The ? Block (also known as a Mystery Block, Prize Block, or Question Block) is a type of Block in the Mario franchise. Since their first appearance in Super Mario Bros., ? Blocks have become one of the most common Blocks in the series, along with Brick Blocks. ? Blocks are sometimes used as a symbol representing the Mario franchise.
A ? Block is a yellow block depicting a question mark. A ? Block and its question mark symbol is based on the fact that they can contain one of several items. Upon being hit, the ? Block releases a specific item, most often a Coin, but several can also release a power-up item, such as a Super Mushroom, and turns into an Empty Block afterward. If Mario or another playable character is in their Super form, ? Blocks that yield a Super Mushroom instead yield a different power-up, such as a Fire Flower or a Super Leaf, depending on both the game and level. As with other blocks, a character can also stand on a ? Block as a platform.
Hitting a ? Block requires Mario or another character to either jump from it below or throw a Koopa Shell at it. The former method is a lot more common, although the latter is required if a ? Block is on the ground, given that most of them appear in midair. In certain games, Ground Pounding onto a ? Block is another way of hitting it, and this results in the item emerging from below.
? Blocks with more than one Coin are named Coin Blocks, and invisible ones are named Hidden Blocks.
? Blocks appear in as early as World 1-1. If Mario or Luigi are in their Super form, ? Blocks with a Super Mushroom release a Fire Flower instead. Certain ? Blocks reveal a Vine when jumped under, while certain others reveal a 1-Up Mushroom or a Starman. A Question Block has a slow flashing animation.
? Blocks retain their design and function from Super Mario Bros.. However, some Question Blocks can be considered hazards because they release a Poison Mushroom, which damages Mario or Luigi upon contact.
? Blocks make a reappearance. Given that more power-ups aside from Fire Flowers have been introduced, certain ? Blocks containing a Super Mushroom instead yield a different power-up, most commonly the Raccoon Leaf, if Mario or Luigi are in their Super form. Several Question Blocks still yield a Fire Flower while they are in this form. For its animation, a Question Block no longer flashes but rather shows its "?" scrolling sideways, coming out from the right side to transition back into the left side.
Here, they are named Item Blocks. They function the same as before, although some Item Blocks release a Superball Flower if Mario is in his Super form. Item Blocks do not have any animation.
? Blocks retain their role from earlier Super Mario series installments. Certain Rotating Blocks act the same as ? Blocks. There are also winged variants called Flying Question Blocks, which are the same as Question Blocks except they have a pair of wings to fly around. A red variant with a different use can also be found in the game.
Question Blocks retain their role from previous Super Mario series installments. If Mario is in his Super form, certain Question Blocks release a Fire Flower, as before, while others can release a Carrot for the Bunny Mario transformation. Certain Question Blocks release a 1-Up Heart, the substitute for 1-Up Mushrooms in the game, or a Moneybag, the equivalent of fifty Coins.
In Super Mario 64 DS, there are red Question Blocks which release either a Power Flower or a feather (which turns Mario into Wing Mario) once the ? Switch at the Tower of the Wing Cap is activated. Certain ones release a Feather, but only while playing as Mario.
Question Blocks make a reappearance. This is the first 2D Super Mario series installment in which Mario or Luigi have the ability to Ground Pound onto a ? Block. Aside from some Question Blocks releasing a Super Mushroom (or Fire Flower if Mario or Luigi are in their Super form), a 1-Up Mushroom, or a Starman as before, some others reveal a Mini Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, or a Blue Shell, owing to the newly-introduced Mini Mario, Mega Mario, and Shell Mario transformations, respectively. A certain few Question Blocks reveal a Switch upon being hit.
Aside from regular Question Blocks, the game introduces a spiked variation with spikes on one side, known as a Spiked Question Block, found only in World 6-3. There is also a Red Flying Question Block, which can be found in whichever level it is seen flying over in the overworld.
? Blocks no longer release a power-up item upon being hit, but instead usually release some Star Bits or sometimes a Coin like in earlier appearances. Some Question Blocks with Star Bits are functionally like Coin Blocks in that they release a Star Bit for each hit. ? Blocks disappear upon being used, and they cannot be activated via a Ground Pound.
? Blocks function similarly to their appearance in Super Mario Galaxy, although ? Blocks that release one Star Bit per each hit do not return from Super Mario Galaxy.
Question Blocks are functionally similar to their appearances in the 2D Super Mario games. There is a type of Question Block named the ? Box, which Mario or Luigi can wear on their head to obtain Coins as they move around.
