The Score Display is an optional rule that is available from Super Smash Bros. Melee onward that shows a scoreboard of how well players are doing relative to each other.
OverviewEdit
In Melee, Score display unlocked during Versus Mode by scoring a total of 5,000 KO's. This was changed to 200 KOs in Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and is unlocked from the start in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Ultimate. The Score Display appears in Time matches for all games following Melee (always appearing when viewing replays), in Bonus matches in Melee, and also appears in Stock and Stamina matches in Ultimate. Oddly, in Bonus mode, it displays the same score as if it were Time mode, not the amount of Bonus points collected.
When Score Display is switched on, the net score of all combatants will be displayed on-screen next to their series symbol. If a player secures a KO, they gain a point. If a player loses a stock, they lose a point. A negative score is possible after losing enough stocks. Points are typically earned by defeating opponents, though defeating an Assist Trophy in Ultimate is considered a KO and rewards a point. The main purpose of Score Display is to easily check the progress of a match, as the player with the highest score by the end is the winner. This is especially useful for time matches with no stock limit, as it can be hard to keep track of how many stocks have been taken and by who.