Editing ? Switch

{{about|the object that appears in various games|the level with the same name in ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''|[[Tower of the Wing Cap]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:YS Artwork Switch.png|170px]]<br>A red ? Switch from ''Yoshi's Story''
|first_appearance=''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])
|effect=Causes a mysterious event
|related=[[! Switch]]<br>[[P Switch]]
}}
A '''? Switch''', also known as a '''Mystery Switch''',<ref>{{cite|author=Leung, Jason et al|title=''Yoshi's Story'' Player's Guide|language=en-us|publisher=[[Nintendo Power]]|date=1998|page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo|date=1998|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/19981202104137/http://www.yoshisstory.com/fruit.html|title=''Yoshi's Story'' official website|accessdate=April 14, 2020}}</ref> a '''Question Mark Switch''',<ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|page=104, 111|date=April 7, 1999|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|language=en-us|isbn=0-7615-2103-8}}</ref> a '''? Switch Block''',<ref>{{cite|url=cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_ds_21/Manual_NintendoDS_NewSuperMarioBros_EN.pdf|date=2006|title=''New Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of UK|language=en-gb|page=18}}</ref> or erroneously a '''? Block''',<ref name="ys">{{cite|url=www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_N64/Manual/formated/Yoshi-s_Story_-_1998_-_Nintendo.pdf|date=1998|title=''Yoshi's Story'' instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of Australia|language=en-au|page=15}}</ref> is a [[Switch Block (disambiguation)|Switch Block]] that has widely varying effects depending on the context.

==History==
===''Yoshi's Story''===
[[File:Story Q Switch.png|frame]]
In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', when a [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] presses a ? Switch by simply [[jump]]ing on it, the ? Switch disappears and a part of the [[level]] is changed briefly. As the effect expires, the switch's music speeds up. There are [[Delay Switch|panel]]s that also act as a ? Switch and extend the switch's time limit.

===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario 64 DS''====
[[File:QueBlock.PNG|thumb|80px]]
{{main|Cap Switch}}
In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the red, green, and blue [[! Switch]]es from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' were reduced to a red ? Switch. It appears in a secret course named after it (also titled [[Tower of the Wing Cap]]), and it activates corresponding [[? Block#Super Mario 64 DS|? Block]]s.

====''New Super Mario Bros.''====
[[File:QuestionSwitchNSMB.png|frame|left]]
? Switches later appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', this time with an orange color. Like the ones in ''Yoshi's Story'', these switches change or add to an area of a level, like adding moving platforms or flipping the entire level upside down. The effects of a ? Switch can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the ? Switch. One appears in the fight against [[Mega Goomba (boss)|Mega Goomba]], being the only time one is used against a boss. Most levels have only one ? Switch, but some have two of them.

? Switches appear in the following levels, with the following functions:
*[[World 2-3 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 2-3]]: Raises the water level
*[[World 2-4 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 2-4]]: Causes certain sand hills to form
*{{world-link|2|castlen|World 2-Castle (New Super Mario Bros.)}}: Causes certain sand trenches to form
*[[World 3-3 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 3-3]]: Disables [[current]]s
*{{world-link|3|ghostn|World 3-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros.)}}: Causes staircases to form over slopes, and causing certain [[Warp Door]]s to appear
*[[World 4-3 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 4-3]]: Disables currents
*{{world-link|4|ghostn|World 4-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros.)}}: Causes [[? Block]]s on strings to drop down
*{{world-link|4|castlen|World 4-Castle (New Super Mario Bros.)}}: Causes elevating platforms to appear to allow Mario to reach [[Mega Goomba (boss)|Mega Goomba]]
*[[World 5-C]]: Causes some [[Red Block]]s to appear, one column after another
*{{world-link|7|ghostn|World 7-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros.)}}
**Causes certain Warp Doors to appear
**Causes certain [[lift]]s to appear
*[[World 8-2 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 8-2]]: Raises the water level
*{{world-link|8|bowsern|World 8-Bowser's Castle (New Super Mario Bros.)}}
**Tilts certain parts of the level upside down
**Causes a certain lift to appear

====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
[[File:Qswitch.png|frame]]
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', ? Switches reappear with their design from ''New Super Mario Bros.'', though they are less common than before. [[World 6-6 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 6-6]] notably features multiple with separate functions.