Blokkabloks, a type of enemy debuting in the game, have a few body segments that are Question Blocks with a single spike on top.
The ? Block appears as a Special building. The player can buy the ? Block at the shop for 100 coins. If the player places the ? Block in the Mushroom Kingdom, the player can touch the ? Block. The ? Block may contain coins or Rally Tickets.
Regular ? Blocks do not appear, but they have a variation named ? Panel that lies flat on the ground, and racers can collect an item from these. Since Mario Kart 64, ? Panels have been replaced with Item Boxes.
Question Blocks make a few background appearances. In Coconut Mall, Question Blocks appear to be one of the items sold in the shop Delfino Dream, as well as Coco Burger. In Grumble Volcano, there are giant Question Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks. In Moonview Highway, Question Blocks (depicting their New Super Mario Bros. artwork) appear on two different types of Green Fuel sponsor graphics; one of these graphics has a border made up of Question Blocks, save for the Green Fuel logo in the upper center.
Question Blocks are first shown after the veranda collapses. The first Question Block found by Mario cannot be hit unless he has acquired the Hammer, which is required to hit Question Blocks. The first Question Block releases a coin upon being hit.
Aside from coins, Question Blocks may dispel items such as Sleepy Sheep or others which can be used during battle.
Red Question Blocks also make an appearance. The first one is found in Goomba Road, and it releases a Close Call badge.
Question Blocks appear in many places and always release a Sticker. In some stages like Ice Flow and Shy Guy Jungle, you can press Y button to place sticker inside a red box. They will multiply, upgrade and if you placed a sticker like Flashy Infinijump, it downgrades. The Flashy Infinijump can be obtained by placing the Flashy Clone Jump sticker, but sometimes it has no effect.
Question Blocks are found on the overworld throughout the series. Jumping underneath one can give Mario and Luigi coins or another item, usually a healing item.
Deep in the depths of the Dream World in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team lurk monsters known as Dark Blocks. These creatures, which can be fought, mimic real Question Blocks until disturbed, at which point they drop the disguise and attack. When killed, their corpses become real Question Blocks, allowing the Bros. to get more items from defeating them.
In level 1 of the microgameOn the Edge, if the player has to trace out a square and does so successfully, a graphic of an upscaled Question Block sprite from Super Mario Bros. is displayed, along with a sound effect from Super Mario World of a power-up item being revealed from a Question Block.
A Question Block also appears in Levels 2 and 3 of the Super Mario Brothers microgame. Here, the object is for Mario to hit the Question Blocks as he moves under them automatically.
? Blocks appear in certain Mario stages throughout the Super Smash Bros. series. Hitting a ? Block does not necessarily cause it to release a Mario item, but typically one of the game's items. In some stages, a ? Block is more likely to release a Mario item upon being hit.
Question Blocks appear alongside Brick Blocks in the Mushroom Kingdom stage. Hitting a Question Block causes it to release and item and then disappear.
A Question Block in the World 1-1 portion of the Mushroomy Kingdom stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Question Blocks are found in both the World 1-1 and World 1-2 portions of the Mushroomy Kingdom stage. Here, they appear realistic, like the stage in general, as well as realistic and withered, with cracks and a metal border. Unlike Super Smash Bros. Melee, jumping under a Question Block turns it into an Empty Block, which would also become the case for subsequent Super Smash Bros. series titles. Whenever Mushroomy Kingdom loops, any of the Question Blocks hit reset to normal.
Question Blocks appear in two newly introduced stages, 3D Land and Super Mario Maker, and return alongside the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, acting the same as before. In 3D Land, Question Blocks more often release a Super Leaf, a signature power-up of Super Mario 3D Land, whereas Question Blocks in Super Mario Maker are more likely to release a Mario item in general.
? Blocks appear in Golf Plus, where they can be hit with a golf ball to obtain a number of Star Coins. Upon being hit, a Question Block turns into an Empty Block.
