Super Mario Maker 2 has added numerous new features to the series, which include night themes for the levels. It's possible to change almost every theme in the game by adding a magical Moon that will shift the stage to nighttime, which can totally change how they function.
The Angry Sun from Super Mario Bros. 3 can be placed into stages in Super Mario Maker 2, where it will pursue the player until it's destroyed or until they reach the end of the stage. It's possible to add an Angry Sun to all of the different game styles in Super Mario Maker 2 (except for the Super Mario 3D World style) and they all function the same way.
If the player adds an Angry Sun to the stage and then clicks on it, they will be able to select an option that turns it into a Moon. If the player touches the Moon, then it will destroy all of the enemies on the screen. The addition of the Moon to a stage will change it to its night theme, which will alter the aesthetic and music of the stage, as well as changing its properties. It's also possible to switch between the day and night themes by pulling on the sun/moon cord in the theme menu.
If the player activates the Super Mario Maker 2 night themes, then the following changes will occur:
- Airship - The night version of the Airship-themed stages adds rainy weather and flashes of lightning. The air is treated as if it's water for monsters, allowing creatures like Blooper and Cheep Cheep to swim through the air.
- Castle - The night version of the Castle-themed stages allows all characters to swim through the air as if it was water.
- Desert - The night version of the Desert-themed stages adds recurring gusts of wind that slow Mario down. The wind switches sides after it finishes blowing.
- Forest - The night version of the Forest-themed stage turns the water into a purple poisonous liquid that kills Mario if he touches it.
- Ghost House - The night version of the Ghost House-themed stage shrouds everything in darkness, except for a small circle of light around Mario.
- Ground - The night version of the Ground-themed stage makes enemies behave as if they are underwater, allowing some of them to swim in the air. The Boo enemies will now chase Mario when he faces them and Chain-Chomps have an extended reach. Fire Flowers now move across the ground like Super Mushrooms and Big Mushrooms & Super Mushrooms bounce up and down.
- Sky - The night version of the Sky-themed stages has low gravity, which slows down Mario's movement & jumping speed. The enemies can swim through the air as if they were underwater.
- Snow - The night version of the Snow-themed stages makes every surface as slippery as the ice blocks.
- Underground - The night version of the Underground-themed stages turns the level upside down.
- Underwater - The night version of the Underwater-themed stages are shrouded in darkness, in the same way as the Ghost House levels.
The Super Mario Maker 2 night themes for each stage offer new ways to create interesting stages, as well as play lullaby versions of the stage's regular music for the player to enjoy.