Super Mario Maker allows players to create levels in the style of the Super Mario series, and publish them to the Internet for other players. The courses are based on the gameplay and visual style of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U, which all share the physics of the latter. The gameplay mechanics and enemy behavior vary between game modes. Some elements are limited to specific game styles, and other elements can be merged into other game styles, such as having Boos in Super Mario Bros.[1][2][3]
In addition to traditional Mario elements such as Goombas, warp pipes, and power-ups, players can uniquely manipulate the behavior of elements. For example, enemies can be stacked, hazards can emerge from question blocks and warp pipes, shells can be worn as protective helmets, and cannons can emit chosen objects. These new combinations are enabled by editing tools working in tandem. Players can enlarge an enemy with a Super Mushroom, give an enemy a pair of flying wings, combine different attributes, and more. The Soundfrog adds audiovisual effects, though microphone-recorded sounds are removed from uploaded courses. New editing elements are unlocked gradually across nine days of course creation.[4] The Mystery Mushroom, exclusive to the Super Mario Bros. theme, has the power-up of a Super Mushroom and dresses Mario in one of 153 costumes. Each of these costumes can be unlocked by playing through the 100 Mario Challenge, by clearing special Event Courses, or by scanning a corresponding Amiibo figurine. The 8-bit Mario figurine summons a Big Mushroom that makes Mario giant while making enemies resemble Mario by donning hats and mustaches.[5][6][7]
After a created course was played to completion, it could then be published to the online Course World. There, all players could browse and play various user-generated courses, or participate in the 100 Mario Challenge with a set of randomly selected user-created courses with 100 lives. Alternatively, players can play the 10 Mario Challenge, with a selection of pre-made courses and only 10 lives.[8] Players were initially limited in the number of uploadable courses, but by receiving stars from other players, they earned medals that allowed them to upload more courses.[9]