ隊長」が出現します。この機会にいろいろな場所でドットキノピオ隊長を写真に収めてみては如何でしょうか。. Twitter (Japanese).