Super Meat Boy A+ guide: how to unlock Dark World levels
Understand completion, A+ times and the harder parallel stages.
Edition covered
The original 2010 precision platformer, with the PC release as the character-roster reference. Xbox and later console guest rosters differ. Super Meat Boy Forever is a separate game. Steam pictures include an in-game story scene.
What each clear actually unlocks
An ordinary clear, a fast clear and a bandage collection are separate achievements. One attempt can achieve more than one, but none should be assumed from another.
| Result | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Stage clear | Reach Bandage Girl alive | Records completion |
| A+ rank | Beat the stage’s target time | Opens the corresponding Dark World stage |
| Bandage collected | Pick it up and finish the stage | Adds to the bandage total |
| Dark World clear | Finish the unlocked harder stage | Advances Dark World completion |
Improve a slow route
The timer rewards a clean path. Fix a single repeated delay instead of attempting a new risky shortcut on every run.
| Delay | Likely cause | Practice adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Slow takeoff | Running starts too late | Begin acceleration before the main jump |
| Wall hesitation | Repeated corrections near a corner | Use one committed wall-jump rhythm |
| Saw collision | Following rather than reading a moving hazard | Time the gap before entering it |
| Missed finish | Overshooting Bandage Girl | Release movement earlier near the exit |
Use the target shown for that stage
A+ thresholds differ between levels. Check the level’s displayed time goal; a fast-looking route does not guarantee the rank.
Separate speed and collection attempts
A bandage often requires a detour. Secure the A+ on a simple route first, then return to collect the bandage with the time pressure removed.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Super Meat Boy publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Super Meat Boy gameplay reference | strategywiki.org |
| Original Xbox walkthrough and warp locations | gamefaqs.gamespot.com |
| Character Warp Zone demonstrations | www.youtube.com |