Editing Hidden Block

{{about|the Hidden Blocks that mainly appear in ''Super Mario'' platformers|the Hidden Blocks from the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]|[[Hidden Block (Mario Party series)]]|the blocks that appear in [[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]|[[invisible/flashing block]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:SMM2 Hidden Block SM3DW icon.png|100px]]<br>A ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''-styled Hidden Block from ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[List of games by date#1985|1985]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])
}}
{{quote|Aha! A hidden block has appeared! Welcome to the visible world, you slippery cube, you! When you know you're close, a simple [[jump]] or swing of your [[hammer]] should do the trick.|Toad Researcher|Paper Mario: The Origami King}}
'''Hidden Blocks'''<ref>Tatsumi Yamashita, ''The Official Nintendo Player's Guide'', Tokuma Shoten, 1987, ISBN 999832369X. Page 29.</ref> (also formatted as '''hidden blocks'''), also called '''Invisible Blocks'''<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Game Boy'' Player's Guide. Page 6. "''Jump under the spot where the Invisible Block is located and it will reveal the Block and the item.''"</ref><ref>Loe, Casey. ''New Super Mario Bros.'' Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Page 9.</ref><ref>Bueno, Fernando. ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' PRIMA Official Game Guide. Page 12.</ref> (also written all lowercase)<ref>"''There are sometimes invisible blocks hidden near walls. Hop around in places you think a block might be!''"–''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' loading screen tip</ref> and '''Invisible ? Blocks''',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160102030444/http://play.nintendo.com:80/news-tips/tips-tricks/super-mario-maker-ghost-house-tips Super Mario Maker Ghost House Tips] <small>(archived)</small></ref> are [[? Block]]s that are invisible to players unless they hit them, turning them into [[Empty Block]]s.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
{{rewrite-expand|include more information on 2D Mario games|section=yes}}
====''Super Mario Bros.'' / ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''====
The first Hidden Block, which contained a [[1-Up Mushroom]], appears after the fourth pipe and before the first [[pit]] in [[World 1-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 1-1]] in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' Similarly, Hidden Blocks with 1-Up Mushrooms in them can be found in each world's first level, so long as the player collected all of the [[coin]]s in the previous world's third level. Otherwise, most Hidden Blocks only hold a single coin. Also, ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''{{'}}s Challenge Mode adds a Hidden Block holding a [[Yoshi's Egg|Yoshi Egg]] to each level.

In ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', Hidden Blocks are more often placed to make avoiding enemies more difficult. They are also used to provide viable paths or platforms through courses, usually [[castle]]s. This is also the first game where Hidden Blocks can contain [[list of power-ups|power-up]]s, as well as the newly introduced [[Poison Mushroom]].

In both games, Hidden Blocks with power-ups are among the objects that were originally [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s.<ref>"''If you come across mushrooms who have been turned into bricks or made invisible, they reward you by giving you a power boost.''" - ''Super Mario Bros.'' English instruction booklet, page 8.</ref>

In the ''Super Mario All-Stars'' version of ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'', Brick Blocks containing power-ups hidden within the brick walls of Worlds 8-2, 8-3, and D-3 were all replaced with Hidden Blocks due to the brick walls being removed in this version of the game.

====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
After an absence in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', Hidden Blocks return in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. They are often used to lead players to secret areas and items. In cave levels, Hidden Blocks' locations are revealed by the different dot coloration (only in the NES version).

====''Super Mario World''====
Hidden Blocks return in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. However, certain Hidden Blocks will only be visible and usable when a [[P Switch]] is activated.

====''New Super Mario Bros.'' series====
In the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series, Hidden Blocks return and work as they used to. Some of them may also hold [[vine]]s. In particular, a Hidden Block containing a power-up can be found near most of the big [[Warp Door]]s leading to the tower and castle bosses.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
Hidden Blocks make their debut in a 3D ''Super Mario'' platformer in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''. In this game, some Hidden Blocks can slightly be seen if the player has the 3D function on.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====
In ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', the locations of Hidden Blocks can be briefly revealed by [[Ground Pound|ground pound]]ing or by touching the screen or blowing into the microphone of the [[Wii U#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]]. Wide Hidden Blocks also debut in this game, acting like wide ? Blocks.

