This guide will cover directions to take to ensure no box is missed when visiting a level.

Locations of hidden gems for the regular version of a level and its N.Verted counterpart will be indicated between the checkpoints they're located in.

If you don't know what “N.Verted” refers to, finish world 4 (Tranquility Falls).

The crate counter next to a level's checkpoints includes the checkpoint crate itself.

When playing through N.Verted mode, the left direction is right, and the right direction is left (unless described in an N.Verted hidden gem indication).

Welcome to Crash Bandicoot 4. Enjoy the first worlds of this adventure, made accessible enough to be enjoyed by everyone.

There isn't much difficulty to this level. There is only one crate than can be tricky to find; not even mentioning N.Verted mode, which makes it easy.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Just walk towards the camera and to the side...

Fighting the first two enemies, you'll jump over a stone pillar. There's a crate hidden behind it.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 9/104 crates

The rest of the level is pretty straightforward.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 27/104 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 64/104 crates

💎 Hidden gem: It's in the hut you have to crawl under. Enter it from below.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 75/104 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 93/104 crates

📦 Checkpoint 6: 98/104 crates

One of the enemies will have two crates above its head, when you can see just one. Double jump.

Maybe the only level for which this guide will be useful solely for hidden gems.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 4/86 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 14/86 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 21/86 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 42/86 crates

🔴💎🔴 Red gem: Follow the carvings on the wall...

💎 Hidden gem: During the chase sequence, after you break one wooden crate, stick to the left wall.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 58/86 crates

📦 Checkpoint 6: 69/86 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Up the rope right past the checkpoint.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 16/153 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+1 crate📦): High above a barrel you can shift through using Lani-Loli, there is a crate (not in the same plane as the barrel). Even higher up is the hidden gem. Slide or crouch-double-jump off the barrel to bounce off the crate and get the off-screen gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 32/153 crates

Don't smash all the crates forward; there's a wooden ⬆️ crate under the fruit crates you need to destroy a high up crate.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 53/153 crates

Same as with the previous checkpoint, don't break all crates just yet as you'll need the topmost one to reach a high up crate with your double jump.


📦 Checkpoint 4: 89/153 crates

Do not board the bonus round platform just yet, for there is a crate hiding in the tire stack the opposite side. Check the other stack when coming back from the bonus round.

Jumping over a gap right after exiting the bonus round, you can see a barrel on the side. Jump on it and move further to find a side section with several crates.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 136/153 crates

Another crate can easily be missed near this checkpoint. Use Lani-Loli to make the higher up fruit crate appear, then slide-double-jump to its top to bounce off it to the side to reach a high up wooden crate.


💎 Hidden gem (+2 crates📦): After jumping past sharks and climbing up more phase-shifting platforms, instead of moving forward, slide-double-jump backwards to see two crates. Bounce off the top one to reach the hidden gem.

🔴⚠️ The red gem is required to break all the crates in this level. ⚠️🔴

📦 Checkpoint 1: 18/136 crates

Moving up, before continuing to the other side, move further in the same direction going up in a small building where two crates are hidden from your view.

Reaching a Megamix poster, jump forward two platforms to break a lone wooden crate.


📦 Checkpoint 2: 40/136 crates

Down the red gem path, when you reach a floor of iron crates, do not detonate TNTs just yet: one of the wooden crates behind is a wooden ⬆️ crate. Use it to reach a second floor where you need to break two wooden crates.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 69/136 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Carefully drop down into the opening below to hit an iron [ ! ] crate. This will open a door to the hidden gem down the road.

Past the bonus round, you'll find a stack of all kinds of crates. Before interacting with any of them, jump on top of it, then double-jump to hit a high up crate.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 109/136 crates

Before continuing towards Lani-Loli, get him on your back and go the other way to find a platform with three crates (smash the wooden ⬆️ crate last).

Back on the beaten path, bouncing off iron ⬆️ crates, instead of following the arrow signs, go the other side on a giant cogwheel where a flamethrower is to find two shifting platforms with three crates on the top-most one.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 120/136 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+1 crate📦): Right after the checkpoint, drop down, then go all the way back up the wall you just went under. On top of it? A 1-UP crate. On top of that? The N.Verted hidden gem.

You can directly go to the end of the level after that.

Moving forward, you'll drop down a level with a minion and an iron ⬆️ crate. Move towards the camera to see six hidden crates.

Dropping down again when the only way seems forward, go backwards to locate more crates.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 20/168 crates (not counting the two on its side)

📦 Checkpoint 2: 29/168 crates (before breaking the ten behind)

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Past the bonus round, you'll jump on a grid, followed by a slope. Sneak your way under the slope to reach the N.Verted hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 67/168 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 70/168 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 77/168 crates

💎 Hidden gem(+2 crates📦): After hitting the checkpoint, go back to the other side. There is a wooden ⬆️ crate on top of a Nitro on the other side of the wall. Slide under and time your jump to land on the wooden crate to find two wooden crates to destroy, as well as the hidden gem.

