Overview

The Strobulb in action — stun the ghost with a flash, then hold the trigger to suck them into the Poltergust (click for full size)

Evershade Valley — the hauntingly beautiful setting that houses all five mansions across its varied landscapes (click for full size)

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (known as Luigi’s Mansion 2 in Europe and Australia) is the long-awaited sequel to the GameCube launch title Luigi’s Mansion, arriving twelve years later on the Nintendo 3DS. Developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo, it expands the original’s formula dramatically: five full mansions each containing multiple missions, a vastly expanded ghost roster, new equipment and mechanics, and a multiplayer co-op mode that extends the experience significantly.

Unlike the original, which was one continuous mansion to explore freely, Dark Moon is mission-based — E. Gadd sends Luigi into each mansion on specific objectives, retrieving him between missions via the Pixelator. This gives the game a more structured, bite-sized feel that suited the 3DS’s portable nature perfectly.

The game was a massive commercial and critical success — it sold over 5.97 million copies worldwide, won a BAFTA, and is widely considered one of the best games on the 3DS. Its multiplayer ScareScraper mode added further longevity, letting up to four players team up to clear a haunted tower floor by floor against the clock.

Story

Luigi — not exactly volunteering for ghost duty. E. Gadd’s Pixelator leaves him no choice (click for full size)

The final confrontation — Luigi faces King Boo in his dimensional lair to recover Mario’s painting and save Evershade Valley (click for full size)

Act One — The Dark Moon Shatters. Deep in Evershade Valley, Professor E. Gadd has spent years studying ghosts in relative peace — the Dark Moon’s calming influence keeping the local spirits docile and friendly. That peace is shattered in an instant when King Boo descends on the valley and destroys the Dark Moon, scattering its five remaining pieces across the valley’s five mansions. The once-gentle ghosts immediately turn aggressive, forcing E. Gadd to flee to his emergency Bunker. Meanwhile, Luigi is dozing on his sofa at home, TV burbling in the background. His screen suddenly fills with static — and then E. Gadd’s face. Before Luigi can react, the Professor activates his Pixelator and drags a very reluctant Luigi through the television and into the Bunker. The mission briefing is short: retrieve the Dark Moon pieces. Luigi has no say in the matter.

Act Two — Five Mansions, Five Missions. E. Gadd sends Luigi into each mansion via the Pixelator, pulling him back between each mission. The journey takes Luigi from the crumbling grandeur of Gloomy Manor to the overgrown heights of the Haunted Towers, deep into the sand-blasted gears of the Old Clockworks, through the blizzard-scoured corridors of the Secret Mine, and finally to the sheer cliff-top menace of the Treacherous Mansion. Along the way he rescues three Toad Assistants that E. Gadd had sent in ahead of him — each one cowering in terror and requiring the Dark-Light Device to free them from spectral imprisonment. Every mansion yields clues that King Boo’s influence is growing, and at each turn Luigi discovers that the Dark Moon pieces are being actively guarded by King Boo’s lieutenants — powerful Possessor ghosts that have taken control of the mansions themselves.

Act Three — King Boo’s Trap. After clearing the Treacherous Mansion, E. Gadd picks up a strange signal — an image of Mario, trapped in a painting. Luigi rushes to the Train Exhibit only to find it’s a decoy, and he’s ambushed by Big Boo. Back at the Bunker, the Parascope detects something far worse: King Boo himself, emerging onto the Treacherous Mansion’s terrace. He tears open a paranormal portal, unleashing the full undead horde, and vanishes inside with Mario’s painting. E. Gadd tells Luigi one thing: clear the ghosts before the dimension collapses entirely.

Finale — King Boo’s Illusion. Luigi battles through the portal to King Boo’s personal dimensional lair. The final revelation: King Boo shattered the Dark Moon deliberately to build a ghost army and conquer the Mushroom Kingdom — and he plans to add Luigi and all his friends to his growing collection of paintings. The battle is fierce, but Luigi prevails, capturing King Boo and recovering the jewel from his crown. Mario is freed. The Toad Assistants help Luigi rebuild the Dark Moon, the ghosts of Evershade Valley return to being friendly, and E. Gadd releases them from the Vault. Luigi, for once, gets a little credit — though probably not enough to stop E. Gadd calling on him next time.

