Total Main Levels: 60 (excluding Toad Houses, Enemy Courses, and Mushroom Houses).
| World | Standard Levels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| World 1–7 | 8 each (56 total) | Standard progression. |
| World 8 (Dark Land) | 4 | Shorter final world. |
| World 9 (Star World) | 8 | Unlockable; requires all Star Coins in Worlds 1-8. |
Grand Total Playable Stages (incl. World 9): 68. The commonly cited "60" refers to the main 8 worlds required for credits.