Secret Exits - New Super Mario U Guide - IGN (2024)

No side-scrolling Mario game could be quite complete without devious Secret Exits(Red Flags) planted amidst the world. Every area boasts at least one, and some have several more. Unlock them, and you not only find your way to a Hidden Level, but even shortcuts that span between worlds will be yours. And if you are looking to find the elusive Star Road, you'll need every Star Coin from every Hidden Level.

There are 12 Secret Exits in New Super Mario Bros. U. This page collects the Secret Exit locations along with a walkthrough and video for how to find each one.

Note: If you are missing one Secret Exit, it's probably the one in Rock Candy Mines-5 Walking Piranha Plants.

When you reach the area with the red circle, wait for the purple half circle crystal rock to slant downwards before returning to where the red circle was. From here you can jump up and over the rock ceiling, allowing you to run above the ceiling level - reminiscent of early mario secret areas. This area alone has many coins, but the secret exit comes from jumping up yet again, using a blue rock crystal to propel you over a second ceiling. This will lead you past the regular pipe exit and towards a new secret exit.

After getting the last star coin, jump up and keep heading to the exit. You will come to a platform with a signpost pointing to the right. Keep running and run down the side of the platform. There is a hidden area at the bottom that leads to a pipe. Follow this new area right to the secret exit.

Before leaving the ship, look for an opening in the ceiling, a boo will probably be up there, lure him away before doing a wall jump up to the ceiling, where you'll find a door to the secret exit. If you can't make the jump, try getting a Super Acorn.

The Path to the Secret Exit will also lead you to the third Star Coin. In the room with the long platform the moves upward when you jump - all the way to the door at the top tothe regular exit, there is a secret. Do not stop jumping, even past the first door. If you mange to jump high enough into the ceiling, you will instead find a hidden area with a second door. This will provide you with access to the Secret Exit. Don't forget to grab the third Star Coin while you're here!

Towards the end of the level, at the end of several pillars rising up out of the water there will be a solitary block against one pillar. Use a koopa shell to hit it, making a vine pop up into the air. take it to the next area, where you will find a Secret Exit.

By finding the Secret Exit you will also be able to obtain the last Star Coin. In the main room, take the door on the left and start making your waythrough the house until you get to an area where the floor keeps rising. When it gets to the top - do not take the door, instead wait for it to reach the ceiling and stay to the left to find a secret area with another door. Drop down in the next area (but be sure to grab a Star Coin on the right after two sets of floors) and leave through the door at the bottom. This will lead to the Secret Exit.

After you pass the Red Ring, collect all the coins. When you collect the final coin, look below you to a slanted pipe floating in the water next to a red pipe. Land on the slanted pipe and walk under the platform to find a hidden area that will lead you to a pipe. Take the pipe to the Secret Exit.

Instead of taking the pipe at the top to leave the underwater ruins, wait for a statue to move over to the left. Jump over the statue and move to the right wall to find a pipe to the Secret Exit.

Near the end of Rock Candy Mines-5 is a series of moving platforms with a pair of walking piranha plants on each. Just past these is a chain you can swing on. Instead of jumping for the chain, slide down the cliff wall to the lower left of it. A tunnel here leads to a red flag.

When you first start climbing the tower there will be a moving green pipe on the left wall. Jump on to the pipe and move left to find a hidden area with a block holding a mini mushroom. You may be tempted to ditch Mini Mario for a regular mushroom, but don't. It may be harder, but right before the end of the level you will spot another mini pipe on the top right.

Avoid all the grinding stones and enter the pipe. In the next area, time your jumps to dodge the grinding stones to the top of the area. You'll get the last Star Coin AND a path to the Secret Exit.

As with other Ghost Houses, finding the last Star Coin will lead you right to the Secret Exit. After clearing the top floors of the house, go back to the middle floor, and use the trampoline on the far left to jump up and find a secret door. Go through the next area to find a path to the Secret Exit.

When you reach the P-Switch, hit it and run like hell. As you near the end, several coins will be block platforms, leading to a platform just under a pipe. Quickly jump on to the platform and through the pipe before time runs out to reach the Secret Exit.