How to Unlock Characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has loads of characters for players to unlock, from recurring favorites to some newcomers as well. Players will want to know how to unlock each character so that they can dive into battle as their favorite fighters. Below, we’ll explain how to unlock characters in each of the game modes in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

How to Unlock Characters 

Classic Mode

Players can unlock characters in various ways in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The first way to unlock your favorite fighters is by playing through Classic Mode as a specific character. You can unlock nearly every character this way, aside from the original eight. For example, if you want to unlock Sonic, you would play through Classic Mode as Mario. For Zero Suit Samus, you must do a Classic Mode run as Captain Falcon.

Below you’ll find a chart that details how to unlock each character in Classic Mode, based on information gathered by GusBus6Volt on Twitter and other reports from Smash players. Note that the details in this charts are subject to change as new information is discovered, so check back here for updates. The original eight (Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu) are unlocked from the start, so we’ve omitted them from the list.

World of Light

Since not all characters may be unlock through Classic Mode, the other option is to play World of Light, which is basically Adventure Mode in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. World of Light features various maps, routes, and regions. Unlocking certain characters in World of Light involves encountering them at a specific location and completing a challenge to obtain that character. Certain characters may also require completing a Final Battle as well. 

Unlike Classic Mode, character unlocks in World of Light are not tied to using specific characters, which means you can play the mode as whomever you like and still unlock characters by finding them at their designated locations.

Below is a chart similar to the one above that outlines the general requirements for finding and unlocking each character while playing through World of Light, courtesy of GusBus6Volt on Twitter.

VS Mode

The last way you can unlock new characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is by playing VS Mode. The character unlocks are based on a 10-minute timer, which means that once you unlock a character outside of the World of Light or Classic modes, you must wait for 10 minutes before you can unlock a character this way again. 

Players seem to have found a way around the timer system, however. After unlocking a character, exit out of the game and then reopen it. This reportedly should reset the timer, allowing you to unlock another character in a mode outside of Classic and World of Light without having to wait. This method isn’t totally confirmed, so take these details with a grain of salt.

The unlock order for VS Mode is as follows, courtesy of Zachmin on Twitter:

1. Ness
2. Zelda
3. Bowser
4. Pit
5. Inkling
6. Villager
7. Marth
8. Young Link
9. Wii Fit Trainer
10. Ice Climbers
11. Captain Falcon
12. Peach
13. Ryu
14. Ike
15. Jigglypuff
16. King K Rool
17. Sonic
18. Simon
19. Zero Suit Samus
20. Little Mac
21. Isabelle
22. Shulk
23. Lucina
24. Wario
25. Ridley
26. Pokemon Trainer
27. Lucario
28. Daisy
29. Roy
30. King Dedede
31. R.O.B.
32. Falco
33. Luigi
34. Pichu
35. Richter
36. Diddy Kong
37. Meta Knight
38. Snake
39. Ganondorf
40. Corrin
41. Mega Man
42. Bayonetta
43. Toon Link
44. Rosalina and Luma
45. Incineroar
46. Sheik
47. Olimar
48. PacMan
49. Dark Samus
50. Wolf
51. Mr. Game & Watch
52. Robin
53. Dark Pit
54. Cloud
55. Duck Hunt
56. Ken
57. Greninja
58. Chrom
59. Mewtwo
60. Bowser Jr.
61. Dr. Mario
62. Palutena

Note that the details of these character unlocks is subject to change as new information is revealed. To determine which characters you should unlock first, check out our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tier List.