Super Mario Bros. 3 World 8: Dark Land
Dark Land replaces most numbered courses with military convoys. It contains no ordinary Toad Houses or Spade Panels, so the inventory you bring matters.
- Levels
- 9 (2 tank levels, 1 battleship level, 1 Hand Trap area, 1 airship, 2 courses, 1 fortress, 1 castle)
- Boss
- Bowser
- Theme
- Autoscrolling fleets and Bowser’s breakable floor
- Prev / next
- W7 · —
Map at a glance
- Hammer Bro battles
- None: Hand Trap spaces can pull Mario into short courses
All 9 World 8 levels
8-Big TanksTank · Boss: Boomerang BrotherA column of advancing tanks firing cannonballs and Bob-ombs, crewed by Rocky Wrenches, ending with a Boomerang Brother.Foes: Rocky Wrench, Bob-omb, Cannon—Power-up: Super Leaf
8-BattleshipsBattleship · Boss: Boom BoomThree cannon-laden warships crewed by Rocky Wrenches sail past while you dodge shells and giant cannonballs.Foes: Rocky Wrench, Cannon, Bob-ombAs Small Mario you can swim beneath the ships, though getting pushed down too far costs a life.Power-up: Fire Flower
8-Hand TrapsHand TrapMap hands may drag you into one of three short stages: Hammer Brothers, Podoboo lava, or a Cheep-Cheep bridge.Foes: Hammer Brother, Sledge Brother, Podoboo, Cheep-CheepClearing any of the three Hand Trap stages rewards you with a Super Leaf.Power-up: Super LeafPicture: All-Stars remake
8-AirshipsAirship · Boss: Boom BoomA fast-scrolling fleet of small craft, each with a Rocket Engine and Rocky Wrenches, separated by gaps of every size.Foes: Rocky Wrench, Rocket Engine—
8-1DarkA pitch-black course lined with Bullet Bill cannons and Piranha Plant pipes, with Koopa Paratroopas as stepping stones.Foes: Bullet Bill, Venus Fire Trap, Piranha Plant, Boo DiddlyFly to the top of the tall pipe early on to enter a room holding three 1-Up Mushrooms.Power-up: Fire Flower
8-2Dark hillsDark hills packed with Venus Fire Trap pipes while the Angry Sun returns to dive at you.Foes: Angry Sun, Venus Fire Trap, Para-GoombaSink into the first sandfall to reach secret rooms that skip ahead, so the Angry Sun never appears.Power-up: Super Leaf
8-FortressFortress · Boss: Boom BoomThe longest fortress, a door maze over lava with conveyor belts, Thwomps and Roto-Discs.Foes: Thwomp, Roto-Disc, Podoboo, Dry BonesDrop into the gap beside the Starman ? Block and jump to reveal Hidden Blocks; the rightmost holds a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Fire Flower
8-Super TankTank · Boss: Boom BoomA long tank convoy under fire from angled cannons and small airships overhead, ending with a flying Boom Boom.Foes: Cannon, Rocky Wrench, Bob-omb—
8-CastleCastle · Boss: BowserBowser’s castle of laser-firing statues, an invisible rising lift and Donut Lifts over lava, splitting into two routes.Foes: Bowser Statue, Roto-Disc, Podoboo, ThwompAt the top of the Roto-Disc stairs, a 1-Up Mushroom waits beside the wall on the right.Route & preparation
- Route: Clear the Big Tanks and Battleships, cross the hand-trap spaces, and complete the airship fleet. The later route passes 8-1, 8-2, the fortress and Super Tank before the final castle.
- Bring: Save a P-Wing for a scrolling course you repeatedly lose, and a normal power-up for an unfamiliar fortress or castle. A Cloud can bypass a suitable numbered course, but it cannot replace learning the finale.
- Don’t miss: Bowser is defeated by making him smash through his own floor. Stand over the chosen column while he prepares a jump, then move aside before he lands; repeat over the same hole.
Boss: Bowser
Avoid Bowser’s fire, lure his downward jumps onto the same brick column, and step clear. Ordinary head stomps are not the standard solution; let him fall through the floor.
8-Castle: Bowser’s castle of laser-firing statues, an invisible rising lift and Donut Lifts over lava, splitting into two routes.
FAQ
How many levels are in World 8 of Super Mario Bros. 3?
9 on the map: 2 numbered courses, 1 fortress and tanks, battleships, hand traps, airships and castle.
Who is the boss of World 8?
Bowser. Avoid Bowser’s fire, lure his downward jumps onto the same brick column, and step clear. Ordinary head stomps are not the standard solution; let him fall through the floor.
What is the main secret in Dark Land?
Bowser is defeated by making him smash through his own floor. Stand over the chosen column while he prepares a jump, then move aside before he lands; repeat over the same hole.
Sources & picture credits
- Dark Land (Super Mario Wiki)
- World 8-Big Tanks
- World 8-Battleships
- World 8-Hand Traps
- World 8-Airships
- World 8-1
- World 8-2
- World 8-Fortress
- World 8-Super Tank
- World 8-Castle
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing. Maps, screenshots, sprites and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Super Mario Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).