The happy ending — the Dark Moon rebuilt, Evershade Valley’s ghosts peaceful once more, and Mario freed from his painting (click for full size)

Gameplay

Luigi’s full loadout — the Poltergust 5000, Strobulb, and Dark-Light Device make him surprisingly well-equipped for someone who really doesn’t want to be there (click for full size)

The Poltergust 5000 — the upgraded ghost vacuum that can suck, blow, strip wallpaper, clear leaves, and even be used as a makeshift rocket (click for full size)

Dark Moon refines and expands the original Luigi’s Mansion’s mechanics considerably. The core loop — stun ghosts with light, capture them with suction — is intact, but every element has been deepened:

Core Equipment

Ghost Capture Mechanics

Ghosts in Dark Moon are smarter than in the original. Simply shining a light at most ghosts now only staggers them temporarily — you must use the Strobulb’s charged flash to properly stun them. Once stunned, engage the Poltergust and hold on as the ghost fights back; Luigi can now jump while holding a ghost to dodge incoming projectiles from other ghosts mid-capture. Stronger ghosts require more pulls — green HP bars on each ghost show how much fight they have left.

Mission Structure

Rather than a free-roaming adventure, Dark Moon uses a mission-based system. Each mansion contains 5–7 numbered missions plus a boss mission, and E. Gadd Pixelates Luigi to and from the mansion for each one. The missions range from retrieving a key to defeating a specific ghost to repairing something broken. Optional Boo hunting runs in parallel — one Boo is hidden in every mission, detectable with the Dark-Light Device, and catching all of them unlocks bonus content.

Scoring & Ranking

Every mission is graded A–E based on: time taken, ghosts captured, damage taken, and Gold Bars collected. Gold Bars come from defeating rare Golden Greenies and finding hidden treasure. A full S-rank run across all missions is a serious challenge even for experienced players.

Characters

The Five Mansions

Each mansion has its own theme, atmosphere, and set of missions. Clearing a mansion yields one piece of the Dark Moon and reveals the next location. The order is fixed — each mansion escalates in complexity, ghost strength, and puzzle difficulty.

Mansion A — Gloomy ManorMANSION 1

A classic haunted country manor — the tutorial mansion and the closest location to E. Gadd’s Bunker. Introduces the Strobulb, the Dark-Light Device, and Polterpup’s chase sequence. Atmospheric and immediately engaging, with cobwebbed rooms, creaking floors, and a surprisingly challenging boss. Boss: Grouchy Possessor — possesses a giant spider. Missions: 6 + boss.

Mansion B — Haunted TowersMANSION 2

A crumbling botanical tower complex deep in a forest, overrun with plant life. The vertical structure makes for clever puzzles involving water, plant growth, and Boo-infested gardens. Features some of the game’s most inventive environmental puzzles. Boss: Harsh Possessor — possesses a giant plant creature. Missions: 6 + boss.

Mansion C — Old ClockworksMANSION 3

An enormous desert clockwork factory with giant gears, conveyor belts, and time-manipulation puzzles. The largest and most complex mansion — Luigi must recover clock hands and gears while battling increasingly dangerous ghosts. Includes memorable mine-cart sequences. Boss: Overset Possessor — possesses a giant clock. Missions: 7 + boss.

Mansion D — Secret MineMANSION 4

A snowy mountain mine full of ice puzzles, skiing ghosts, and frozen corridors. Requires creative use of the Poltergust to blow gusts and melt ice. The shortest main mansion, but packs in memorable set-pieces including a harrowing avalanche escape. Boss: Shrewd Possessor — possesses a giant snowman. Missions: 5 + boss.

