Toads play a massive role in Paper Mario: The Origami King, but unlike other recent iterations of the Paper Mario series, the Toads in this game are not only important but have great dialogue as well. While trying to get to King Olly, Mario and Olivia must find Toads that have been folded up into new creatures and items, or just crumpled and hidden from sight.
This easily becomes a fun element in the game as completionists can have fun trying to find Toads in every corner of the world. But which Toads are the most fun to find throughout the origami adventure?
10 Swan (Picnic Road)
Not the hardest Toad to spot, but one of the harder ones to get to at first. The folded-up Swan can be found in the middle of a lake that is located along Picnic Road. It is one of the early examples of the extent to which King Olly has folded up the toads to blend into the environment.
In order to get to the Swan, players must find a few hidden "?" blocks that create a platform for Mario to reach the swan and hit it with a hammer. Players learn later that the Toad can't even swim.
9 Fishing (Multiple Areas)
Part of the 100 percent process in the game is needing to fish in order to get as big of a fish as possible. However, fishing can also be used for other purposes such as fighting origami Cheep-Cheep and finding collectibles. Among the things you may discover is small origami fish that aren't shaped like Cheep-Cheep underwater.
Upon fishing out these more angular creatures, players will discover by hitting them that they are indeed Toads that have been folded-up and tossed to literally sleep with the fishes.
8 Cactus (Big Sho' Theater)
The showdown at Big Sho' Theater is an incredibly exciting and wild ride that one may forget to keep their eye out for any lingering toads that may exist in the vicinity. After rescuing the many obvious Toads that had been tied to their chairs with rubber bands, the theater will clear out leaving the theater seemingly empty.
However, this is the time to explore the western-style set that has been left open. Going off stage right, players will discover a mini-cactus. Hitting that cactus will cause it to unfold and reveal the remaining Toad that's left in the area.
7 Egg (Overlook Tower)
While climbing up Overlook Tower to destroy the red streamer, Mario will get sidetracked by a chef who is in dire need of pest control. While this restaurant is filled with little origami Goombas, there are also plenty of Toads that have been folded up in the dining area and kitchen as well.
One of the best examples of this is one of the hardest Toads to find in the game. In a pan on the stove, there seem to be eggs cooking. Only those aren't eggs, that's a Toad. This yellow guy will thank Mario for saving him from being someone's breakfast.
6 Tower Viewer (Overlook Tower)
This is one isn't difficult, but it is hilarious and slightly unexpected. Following the massive boss battle on top of Overlook Tower against the Colored Pencils, Mario and Olivia can relax and enjoy the view using tower viewers on either side of the roof. On the left, Mario can get a good look of the castle that they are trying to ultimately reach. On the right, they can get a nice view of a Toad's face.
Once Mario hits the right viewer, the Toad will pop out and thank Mario for saving him by telling him to move out of the way so he can enjoy the view.
5 Desert Sign (Shroom City)
When first visiting Shroom City, a Snifit will be sitting on a seesaw next to a building looking for someone to launch him. Players will need to go behind the building to find a set of stairs that would bring them up high.
Once Mario jumps down onto the seesaw, the Snifit will go flying into the Shroom City sign that players see right before entering the town. After the cutscene, players will discover some items that dropped from the sign after the impact, including a Toad that can later reward Mario lots of coins.
4 Flag (Picnic Road)
A good, old-school Mario reference is always a good way to go in any Mario game made from now until the end of time. On Picnic Road, the reference is not very subtle. On a putting green sits a flag pole.
Players will need to hammer the ground to the left of the pole to have a staircase rise up for Mario to climb to the top. Once Mario slides down the pole, seven toads will pop out from the ball that sits on top of the pole. That's not it for the attraction, though, as even the flag is a toad once Mario hammers it when it's near the ground.
3 Surfboard (Shroom City)
After the Toads are rescued from the Hole Punch in the desert, they return to Shroom City and make a deal with the Snifits for them to live in the city with them. However, their relationship could be better. Take the hotel fountain, where a Snifit is riding a surfboard that is actually a Toad.
Players need to find their way over the left fence and turn off the water in the locked area in order for the Snifit to stop surfing. Once he does, he abandons the surfboard who can be saved and turned back into a Toad. Plus, this Toad will give a max HP heart increase for saving him.
2 Prairie Dog (Picnic Road)
Picnic Road is a big hit for finding lots of interesting Toad locations, but the best one is the hardest to see and even catch. While in the upper-rightmost tier in the Picnic Road area, Mario may be able to walk into an area that has five relatively spread out holes. Then, the chase begins.
An origami prairie dog will begin digging from hole to hole. Mario can destroy the holes, but if the prairie dog can get away to the last hole, the holes reset. Players need to take their time and leave only two holes open that is too close for him to get away from Mario.
1 The Big Shell (Whispering Woods)
Early on, players meet a house that tells them that their owner hasn't been back in some time. Cut to the Great Sea, where Mario is able to use the submarine to look underwater for secret treasures.
One of these treasures is a big shell that can't be easily opened. In order to get it open, Mario must go back to Whispering Woods and cook the big shell over an open fire. The shell will open to reveal the long lost Toad whose house players will finally be able to get into. It is the most absurd yet fun Toads to find.