? Switches appear in the following levels, with the following functions:
*[[World 2-2 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 2-2]]: Causes certain lifts to appear
*{{world-link|5|ghosthouse|World 5-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)}}: Causes all of the [[Light Block]]s to light up
*[[World 6-3 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 6-3]]: Raises the water level
*[[World 6-6 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 6-6]]
**Activates the tilt-controlled lights for the raft
**Causes certain lifts to appear
*{{world-link|7|ghosthouse|World 7-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)}}: Causes certain lifts to appear
*[[World 8-4 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 8-4]]: Destroys certain [[Hard Block]]s
*[[World 9-5 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 9-5]]: Causes certain lifts to appear

====''New Super Mario Bros. 2''====
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', ? Switches have become more common. Several are used for spawning more [[coin]]s. They additionally appear in some of the DLC courses.

? Switches appear in the following levels, with the following functions:
*[[World 3-1 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 3-1]]: Causes a nearby [[Warp Pipe]] to shower [[coin]]s
*[[World 3-4 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 3-4]]: Causes a nearby Warp Pipe to shower coins
*[[World 3-A (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 3-A]]: Disables currents
*[[World 4-5 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 4-5]]: Disables currents
*{{world-link|5|ghosthousen2|World 5-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros. 2)}}: Causes certain Warp Doors to appear
*[[World 6-1 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 6-1]]: Causes certain Hard Blocks to appear, one large area after another
*{{world-link|6|ghosthousen2|World 6-Ghost House (New Super Mario Bros. 2)}}: Causes certain walls to retract
*[[World 6-2 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 6-2]]: Destroys certain Hard Blocks
*{{world-link|mushroom|ghosthousen2|World Mushroom-Ghost House}}: Causes certain blue blocks to appear and disappear
*{{world-link|mushroom|3|World Mushroom-3 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)}}: Causes two nearby Warp Pipes to shower coins
*{{world-link|mushroom|A|World Mushroom-A}}: Destroys certain unbreakable blocks
*{{world-link|flower|B|World Flower-B}}: Causes certain [[Roulette Coin Block]]s to appear
*{{world-link|star|1|World Star-1 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)}}: Changes the alignment of certain [[Brick Block]] structures
*[[First Course (Gold Mushroom Pack)|First Course]] ([[Gold Mushroom Pack]]): Causes an area directly above the player to shower [[Gold Mushroom]]s
*[[First Course (Coin Challenge Pack B)|First Course]] ([[Coin Challenge Pack B]]): Causes certain blue blocks to appear and disappear
*[[Second Course (Coin Challenge Pack C)|Second Course]] ([[Coin Challenge Pack C]]): Destroys certain Hard Blocks
*[[First Course (Platform Panic Pack)|First Course]] ([[Platform Panic Pack]]): Causes an area directly above the player to shower coins
*[[Third Course (Mystery Adventures Pack)|Third Course]] ([[Mystery Adventures Pack]]): Changes the alignment of certain Brick Block structures

====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U'' / ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''====
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', ? Switches are again less common. Some act somewhat similar to [[! Switch]]es in ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and ''New Super Mario Bros. 2'' by causing red blocks to appear. In ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', ? Switches are considerably uncommon, appearing in only three levels. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'', ? Switches return in both capacities.

? Switches appear in the following ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' levels, with the following functions:
*[[Stone-Eye Zone]]: Causes an area directly above the player to shower coins
*[[Tropical Refresher]]: Causes an area directly above the player to shower coins, including the second [[Star Coin]] at the end
*[[Light Blocks, Dark Tower]]: Causes all of the Light Blocks to light up
*[[Thrilling Spine Coaster]]: Causes some red blocks to appear
*[[Roy's Conveyor Castle]]: Destroys certain Hard Blocks
*[[Pendulum Castle]]: Causes some red blocks to appear
*{{world-link|coin|7|World Coin-7}}: Causes certain red blocks to disappear

? Switches appear in the following ''New Super Luigi U'' levels, with the following functions:
*[[Dancing Blocks, Poison Swamp]]: Causes certain Brick Blocks to move into place
*[[Switch-Lift Express]]: Causes certain solid platforms to move from one position to another
*[[Roy's Ironclad Castle]]: Destroys certain Hard Blocks

====''Super Mario Maker''====
[[File:SMM-NSMBU-Switch.png|frame]]
In versions of ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' before version 1.30, [[P Switch]]es in the ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' game style have the appearance of ? Switches.

====''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''====
In ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'', ? Switches are about as uncommon as in ''New Super Luigi U'', as they only appear in two Break Time! levels and one main level.