Going down a few conveyor belts, you'll soon find yourself on the road, chased by a truck while rolling in a metal ball. If you miss a crate there, the truck will destroy them for you.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 122/168 crates

🟢💎🟢 Green gem: Before moving forward, hit the closed trash can next to the checkpoint to spawn a remote. Spin it several times, until you see a tiny truck ram into the Nitro crate, spawning the green gem.

While the truck will destroy all the crates in its way, the ones high above only accessible via launching yourself up using a ramp can't be destroyed by it. Follow the fruits to catch the ramps.

Unlocks after you beat Tawna's introduction level.

As soon as you enter the level, a wooden crate blends in with the rocks on the side of the screen. Get close to the edge of the platform, and use your hookshot to destroy it.


Another crate needs your hookshot to be destroyed when you reach the third platform (with the reinforced crates). Look to the other side, in the middle of the sand.


Right after the wall-jump section, a crate rests on the opposite wall. Double jump back between the wall-jump indicators to hookshot it. Stick the landing in the middle.

After disposing of the bombing enemy, drop further down to find two fruit crates, as well as a 1-UP one you'll need your hookshot to break.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 22/193 crates (not counting the Nitro just before it)

Moving forward, you will reach a stack of crates with a TNT and a Nitro at its top. Double-jump from the TNT to reach a platform with a 1-UP crate above. Don't forget to hookshot a crate on a tree branch directly ahead.
🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Drop past the 1-UP crate.
You can drop facing the camera before grabbing the swinging rope.

There's another Nitro crate I left alone on the next platform.

💎 Hidden gem (+3 crates📦): After another wall-jump section, right when you are able to hookshot your way to the next area, instead, double jump to the side. You will land on a wooden platform. Move up the iron one to get the hidden gem, then drop down towards the camera to find 3 more crates.

Before the next checkpoint, destroy the crate to the upper side of where you landed.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 49/193 crates

Reaching a [ ! ] crate, hookshot a crate in the background before backtracking to three crates.

Landing in front of a treadmill that goes away from the camera, move towards the camera to break two crates.

Playing as Crash again, follow the same instructions as with the normal counterpart of this level for the chase sequences.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 121/193 crates

The first flaming crates you encounted in this level are not to be spun; you will want to gently break them to reveal a wooden ⬆️ crate that will lead you to a high up off-screen crate.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 26/173 crates

When you encounter a fork in the road, it is advised you go straight first until you break three stacks of one wooden crate and one flaming crate side to side (to side), then backtrack back to the side path.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: As you start your way through the straight path, slide-jump from the moving platform into the driftwood mess, behind the huge boxes, to find the N.Verted hidden gem.
I tried my best to give a clear indication for this one under the 2 MB file upload limit.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 103/173 crates

Descending in the cave past the bonus round, before paying a visit to the big crab, go the other side to find four crates.

💎 Hidden gem: From these crates, ride a moving platform that goes towards the camera to find another platform with a chest, where the hidden gem is inside.

After hitting an iron [ ! ] crate on a moving platform, make sure to backtrack through another moving platform mirroring the iron crate's movements to the other side you came from to find a stack of freshly spawned crates.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 141/173 crates

The rest of the level is pretty straightforward.

Unlocks after you beat Dingodile's introduction level, for He is the one that Blows.

💎 Hidden gem: After blowing up quite the satisfying amount of Nitro, you'll land on a pier with a pirate. Behind the TNT barrel is a platform the hidden gem rests on.


📦 Checkpoint 1: 74/283 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Right as you regain control of Crash, behind the left pillar of the now destroyed iron gate.

Fighting against another big crab, when reaching the staircases going down, slide-double-jump towards a high up wooden crate (you can use the stack of TNTs to help you).


The same fork in the road should be tackled the same way you did during your Booty Calls playthrough, although this time you'll be going a little further through the straight path, all the way up a stack of two flaming crates.
Then, backtrack to reach and follow the side path.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 178/283 crates

Moving down into the cave, there is an iron [ ! ] crate hidden by drowning platforms.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 243/283 crates

Learning how to play as your first new character, you'll realize you'll want to use Tawna's hookshot a lot; so be on the lookout for button prompts that indicate a crate can be destroyed using it.

Two crates need your hookshot to be broken from the boat you start on.

After taking an elevator up, turn around to hookshot another crate.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 42/100 crates

💎 Hidden gem: This one is barely hidden; you need to move up one floor after the wall-jumping section.

Past the second set of wall jumps (the one above the cannons), make sure you hit the [ ! ] crate behind you with your hookshot to make an Aku Aku crate accessible under the reinforces crates.

