Stages Featured in Every Super Smash Bros. Game
Battlefield is a simple and iconic stage found in every Smash game starting with the Nintendo 64 iteration, where it was only used in 1P mode while battling the Fighting Polygon Team. It has become selectable in normal gameplay from Melee onwards. The stage, itself, consists of a central platform, with three smaller platforms arranged in a triangular pattern above. Starting with Ultimate, all stages can be played in a Battlefield configuration.
Originally used for the Final Boss battle against Master Hand in 64, Final Destination consists only of a large flat platform, with no additional obstacles or hazards. Starting with 3DS/Wii U, every stage can be played in an "Omega" configuration which mirror's Final Destination.
Introduced in Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64)
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Peach's Castle consists of a bridge that can be moved through, a central platform underneath with another long block that moves from side to side, two slopes above the stage on either side, and a hazard in the form of a floating bumper over the stage that can send players flying.
Kongo Jungle consists of a central platform, two smaller platforms on either side, and a pair of even smaller platforms moving around each other in a clockwise path. Below the stage, a Barrel Cannon floats from side to side. This can be useful for recovering from a fall, but the Barrel Cannon will also rotate from time to time: a mistimed launch can send players flying out of bounds.
Hyrule Castle consists of a large central platform and two connected smaller platforms on either side. The central platform also has a series of tiny platforms connected to a tower in the background, while the right platform has a tent-like structure. The primary hazard of this stage is a tornado that appears and moves across one of the platforms: players caught in the tornado will be launched into the air.
Planet Zebes consists of a jagged central platform with three smaller sloped platforms above. The main hazard of this stage is the pool of acid that intermittently rises from below, enveloping platforms in the process. Touching the acid will cause damage and launch fighters into the air.
Yoshi's Island, also known in Ultimate as the Super Happy Tree, consists of a central platform and a series of three smaller platforms in a triangular pattern above, roughly mimicing the structure of Battlefield. While this stage has no notable hazards, there are three clouds beyond the central platform (one to the left and two to the right) that can be stood upon, but only for a few moments: after a while, they will vanish.
Dream Land is built in the same way as Battlefield, with a large central platform and three smaller platforms arranged in a triangle pattern above. The main hazard of this stage is Whispy Woods, who intermittently unleashes powerful gusts of wind that can push fights towards either side of the arena.
The Sector Z stage is situated on top of the Great Fox as it flies through space, which forms a single platform with three varying areas: the area reaching from the nose of the ship to the tail wing, the aft segment below the tail wing, and the forward cannons under the bridge of the ship. The main hazard of this stage is Arwings that fly overhead: they can be used as platforms, but they will also occasionally open fire on players.
Saffron City consists of three buildings that serve as the arena, the iconic Sylph Co. building in the middle, with floating platforms between them. The main hazard of this stage is the Pokemon that emerge from the elevator on the roof of the Sylph Co. building, most of whom will attack players if they draw too near.
Unlockable
Mushroom Kingdom consists of two large platforms with a pit in the middle, a second platform over the left one, and two smaller platforms connected to a rope that raise and lower as fighters stand on them. Unique among the other stages in 64, the platforms extend beyond the edges of the screen, the first instance of "walk-off" blast lines in the series. Warp pipes allow players to move quickly from one side of the arena to the other, but can also occasionally drop players in the pit in the middle. POW blocks can also appear: hitting them will hurt all opponents.
Introduced in Super Smash Bros. Melee (Nintendo Gamecube)
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Peach's Castle consists of the main castle itself, the fights battling on its roof, with two smaller platforms out to either side. From time to time, switches will appear that summon ! blocks that contain items. The main hazard of this stage is Banzai Bill, who will burrow into the castle walls and, after a moment's delay, explode in spectacular fashion.
This stage consists of a main platform in the middle, and four smaller platforms arranged in a square pattern overhead, along with a small rock protruding from the waterfall to the stage's right. Similar to the 64 version of Kongo Jungle, there is also a Barrel Cannon under the stage that can be used for recovery (but it also occasionally spins, so care must be applied to when one launches). The other hazard of this stage is Klaptraps that swim along the river and occasionally bite players.
Great Bay consists of a large central platform, along with two smaller platforms floating on the water underneath and to either side of the main platform. From time to time, a large sea turtle will swim in from the right, providing another foothold for fighters for a brief time. Tingle also floats in on occasion, and his balloon can be used as a platform for a short while before popping. There are no real hazards on this stage. In Ultimate, fighters can briefly swim in the water, but in Melee, the water has no effect on the fighters.
Yoshi's Story is structured in a very similar vein to Battlefield, consisting of a large central platform and three smaller platforms arranged in a triangular pattern. While there are no hazards, Randall the Cloud occasionally appears to act as a small moving platform. Shy Guys also fly over the stage intermittently, carrying fruit which players can take to recover damage.
Fountain of Dreams is built in a similar fashion to Battleground: a large central platform, with three smaller platforms arranged in a triangle pattern above. Unlike Battlefield, however, the central platform has very low traction, making it slippery to stand on. The smaller platforms to the left and right also bog down as fighters stand on them, raising back to their original positions once players step off of them.