Mansion E — Treacherous MansionMANSION 5

The final and most dangerous mansion — a vast, multi-wing structure perched above a ravine, surrounded by ocean. Dark and oppressive, with the most powerful ghosts in the game. Culminates in King Boo’s paranormal portal opening on the terrace. Contains all ghost types from previous mansions plus new horrors. Boss: Tough Possessor and ultimately King Boo. Missions: 7 + boss.

ScareScraper (Multiplayer)

Beyond the main story, the ScareScraper is a separate tower-based multiplayer mode for 1–4 players via local or online play. Players choose 5, 10, or 25 floors and must clear each floor — catching all ghosts or rescuing all Toads — before a timer runs out. Players can rescue each other if they get caught, and good performance earns upgrades that carry forward to the next floor. It’s enormously replayable and was a major reason for the game’s long legs on the 3DS eShop.

Ghosts & Enemies

Dark Moon’s ghost roster is vastly larger than the original’s — over a dozen ghost types plus variants, each with distinct behaviours, tactics, and weaknesses. The Possessor ghosts who control each mansion are the key antagonists, while the standard ghost types have been given strong individual personalities.

GreenieStandard / Sky

Strong GreenieArmoured variant

Gold GreenieRare / High value

SlammerHeavy / Slow

BooHidden / Bonus

Tough PossessorMansion 5 Boss

PossessorBoss type

Ghost TrioKey ghost types

Bosses

Items & Treasures

Evershade Valley’s mansions are packed with hidden gold, gems and rare collectibles. Part of the fun is hunting every corner for treasure — and the mission grading rewards thorough explorers.

Reception

The game’s ghost designs were widely praised — each type has a distinct personality and visual flair that made them instantly memorable (click for full size)

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon was met with strong critical acclaim and became one of the best-selling 3DS titles of all time, with over 5.97 million copies sold worldwide. It won a BAFTA for Handheld/Mobile Game of the Year 2014.

Critics consistently highlighted Luigi himself as a standout element — his terrified animations, nervous humming, and reactive personality made him one of gaming’s most expressive silent protagonists. The game was also praised for its visual achievement on 3DS hardware, with each mansion boasting impressive lighting, shadow and particle effects.

References to Other Games

References in Later Games

Trivia

• Dark Moon was first revealed at E3 2011 — fans waited almost two years for its release. The original reveal trailer showed a very different visual style from the final game.
• The game is called Luigi’s Mansion 2 in Europe and Australia, dropping the “Dark Moon” subtitle entirely.
• Luigi’s terrified humming in the game is performed by Charles Martinet, the long-time voice of Mario and Luigi. His ability to convey terror through tuneless humming alone is genuinely impressive.
• Polterpup was a late addition to the game — the developers wanted a friendly ghost character that players would grow attached to, and the ghost dog concept immediately clicked during development.
• The game originally had a free-roaming structure like the first game, but Nintendo shifted to a mission-based system specifically to suit portable play sessions on 3DS.
• Dark Moon uses the Nintendo 3DS gyroscope — tilting the console subtly shifts the in-game perspective, adding to the depth illusion of the stereoscopic 3D effect.
• The ScareScraper mode supports both local and online wireless play — rare for a 3DS title of this era. Online play was available until the Nintendo 3DS online service shutdown in April 2024.
• All five mansion names are alliterative: Gloomy, Haunted, Old, Secret, Treacherous — each chosen to set the mood of the location immediately.
• The game’s 14 types of standard ghost (not counting bosses and Boos) is more than three times the ghost variety in the original Luigi’s Mansion.
• A Nintendo Switch remaster, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, was released in June 2024 — bringing the game to modern hardware with enhanced visuals.
• The Ghost Trio artwork is a fun nod to Casper the Friendly Ghost — specifically Casper’s three mischievous uncles: Stretch (the tall, sneering one), Fatso (the round one), and Stinkie (the grumpy one). All three were known as the “Ghostly Trio” and were definitely the bad guys of the family, terrorising anyone who came near Whipstaff Manor. Dark Moon’s ghost trio — a gangly Greenie, a hulking Slammer, and a round Boo — maps onto them rather neatly.

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