Just before checkpoint 2, there is a hookshotable crate in the background. Turn around and get it.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 58/100 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Just after the checkpoint, you'll see two pirates patrolling. Double-jump off one when it's the furthest away to reach this high up hidden gem.

After using a rope, turn around to get yet another hookshotable crate.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 66/100 crates (after collecting the three crates next to it)

The next hootshotable crate in the background of the rafts section can be broken from one of the stable platforms. Don't risk going for this one mid-jump.

Right before checkpoint 4, there is a floating crate to the right of the lift (after riding it).

📦 Checkpoint 4: 83/100 crates

When reaching a rope, go past it and time your jumps to bounce off several crates, as well as getting a far-away hookshotable crate. Your double-jump ability helps here.

After jumping from a swinging rope, you'll have the occasion to slide down one: ready yourself to hookshot one crate while sliding down.

You will then reach one last swinging rope: after jumping away from it, the last crate is waiting for you to use your hookshot it.

🟢⚠️ The green gem is required to break all the crates in this level. ⚠️🟢

The only thing they fear is Louise.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 33/196 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 42/196 crates (not counting the bonus round)

📦 Checkpoint 3: 83/196 crates

During the next drifting platforms sections, you can spin through the wooden crates under the Nitro. These Nitro crates don't obey the laws of physics.
Sometimes they can get broken by the shark enemy a little further ahead; the following checkpoints counters will not include them.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 104/196 crates

💎 Hidden Gem: Going back to where you came from, the hidden gem rests on top of the stack of 6 iron crates above the water.

Back to the checkpoint, continue a little further to the side of the screen to find 4 more crates to destroy before boarding the jet-boat.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 117/196 crates

During the phase-shift section, there is one ⬆️ crate you will want to bounce off twice to get 2 off-screen crates.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 173/196 crates (after breaking the reinforced crates)

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Behind you on the left side.

📦 Checkpoint 7: 190/196 crates

When entering the first building of the stage, there is one reinforced crate you'll need to double jump to using the dark matter spin over the gap.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 53/212 crates

💎 Hidden Gem (+28 crates📦) : From the platform past the five TNT crates, use your dark matter spin coupled with a double jump further to the side to find a lot of out-of-sight crates, as well as the regular hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 99/212 crates

Reaching an enchanted statue, you'll have the opportunity to defeat it using Akano's powers. Once done, go back in front of the circular door and use your dark-matter-spin-double-jump to reach a hidden [ ! ] crate near the whirlwind you came from.
🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Use the same technique on the other side of the door to find the hidden gem.

Moving up another whirlwind, you'll see reinforced crates on top of iron crates. There is an off-screen 1-UP crate a little further above these iron crates.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 128/212 crates

Descending with Akano's help, there are only two sets of two crates on the platforms forward.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 177/212 crates

The rest of the level is pretty straightforward.

Many out-of-reach crates you'll need to hit with your hookshot in this level. You can already hit three without leaving the platform you start on.

Jumping over lily pads, there is another box you'll be able to reach while over the one with teeth (the second one). Use your hookshot before landing on it, then continue.

💎 Hidden gem: After wall-jumping, drop down one level and continue on the side to find the hidden gem.


Making your way through more lily pads, there are four more crates (including an iron [ ! ] one) you'll want to hookshot. Time your jumps and don't hesitate to retreat to teethless lillypads.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 15/175 crates

Immediately to the right of the checkpoint there is an off-screen far-away crate you need to destroy using your hookshot.


Back on solid ground, you'll find a fruit crate resting on a TNT crate. Double-jump off it to hit an off-screen 1-UP crate.

Reaching another wall-jump section, after breaking a stack of four crates, you'll see a 1-UP crate in the background. Hit it with your hookshot.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Regaining control of Crash, go against where you're supposed to go until you find the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 62/175 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 122/175 crates

Picking up Akano, get ready to activate your dark-matter-spin after bouncing off the wooden crate in the same stack as reinforced crate, to reach another high up.


🔵💎🔵 Blue gem: Finish the entire level without getting hit nor hitting a single crate. Easy enough. You might wanna use the bonus round as a checkpoint.
For most of the other gems, follow the instructions below.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 11/139 crates

Directly above the checkpoint is a TNT crate. There are two wooden crates above it. Double-jump as you detonate it, twice.


📦 Checkpoint 2: 21/139 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 51/139 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: After climbing up the entire wall past the previous checkpoint, dark-matter-spin your way to the other side of the wall to reach the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 67/139 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 83/139 crates

💎 Hidden gem(+12 crates📦): Climbing up again, you'll encounter an enchanted statue. Defeat it, then go behind the wall to find a stache of crates, as well as the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 118/139 crates (before breaking the crates behind it)

Fighting another enchanted statue, there's a wooden crate high above it.