Corneria is built in a similar fashion to Sector X from 64, with the Great Fox serving as the battleground and fighters brawling across the top of the ship. Arwings and the occasional Wolfen serve as the main hazards, flying over the stage and acting as platforms while occasionally firing on players. The front cannons on the Great Fox can also be dangerous: any players standing on them when they open fire are in for a world of hurt.
Rainbow Cruise is an auto-scrolling stage that starts on an airship flying through the air. Eventually, the ship crashes into an obstacle course that players continue to fight over before making their way back to the airship and beginning the cycle again. Hazards on the obstacle course include falling blocks, a magic carpet, and rotating platforms.
Jungle Japes consists of three platforms spread out from one another. The main hazard of this stage is the mighty river flowing under the platforms: any fighter that falls in risks being washed away.
The biggest stage introduced in Melee, Temple has no hazards, but is very large in scale with five main platforms total, each of varying size and shape, arranged in a complicated manner. Players fight across these platforms, chasing one another as the need arises and using solid ceilings on the lower platforms to their advantage.
Unrelated to the stage of the same name from 64 (which was renamed "Super Happy Tree" in Ultimate), Yoshi's Island consists of two large platforms with traversable slopes on either side (the right slope featuring a "walk-off blast line" and a set of three platforms made of Rotating Blocks that start turning and become passable when struck. One of these rows of Rotating Blocks is in the middle of the stage over the pit between the two platforms.
Green Greens consists of three platforms, with the primary hazard of the stage being star blocks that fall into the spaces between the platforms. Occasionally, a bomb block that explodes when struck also appears. Whispy Woods also makes a return appearance, unleashing mighty gusts of wind to push players to either side.
Like Corneria, Venom is fought on the Great Fox, but in a different arrangement: with the Great Fox viewed from the front, fighters battle across its wings in addition to its top. Also like Corneria, Arwings and Wolfens will appear to act as platforms while occasionally firing on players.
Icicle Mountain is an autoscrolling stage that sees players leaping up to keep up with the camera, although occasionally, the camera also moves downward. The speed at which the camera moves varies, forcing players to adjust their movements as the sitation demands. Aside from the risk of the camera moving too quickly for players to keep up with, hazards in this stage include Topis and Polar Bears.
Brinstar is designed in a similar fashion to Planet Zebes from 64, with a large central platform with uneven terrain and three smaller platforms arranged in a roughly triangular pattern. The left and right platforms are connected to the main platform with fleshy membrains that can be attacks and broken to temporarily tilt the platforms at sharp angles. The central platform also has organic orbs connecting its two halfs: if the organic orbs are destroyed, the two halves of the main platform will float apart. The main hazard of this stage is the pool of acid coming from below, that will occasionally rise and envelop all but the topmost platform.
Onett is a stage with "walk-off" blast lines consisting of a main street and three buildings. The Drug Store building in the middle has passable platforms, as well as a sign that can knock those platforms down if they are stepped on too much. The main hazard of this stage is cars running down the road: after a brief warning, they will appear and strike any players standing in the street.
The Melee version of Mute City has fighters fighting on a platform flying over the eponymous race track, coming to rest at times on specific points of the track. The main hazard of this stage is the F-Zero racers, that can ram into the fighters. The racers' machines can also be destroyed if they take enough damage. Another hazard comes from when the platform is in flight: touching any part of the track during this time inflicts damage and knockback.
The first Pokémon Stadium stage takes on a simple layout at the onset of battle, with a large central platform and two smaller platforms to the sides. Over time, however, the stage will change its layout to knew ones coinciding with different Pokémon types, including a Grass arena, a Fire arena, a Water arena, and a Rock arena.
The Melee version of Mushroom Kingdom takes inspiration from its 64 counterpart, consisting of three central platforms with pits between them, "walk-off" blast lines, and two scale platforms connected by rope that raise and lower as fighters stand on them. Blocks over the platforms can be broken with attacks, and ? Blocks drop items when struck.
Unlockable
The original Flat Zone takes place on a Game & Watch handheld machine. True to its name, the characters are flattened out when fighting here. As to the stage's structure: it has "walk-off" blast lines and three platforms overhead in an inverted triangular pattern, the lower platform being larger than the top two. Falling tools occasionally appear, and can prove deadly if not evaded.
Brinstar Depths consists of a large central platform in a roughly circular shape with two tiny floating platforms on opposing sides. The hazard of this stage is Kraid, who intermittently appears to slash at the stage; while he cannot hurt the players, his slashes cause the stage to rotate, challenging players to keep their footing.
Fourside consists of three skyscrapers that act as the platforms for this fight. While lacking in notable hazards, a UFO does appear on stage from time to time, acting as a temporary platform before teleporting away.
Big Blue is fought on the tops of F-Zero machines as they race through the eponymous track. Falling onto the track carries the risk of being left behind, as only the fastest fighters will be able to keep up with the F-Zero racers acting as platforms.
Poké Floats is fought on top of giant balloon floats in the shape of various Pokémon. The floats all fly by, resulting in a stage with a constantly changing topography.
Mushroom Kingdom II, also known as Subcon, consists of three main platforms, with "walk-off" blast lines and pits between the platforms. Logs sometimes flow down the waterfalls where the pits are located, acting as temporary platforms. Birdo also makes an appearance, attacking players with eggs.
