Super Mario RPG: Beetle Mania - How To Unlock

Super Mario RPG is full of little minigames and secrets that are as addictive and fun as the main game. And one of many people's favourites from Legend of the Seven Stars is also back in the remake.

Beetle Mania is easy to miss, but once you have access to it, it's hard to put down.

In this guide, we'll be telling you where to unlock Beetle Mania, as well as give you some tips on how to get a high score.

Super Mario RPG: Beetle Mania Guide

What is Beetle Mania?

Beetle Mania is a minigame that you can unlock in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and the 2023 Switch remake.

Essentially, the minigame is a bit like Space Invaders or Galaga — you control a beetle at the bottom of the screen and you need to shoot the red shells falling towards him. The higher your score gets, the more frantic the shells get.

Every shell you hit is worth one point, but destroying a shell makes it explode, which can hit and break another shell. You'll rack up a huge number of points doing this. But these shells can also hurt you.

When can I unlock Beetle Mania?

You can unlock Beetle Mania anytime after the events at Marrymore, before heading to Star Hill, and just after Princess Peach joins your party.

How do I unlock Beetle Mania

To unlock Beetle Mania, head to the Mushroom Kingdom and go to the Inn. Inside, you'll spot a Toad playing a handheld gaming device in the corner of the room.

Talk to the Toad a few times until he offers to sell you his game for 500 coins. Buy it, and you'll have a new option on the menu that will allow you to play Beetle Mania whenever you want. That's all you need to do to unlock the game.

Do I get any rewards from playing Beetle Mania?

You don't. In both the SNES version and the Switch remake, Beetle Mania is simply a fun little side diversion that you can play whenever you want.

The only reward in it for you is the satisfaction of beating your friends' high scores.

Beetle Mania tips

Here are a handful of tips to help you improve your Beetle Mania score.

Wait for multiple shells to appear

This could be a dangerous tactic, but if you want to aim for a high score, you need to go for those chains. Shooting a shell will cause it to explode, which in turn will break other shells. You get two points for hitting shells with shell shrapnel, and if one exploded shell hits five, let's say, that's an easy 11 points.

Press buttons to revive

Make sure you're always shooting, because not only do you use buttons to shoot, but you also use them to revive your beetle.

If your beetle gets knocked out, you need to press any button multiple times within three seconds to revive your little bug. This number will increase every time you're knocked out, so be wary.

Keep on moving

Self-explanatory, but don't just sit still — make sure your beetle is always moving left or right to stay safe, or to line yourself up for a shot.

Aim for the hearts

When you get so far through a game of Beetle Mania, hearts will start appearing. These reduce the amount of button presses you need to make to revive your little beetle, so make sure you shoot them whenever they're on screen.

For more help on getting through Super Mario RPG, check out our full Super Mario RPG guide for everything you need.