What New Features and Characters Does SMBX2 Add?

Updated

SMBX2 (Super Mario Bros X2) is an open-source evolution of Redigit's SMBX fan game engine, and it expands the original with new playable characters, hundreds of new NPCs, new blocks, a rebuilt editor, and new level features. If you already know the original SMBX and want to know what the sequel actually adds — or you're deciding whether to build levels in SMBX2 instead — the additions below are the concrete differences.

New playable characters

SMBX2 lets you play existing stages as a roster of characters beyond the Mario cast. According to the site, this includes:

  • Samus
  • Megaman
  • Snake
  • Klonoa

Each character has unique abilities, and the engine is designed so you can build stages and episodes around those abilities rather than treating them as skins. That means a level can be designed around a specific character's movement or attack options.

New NPCs

The engine adds hundreds of new NPCs, described on the site as ranging "from Baby Yoshies to Skewers." For level designers, this is the main content expansion: instead of being limited to the original enemy and object set, you have a much larger pool to place in levels, which the site frames as making "the options for levels virtually endless."

New blocks and level features

Two categories of additions affect how levels look and play:

  • New blocks — added block types to give levels more variety.
  • New features — including weather effects and darkness, which let you add atmosphere or gameplay-affecting conditions to a level.

New editor (Moondust Devkit)

SMBX2 ships with a new editor built from the Moondust Devkit. The site describes it as "simply the best way to edit levels in SMBX," positioning it as the replacement for the original editing workflow. If editing levels is your main reason for using the engine, this is the change most likely to affect your day-to-day work.

What this means depending on your goal

Your goal What SMBX2 adds for you
Playing existing stages with new characters Samus, Megaman, Snake, Klonoa, and others with unique abilities
Designing levels Hundreds of new NPCs, new blocks, weather/darkness features
Editing workflow New editor from the Moondust Devkit
Finding something to play A set of recommended episodes, some with multiplayer support

Getting started

The site's own instructions cover three tasks:

Installing the engine

  1. Download the current version from the downloads page.
  2. Run the installer .exe (you may be prompted to allow the install).
  3. Select a destination folder for SMBX2.
  4. Press next, then Install (you can adjust checkbox settings to your preference).
  5. Wait for the installation to complete.

Installing games and episodes

  1. Download the game or episode you want.
  2. Go to your SMBX2 installation folder.
  3. Open the worlds subfolder (if you can't find it, data/worlds also works).
  4. Extract the zipped game or episode into the worlds folder.
  5. The worlds folder should now contain a subfolder named after the game or episode, and it should appear in the SMBX2 launcher.

Updating the engine

  1. Download the patch installer.
  2. Click Browse and point it to your SMBX2 folder.
  3. Click Install once the folder is selected.
  4. Wait for the installation to complete.

Recommended episodes

If you want something to play rather than build, the site lists a selection of episodes made for the engine. An asterisk (*) marks multiplayer support. One example given is Super Mario and the Rainbow Stars (Demo), described as a colorful, polished project that overhauls the look, sound, and mechanics of SMBX to blend 2D platforming with elements from the Mario RPGs.

Note that episode installation steps can vary slightly depending on the episode, though most follow the structure above.