? Switches and their purpose in the levels are as follows:
*[[Break Time! Zip-Go-Round]]: Turns certain ground blocks into [[Zip Track]]s and spawning coins, [[flower coin]]s, and [[Wonder Token]]s
*[[Break Time! Tumble House]]: Causes the entire level to periodically rotate ninety degrees counterclockwise and spawning coins, flower coins, and Wonder Tokens
*[[Deep Magma Bog Flying Battleship]]: Turns certain yellow blocks into [[Dotted-Line Block]]s

==Profiles and statistics==
===''Yoshi's Story''===
{{Multilang profile
|type=manual
|Eng=If you step on it, something secret will happen. Exactly what, is a secret.<ref name="ys"/>
|Fre=Si vous marchez dessus, quelque chose de nouveau apparaîtra. Quoi exactement, c’est un secret.<ref name=INBYSFR/> (''If you step on it, something new will appear. Exactly what, is a secret.'')
}}

*'''Message Block information for the ? Switch (set to French):''' Marchez dessus et quelque chose de nouveau apparaîtra!<ref name=YSIGFR/> (''Step on it and something new will appear!'')


==Gallery==
<gallery>
NSMBW Asset Model Question Switch.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
NSMBU Asset Model Question Switch.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=？スイッチ
|JapN=''Yoshi's Story''
|JapR=? Suitchi
|Jap2=ハテナスイッチ<ref>{{cite|language=ja|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|date=October 19, 2015|title=''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'', ''Super Mario Sunshine'' section|page=119, 151, 200, 216|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8}}</ref>
|Jap2R=Hatena Suitchi
|Jap3=スイッチブロック<ref>{{cite|date=2006|url=m1.nintendo.net/docvc/NTR/JPN/A2DJ/A2DJ_J.pdf|title={{ruby|New|ニュー}} スーパーマリオブラザーズ (''Nyū Sūpā Mario Burazāzu'') manual|publisher=Nintendo|language=Japanese|page=17}}</ref>
|Jap3N=''New Super Mario Bros.'', shared with [[P Switch]] and [[! Switch]]
|Jap3R=Suitchi Burokku
|JapM=? Switch
|Jap2M=? Switch
|Jap3M=Switch Block
|ChiS=？开关<ref>{{cite|url=www.ique.com/games/Mariobros/demo_2.htm|title=New 超级马力欧兄弟|language=zh-hans|publisher=[[iQue]]|accessdate=February 8, 2024}}</ref>
|ChiSR=? Kāiguān
|ChiSM=? Switch
|Fre=Interrupteur ?<ref>{{cite|date=2005|title=''Super Mario 64 DS'' instruction booklet|language=fr|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|page=68}}</ref>
|Fre2=Interrupteur<ref name=INBYSFR>{{cite|date=1998|url=fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_YoshisStory_FR.pdf|title=''Yoshi Story'' instruction booklet, French segment|language=French|publisher=Nintendo|page=59}}</ref>
|FreM=? Switch
|Fre2M=Switch
|Fre3=Interrupteur "?"<ref name=YSIGFR>''Yoshi's Story'' [https://youtu.be/IAF3NCsp6X8?si=aDFBEoZCa5yzXpT0&t=83 in-game name] (French localization)</ref>
|Fre3M="?" Switch
|Ger=?-Schalter<ref>{{cite|date=2006|url=cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_ds_21/Manual_NintendoDS_NewSuperMarioBros_DE.pdf|title=''New Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet|language=de|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|page=20}}</ref>
|GerM=? Switch
|Ita=Interruttore<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' European manual|page=123|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|date=1998|language=en-gb}}</ref>
|ItaN=''Yoshi's Story''
|Ita2=Blocco interruttore ?<ref>{{cite|title=''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' European manual|page=88|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|date=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=2009|title=''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' Italian manual|page=25|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=it}}</ref>
|Ita2N=''New Super Mario Bros.'' series
|Ita3=Interruttore ?<ref>{{cite|date=2005|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|title=''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'' manual|page=106}}</ref>
|Ita3N=''Super Mario 64 DS''
|Ita4=Interruttore "?"<ref>{{cite|date=November 15, 2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=119, 151, 200, 216}}</ref>
|Ita4N=''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''
|ItaM=Switch
|Ita2M=? Switch Block
|Ita3M=? Switch
|Ita4M="?" Switch
|PorE=Bloco de Mudança ?
|PorEN=''New Super Mario Bros.''
|PorEM=? Change Block
}}

==Trivia==
*Although ''New Super Mario Bros.'' does have ? Switches in-game, the red ? Switch model from ''Super Mario 64 DS'' was left unused in the files of the final version. However, it was used in early prototypes.

==References==
<references/>

{{Blocks}}
{{SM64}}
{{Yoshi's Story}}
{{NSMB}}
{{NSMBW}}
{{NSMB2}}
{{NSMBU}}
{{SMBW}}
[[Category:Switches]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. 2 objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. U objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Wonder objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Story objects]]
[[de:?-Schalter]]
[[it:Interruttore ?]]