====''Super Mario Maker'' series====
In ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', Hidden Blocks were given a sprite for use in Create mode, as a translucent gray ? Block. In the lesson "Treating the Player Fairly" in [[Yamamura's Dojo]], [[Yamamura]] had placed a Hidden Block for [[Nina (Super Mario Maker 2)|Nina]] to discover by hitting it mid-jump over a [[pit]], interrupting her jump and causing her to fall into the pit, to demonstrate that such design choices are "cheap shots" and make for poor level design. In Create mode, the player can add wings to this block. When playing the course, this winged block will be seen as an invisible object with visible wings. [[Spike Ball]]s, only in ''Super Mario Maker 2'', can activate these blocks, winged or not, and will break if the block is low enough. This happens only when one bounces from under the Hidden Block.

====''Super Mario Odyssey''====
Hidden Blocks appear in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', working as they did in ''Super Mario 3D World''. When Mario puts on a [[Moe-Eye]]'s sunglasses while he is controlling it, he is able to see Hidden Blocks. Occasionally, Mario can see highly translucent Hidden Blocks by moving the camera to a fairly precise position. The player can also hear a sound when this happens.

===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''===
In ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'', [[Surprise Box]]es are invisible [[treasure chest|treasure box]]es that contain various items from [[Frog Coin]]s, [[Flower (Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars)|Flowers]], powerful healing items, and items used in battle. When Mario jumps at a spot where a Surprise Box is, it first reveals itself, and jumping at the revealed Surprise Box allows Mario to collect its contents. There are 39 Surprise Boxes in the game.

===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario''====
{{main|List of hidden blocks in Paper Mario}}
[[File:PMHiddenBlock25.png|thumb|Watt revealing a hidden block in ''Paper Mario''.]]
[[File:PM Hidden Block Render.png|frame|left]]
In ''[[Paper Mario]]'', the player may come across hidden blocks containing coins, healing items, badges, and other items, while some are also used as stepping stones to reach other areas. Such blocks can be found by using [[Watt]]'s field ability. There are 47 Hidden Blocks in the game.
{{br|left}}

====''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''====
{{main|List of hidden blocks in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door}}
Hidden blocks function the same way in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''. The player can use [[Ms. Mowz]]'s field ability to find them. There are 15 hidden blocks in the game.

====''Paper Mario: Sticker Star''====
In ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', hidden blocks can be found in multiple areas, such as [[Sandshifter Ruins]]. Mario can reveal them with his hammer, and they often contain one coin each.

====''Paper Mario: Color Splash''====
Hidden Blocks appear rarely in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''. They can be found outside [[Kiwano Temple]] and in the underground area of [[Mustard Café]]. In this game, each Hidden Block contains one coin, and they are mostly used as a platform for Mario to paint in colorless spots.

====''Paper Mario: The Origami King''====
{{main|List of ? Blocks in Paper Mario: The Origami King}}
[[File:PMTOK Hidden Block.png|thumb|80px|A Hidden Block's location is indicated during the [[Hidden Block Unhider]] test.]]
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', Hidden Blocks are found more commonly and must be found to achieve the [[Musée_Champignon#Trophies|? Block Head Trophy]]. They can be detected with the [[Hidden Block Unhider]] and [[Hidden Block Alert]], and are revealed when struck from below or with Mario's [[hammer]]. Hidden Blocks can contain coins, [[Musée Champignon#Collectible Treasures|Collectible Treasures]], and weapons, such as [[Fire Hammer]]s. Revealing a Hidden Block and leaving the area before releasing its contents will revert the block to a hidden state.

