How to Unlock World 2 and World 7 in New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

In New Super Mario Bros. on Nintendo DS, World 2 and World 7 aren’t accessible from the start—they’re gated behind specific milestones. Here’s exactly what you need to do.

Unlocking World 2

1. Clear World 1 completely—defeat the boss in the castle (World 1-Castle).
2. Return to the World Map. A Toad will appear near the World 1 icon.
3. Talk to that Toad. He’ll explain the new path, and World 2’s entrance will open.

Tip: If the Toad doesn’t appear, double-check that you’ve actually beaten the castle level and watched the brief cutscene.

Unlocking World 7

World 7 is the game’s penultimate world and requires two conditions:

1. Beat World 6’s castle. This reveals the path toward World 7 on the map.
2. Collect at least 30 Star Coins across all previous worlds. The entrance to World 7 remains blocked until you hit this threshold.

Star Coin Hunting Tips

• Scour every nook: Coins hide behind breakable walls, inside ceilings, under moving platforms, and inside bonus areas accessed via hidden pipes.
• Use power-ups strategically: The Super Mushroom lets you break brick blocks; the Super Leaf (Raccoon Mario) grants flight to reach high ledges; the Mini Mushroom fits into tiny gaps.
• Replay levels: You can revisit any cleared stage. The pause screen shows how many Star Coins you’ve found in each.
• Consult a map if stuck: Community wikis (like MarioWiki) have annotated screenshots for every Star Coin location.

Once you’ve cleared World 6 and banked 30 Star Coins, the gate to World 7 opens automatically. Good luck—and enjoy the challenge!