Bonus Stage

A Bonus Stage (also commonly referred to as a mini-game and bonus game) is a special mini-game found in various single-player modes in the games of the Super Smash Bros. series. They are used to interrupt the battle set-up, serving as a sort of "break" round. Completing the stage gives players bonus points that are added to their final score; additionally, completing some bonus stages under certain circumstances can unlock hidden elements of the game. These bonus modes are usually optional to successfully complete.

In these games, the player has to complete a certain task within a certain time limit and with only one life to spare. Bonus games are often designed so that they feature custom arenas, designed specifically to test one's skill with a certain character.

Bonus games can also be played via the 1-Player menu, with the exception of Race to the Finish.

In Super Smash Bros.

Three bonus games are available in the 1P Game of Super Smash Bros. The first, which can be played only after winning the first three battles, is Break the Targets. In this mini-game, the player must attempt to break all of ten targets scattered throughout a special arena. After completing this mini-game (either through winning or losing), the player is allowed to progress further through the main game by fighting in another three battles. When the next set of battles has been completed, Board the Platforms game can be played, which the objective is to land on ten platforms located in various locations of yet another special stage.

The final mini-game, Race to the Finish, can be played after finishing the third set of battles. This mini-game, unlike the previous two, features one universal stage for all characters and is not designed to play on any particular character's strengths and/or weaknesses. Also unlike the previous games, Race to the Finish must actually be successfully completed in order to continue on with the main game.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

As in the original Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee also features three bonus games. While Target Test (previously "Break the Targets") and Race to the Finish return, Board the Platforms did not, being replaced by the Snag the Trophies game, which ties into the trophy-collecting aspect of Melee. The concept of this mini-game is self-explanatory: the goal is to collect three trophies that fall from the sky by knocking them onto a large column in the middle of the arena. Just as with Race to the Finish, Snag the Trophies does not feature specialized stages for each individual character, instead using one generic arena.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl there is only one bonus stage: Target Test, reworked and renamed (for a second time) as Target Smash!!. Several changes, ranging from minor aesthetic alterations to complete functional changes, have been made. For one, no longer does the mini-game feature individual stages for each character; instead, there are five generic stages (of varying difficulty) that all characters can play on. Secondly, some of the maps have been confirmed to feature items - a first for bonus games. Finally, players can now record footage of their attempts at completing the mini-game.