===''Mario & Luigi'' series===
====''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''====
{{main|List of hidden blocks in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga}}
{{main|List of hidden blocks in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions}}
[[File:MLSSBMHiddenBlock.png|frame|right]]
Hidden Blocks appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', containing the elusive [[Bean|Hoo Beans]]. Such blocks are found by jumping around at suspicious platforms or patterns, or in seemingly "empty" dead ends. There are a total of 42 Hidden Blocks in the game (41 in the remake). In the [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] remake, ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', the Hidden Blocks are necessary for 100% completion, as they are added to the block total. They also now gain a distinctive shine over them every once in a while, making their exact location a bit easier to find. There is also a piece of equipment called the [[Secret Specs]] (which replaces the [[Power Grip]] from the original) that makes them even more visible when a brother wears them; it can be obtained at the [[Starbeans Cafe]] after brewing a fifth unique blend of [[Starbeans Cafe#Bean Juice|Bean Juice]].

====''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''====
Hidden Blocks appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]''. They first appear in the [[Flab Zone]] to allow Mario and Luigi to access certain otherwise unreachable platforms, and later appear in [[Toad Town Mall]] during the Mushroom Ball Derby sidequest, in which case they contain [[Mushroom Ball]]s, in [[Peach's Castle Garden]] as invisible [[Attack Piece Block]]s containing the last three [[Attack Piece]]s of the [[Bros. Attack|Special Attack]], [[Falling Star]], and in the [[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]], which is needed to reach one unreachable platform. In all cases, they turn into [[Empty Block|empty blocks]] once hit, but those in Toad Town Mall disappear soon after the player obtains the Mushroom Ball.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
A Hidden Block appears in the [[Mushroomy Kingdom]] stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', in the same location as in [[World 1-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 1-1]] of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', though it is a block lower, and like the [[? Block]]s in the stage, it gives an item, rather than its original contents.

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=一隠しブロック<ref>Shogakukan. 2015. ''Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Hyakka: Nintendō Kōshiki Gaido Bukku'', ''New Super Mario Bros.'' section</ref><br>''Ichi kakushi burokku''<br>とうめいブロック<br>''Tōmei Burokku''
|JapM=Hidden Block<br><br>Transparent Block
|Fra=Bloc invisible (''Super Mario Maker'')<br>Bloc secret (''Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, Super Mario Maker 2'')
|FraM=Invisible Block<br>Secret Block
|Dut=Verborgen blok
|DutM=Hidden Block
|Ger=Versteckter Block
|GerM=Hidden Block
|Ita=Blocco nascosto; Blocco invisibile
|ItaM=Hidden Block; Invisible Block
|Kor=투명블록
|KorR=Tumyeong Beullok
|KorM=Transparent Block
|Rus=Скрытый блок
|RusR=Skrytyy blok
|RusM=Hidden Block
|SpaA=Bloque secreto<br>Bloque oculto (''Paper Mario: The Origami King'')
|SpaAM=Secret block<br>Hidden block
|ChiS=隐藏砖块<ref>[https://www.ique.com/games/Mariobros/demo_1.htm Official Chinese website for ''New Super Mario Bros.''].</ref> (''New Super Mario Bros.'')<br>''Yǐncáng Zhuānkuài''<br>透明砖块 (''Super Mario Maker 2'')<br>''Tòumíng Zhuānkuài''
|ChiSM=Hidden Block<br><br>Transparent Block<br><br>
|ChiT=隱藏磚塊<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/nsmb/nsmb_interview_3_07.htm 社長提問『新 超級瑪利歐兄弟 Wii』]. ''Nintendo''. Retrieved March 30, 2020.</ref>  (''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'')<br>''Yǐncáng Zhuānkuài''<br>透明磚塊 (''Super Mario Maker 2'')<br>''Tòumíng Zhuānkuài''
|ChiTM=Hidden Block<br><br>Transparent Block<br><br>
}}

==References==
<references/>

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