World 6-1 • World 6-2 • World 6-3 • World 6- • World 6-4 • World 6-5 • World 6-6 • World 6-7 • World 6- • World 6-8 • World 6-9 • World 6-10 • World 6- • World 6-
World 7-1 • World 7-2 • World 7-3 • World 7-4 • World 7-5 • World 7- • World 7- • World 7-6 • World 7-7 • World 7-8 • World 7-9 • World 7- • World 7- • World 7-
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
Bob-omb Sudden Death • Bob-omb Trampoline • Jumping Sudden Death • Jumping Brothers • Lakitu Launch • Vs. Mario's Slides • Vs. Pair-a-Gone • Vs. Trampoline Time
Dino Piranha • A Snack of Cosmic Proportions • King Kaliente's Battle Fleet • Dino Piranha Speed Run* • Purple Coin Omelet* • Luigi on the Roof
Honeyhive Galaxy
Bee Mario/Luigi Takes Flight • Trouble on the Tower • Big Bad Bugaboom • Honeyhive Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* • The Honeyhive's Purple Coins* • Luigi in the Honeyhive Kingdom
Loopdeeloop Galaxy
Surfing 101
Flipswitch Galaxy
Painting the Planet Yellow
Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor
Megaleg's Moon
Sweet Sweet Galaxy
Rocky Road
Space Junk Galaxy
Pull Star Path • Kamella's Airship Attack • Tarantox's Tangled Web • Pull Star Path Speed Run* • Purple Coin Spacewalk* • Yoshi's Unexpected Appearance
Rolling Green Galaxy
Rolling in the Clouds
Battlerock Galaxy
Battlerock Barrage • Breaking into the Battlerock • Topmaniac and the Topman Tribe • Topmaniac's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins on the Battlerock* • Battlerock's Garbage Dump • Luigi under the Saucer
Hurry-Scurry Galaxy
Shrinking Satellite
Bowser's Star Reactor
The Fiery Stronghold
Sling Pod Galaxy
A Very Sticky Situation
Beach Bowl Galaxy
Sunken Treasure • Passing the Swim Test • The Secret Undersea Cavern • Fast Foes on the Cyclone Stone* • Beachcombing for Purple Coins* • Wall Jumping up Waterfalls
Bubble Breeze Galaxy
Through the Poison Swamp
Ghostly Galaxy
Luigi and the Haunted Mansion • A Very Spooky Sprint • Beware of Bouldergeist • Bouldergeist's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins in the Bone Pen* • Matter Splatter Mansion
Bunnies in the Wind • The Dirty Tricks of Major Burrows • Gusty Garden's Gravity Scramble • Major Burrows's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins on the Puzzle Cube* • The Golden Chomp
Freezeflame Galaxy
The Frozen Peak of Baron Brrr • Freezeflame's Blistering Core • Hot and Cold Collide • Frosty Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* •Purple Coins on the Summit* • Conquering the Summit
Dusty Dune Galaxy
Soaring on the Desert Winds • Blasting through the Sand • Sunbaked Sand Castle • Sandblast Speed Run* • Purple Coins in the Desert* • Bullet Bill on Your Back • Treasure of the Pyramid
Honeyclimb Galaxy
Scaling the Sticky Wall
Bowser's Dark Matter Plant
Darkness on the Horizon
Bigmouth Galaxy
Bigmouth's Gold Bait
Gold Leaf Galaxy
Star Bunnies on the Hunt • Cataquack to the Skies • When It Rains, It Pours • Cosmic Mario/Luigi Forest Race* • Purple Coins in the Woods* • The Bell on the Big Tree
Sea Slide Galaxy
Going after Guppy • Faster Than a Speeding Penguin • The Silver Stars of Sea Slide • Underwater Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* • Purple Coins by the Seaside* • Hurry, He's Hungry
Toy Time Galaxy
Heavy Metal Mecha-Bowser • Mario/Luigi Meets Mario • Bouncing Down Cake Lane • Fast Foes of Toy Time* • Luigi's Purple Coins* • The Flipswitch Chain
Bonefin Galaxy
Kingfin's Fearsome Waters
Bowser Jr.'s Lava Reactor
King Kaliente's Spicy Return
Sand Spiral Galaxy
Choosing a Favorite Snack
Deep Dark Galaxy
The Underground Ghost Ship • Bubble Blastoff • Guppy and the Underground Lake • Ghost Ship Daredevil Run* • Plunder the Purple Coins* • Boo in a Box
Dreadnought Galaxy
Infiltrating the Dreadnought • Dreadnought's Colossal Cannons • Revenge of the Topman Tribe • Topman Tribe Speed Run* • Battlestation's Purple Coins* • Dreadnought's Garbage Dump
Matter Splatter Galaxy
Watch Your Step
Melty Molten Galaxy
The Sinking Lava Spire • Through the Meteor Storm • Fiery Dino Piranha • Lava Spire Daredevil Run* • Red-Hot Purple Coins* • Burning Tide
Missions marked with an asterisk (*) are exclusively available while a Prankster Comet is in orbit. Missions marked with two asterisks (**) are only available when receiving a letter from Mailtoad.
