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Super Mario World / Ghost enemies

Boos

Ghost enemies · Ghost Houses

Story spoilers: This profile discusses character history and events in the game.

Boos is featured in Super Mario World — Ghost enemies. This profile covers their background, appearance, personality, story role and practical gameplay details.

Edition covered

Original SNES game and its emulated releases. Controls use SNES button labels. Super Mario Advance 2 differences are outside this guide.

Biography

Boos populate the game’s Ghost Houses and other haunted areas. Their behaviour turns facing direction and movement timing into a puzzle.

Appearance

Boos are round white ghosts with small arms and expressive faces.

Personality

Their shy presentation is part of the mechanic: many hesitate when watched and approach when Mario turns away. Not every ghost formation follows exactly the same pattern.

Role in the story

Ghost Houses mix these enemies with misleading doors and alternate exits. Defeating enemies is often less important than understanding the room’s route.

Gameplay and encounters

Use Mario’s facing direction to manage ordinary Boos, but observe circles and other variants separately. Do not assume every ghost can be jumped on or controlled by the same response.