Stage

The Battlefield stage in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is an example of a typical stage in the Super Smash Bros. series.

A stage (ステージ Sutēji), sometimes called a map, arena, or bazooka, is a location in which characters fight or complete objectives. The word "stage" usually refers to a versus mode stage, but can also refer to the ground or large central platform within this location. As well as versus mode stages, single player mode stages, such as the Target Smash!! maps, exist for purposes other than fighting.

Versus stages

In all three games of the Super Smash Bros. series, most versus mode stages are available from the start, while a small number must be unlocked by completing certain objectives. Most stages, like Congo Jungle, are derived from places in playable characters' universes. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, an abstract stage, Poké Floats, was introduced, as well as two Smash Bros universe stages - Battlefield and Final Destination. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, stages derived from games without associated playable characters were introduced, namely Smashville and Hanenbow, while PictoChat represents a Nintendo DS utility interface. Additionally, not every playable character has a stage from their own universe. Included in Melee and Brawl are a small number of past stages - stages from the previous Smash game with no major alterations.

Stages range in size from the large Temple and New Pork City to the small Onett and Brinstar. Typically, stages involve a large central platform with ledges and one or more smaller platforms, as well as blast lines above, below and to the left and right of the visible area. Some stages, such as Yoshi's Island and Distant Planet have floors that continue past the edge of the visible area and pass through a side blast line, these edges are known as "walk off edges" or "walk offs", because characters can walk offscreen without the need to become airborne. Stages with walk off edges on both the left and right, like Bridge of Eldin, are sometimes called "walk off stages". Some walk off stages, such as Onett, have no lower blast line, while others, such as Bridge of Eldin, only infrequently have the lower blast lines introduced.

In Melee, moving and transforming stages were introduced. Big Blue and Rainbow Cruise consist entirely of platforms that move or appear on and offscreen, while stages like Icicle Mountain and Rumble Falls scroll continuously up or down. Other stages, such as Pokémon Stadium, undergo partial transformations at certain intervals, while yet others, like Brawl's Frigate Orpheon and Castle Siege, cycle through complete transformations. Similarly, Delfino Plaza and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U's Skyloft stage will take players to various areas of a stage via moving platforms. Mushroomy Kingdom may be one of two stages depending on either luck or player's input prior to the match.

Other stage elements include breakable barriers and platforms, such as the pillars of Luigi's Mansion and the stone floors of Skyworld; stage hazards and enemies, such as lasers, cars and Klap Traps; local items such as apples; and interactive objects such as Barrel Cannons. While water has no effect on movement in Melee, Brawl introduced swimming, and many of its stages involve water that can be swum in.

In Brawl, the appearance of some items, namely crates and barrels, differs depending on the aesthetic style of the stage they appear on. The following is quoted from the DOJO!! website.

Previously, wooden crates and barrels were pretty much garden-variety. This time around, these items change visually to match the mood of the stage. On sci-fi type stages they take on a futuristic tone. On more fantastic stages, they look more like presents.^[1]

In all games, some stages are banned in competitive play because they are considered disruptive or unfair. See Banned stages.

In Super Smash Bros.

There are nine versus stages in the original Super Smash Bros., eight starters and one unlockable: Mushroom Kingdom, shown in bold.

Stages

Mushroom Kingdom

File:StreetFighterSymbol(preBrawl).svg Sector Z

Yoshi's Island

In Melee

There are 29 versus stages in Super Smash Bros. Melee, 18 starters and 11 unlockable stages, shown below in bold. The three past stages are unlockable.

Melee Stages

Battlefield

Big Blue

Brinstar

Brinstar Depths

File:StreetFighterSymbol(preBrawl).svg Corneria

Final Destination

Flat Zone

Fourside

Mushroom Kingdom II

Mute City

Onett

Poké Floats

Pokémon Stadium

Princess Peach's Castle

Rainbow Cruise

Temple

File:StreetFighterSymbol(preBrawl).svg Venom

Yoshi's Island

Yoshi's Story

Past Stages

Congo Jungle

Dream Land

Yoshi's Island

In Brawl

There are 41 versus stages in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, 29 starters and 12 unlockable stages, shown below in bold. None of the original Super Smash Bros. stages return, but there are 10 stages from Melee, one from each universe involved in the original Super Smash Bros.

Brawl Stages

75 m

Flat Zone 2

Green Hill Zone

Hanenbow

Luigi's Mansion

Mario Bros.

Pirate Ship

Spear Pillar

Melee Stages

Big Blue

Brinstar

Corneria

Green Greens

Jungle Japes

Pokémon Stadium

In SSB4

Stages in Super Smash Bros. 4 will differ depending on the version. While some stages will appear in both (albeit in different forms), the majority of stages will be exclusive to that version, with 3DS stages primarily pulled from handheld games and Wii U stages from console games. Many stages now have an optional Final Destination form, removing all platforms aside from the main one as well as any hazards. In addition, this is the first game where stages from multiple past games return at once.

Both Versions

Battlefield

Boxing Ring

Final Destination

Nintendo 3DS Stages

Familiar Stages

Wii U Stages

Familiar Stages