Softlock

A softlock is a situation that a video game can be put into, most commonly by means of a glitch, in which it becomes impossible to continue to play the game normally or access most areas without reloading the game.

In Super Mario Odyssey, there are two main categories of softlocks: file softlocks, which require reloading the save file from the pause menu to revert, and game softlocks, which necessitate restarting the entire game. Softlocks can vary in severity, with some still allowing Mario to move about the area and others locking the game up completely.

Examples

The following is a list of some known softlock exploits:

Kingdoms	Type	Method	Video
Cap Kingdom	File	Get stuck somewhere during the first visit with no checkpoints activated (used for Softlock%)
Cap Kingdom	Game	Talking to the Bonneter guarding a moon just after pulling up onto the ledge above	Link
Cap Kingdom	Game	Unknown	Link
Sand Kingdom	File	Bubble clipping out of the Hariet arena and missing the ground below	Link
Wooded Kingdom		Capture a Fire Bro just as it falls into water	Link
Cloud Kingdom	Game	Enter the camera-locking zone just above the death plane while collecting the last music note	Link
Various	Game	Collecting a key from a Timer Challenge just before it disappears	Link
Various	Game	Talking to the Koopa Freerunning Koopa just after hitting it with a rock	Link
Various	Game	Collect the final Story Moon in an early kingdom
Various	File	Achieving an infinite fall