📦 Checkpoint 7: 134/139 crates

📦 Checkpoint 1: 22/187 crates

Right before the second checkpoint, there's a crate hiding in the corner.


📦 Checkpoint 2: 36/187 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 59/187 crates

The bonus round is found next to the platform you land on after flying past two dragons.

Crossing the stone bridge forward, there's a wooden crate high up in the middle of the room.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 96/187 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Reaching a wind propeller, instead of moving up, drop past it. Move along.

Riding the wind tunnel up, check the balcony high against the wall to find 2 TNT crates and a wooden one. Further ahead there's another balcony with three wooden crates. Nothing of interest is below.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 106/187 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Below the next bridge which planks break after walking on them.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 122/187 crates

📦 Checkpoint 7: 133/187 crates

Reaching a TNT crate, do not break it as you see it. Use it to break a very sneaky crate on a side balcony.


Reaching Akano, the same situation occurs: there's a crate on a balcony the other side this time.

If not for the final grinding sections, this level is incredibly tame. Enjoy it.

Starting this level, you're looking for one wooden crate above iron ⬆️ crates, and two crates you'll find by walking towards the camera when reaching the first checkpoint.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 10/215 crates (including the two crates in front of the camera)

📦 Checkpoint 2: 32/215 crates

🍇N.Verted hidden gem: Hidden behind the trash container.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 50/215 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 53/215 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 100/215 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Moving up with Lani-Loli, you'll see unicycle performers. The hidden gem is on the other side.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 129/215 crates

📦 Checkpoint 7: 149/215 crates

The grinding sections go kinda fast. Look ahead to position yourself to break wooden crates, and avoid Nitro ones.

📦 Checkpoint 8: 165/215 crates

Dingodile's introduction level. Throughout the entire game, keep in mind explosives you throw do not hurt you - whether it be TNT barrels or TNT crates that count towards the total.

Some crates hide in the foreground past an iron crates wall, and after riding an elevator down. Use your vacuum gun to get them.

Reaching a cauldron filled with purple liquid, throw a TNT barrel to the target in the background to break an extra crate. Do that with every other target you find in this level.
If all fails, propelling yourself up before using your vacuum gun sometimes works for target-crates.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 128/398 crates

After turning past the checkpoint, instead of continuing away from the camera, move towards it to follow another path with two stacks of wooden crates.

💎 Hidden gem: Using your vacuum gun, fly to the end of the pier to another short one where the hidden gem lies.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 188/398 crates

After riding several coveyor belts, you'll reach a TNT barrel generator. Use it to break the wall on the side, and collect many crates there. The following checkpoint counters will not include Nitro crates from this section (there's a total of 8).

📦 Checkpoint 3: 248/398 crates (after breaking all crates around the checkpoint)

Destroy the giant wheel to reveal a [ ! ] crate, generating five crates on the side.

I used TNT projectiles to destroy only two Nitro crate walls.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 290/398 crates

Moving up wooden bridges, when you reach a cauldron, you'll see an enemy with a shotgun next to a TNT barrel. Further on this side, there's a platform with many wooden crates. Hit the target in the background, and destroy all TNT crates the bats are carrying.

🍇N.Verted hidden gem: Between the first and second cauldrons you navigate through, you'll see a brigde in the background. Propel yourself to it to access the hidden gem.
Hidden in the background.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 322/398 crates

The next area is kind of a boss fight arena. Many enemies are waiting for you on this last large platform. Do some dodging and boucing.

This level is complicated all the way through. Good luck.

Right as you spawn, double-jump off the TNT crate to get an off-screen wooden crate.


Walking down each step, know there are 2 crates hiding under every one, for a total of 6. The camera cannot show them.

Before boarding the jetboard, slide & jump your way towards the other side to see somewhat of a crate-bridge.
🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Before crossing it, get on the awning above the stone platform, then on the balcony above and behind it to get the hidden gem.
While crossing, save some crates for when you have to go the other way back. Get to a moving platform that will lead you to four more crates.
🟡💎🟡 Yellow gem: Double-jump off the crates' top to collect the yellow gem.
Then go all the way back to the jetboard.

Riding the jetboard, at some point, you'll see many wooden crates in a line. Don't smash any while riding the jetboard.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 39/272 crates

Back on solid ground, backtrack by jumping on the previously mentioned line of wooden crates (again, save some for the way back) and riding a moving platform until you find a 1-UP crate.
Don't forget the three crates next to the checkpoint.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 95/272 crates (no crate past the checkpoint broken)

💎 Hidden gem: Moving away from the checkpoint, you'll see a barrel. An iron [ ! ] crate is hidden behind. Hit it, then go all the way back to where you landed using a rope. Go to the very right of the bridge, and use your camera to the right to see iron crates you need to land on to reach the hidden gem.


After riding the first two ramps to go upwards with the jetboard, look in the opposite corner to find a lone wooden crate.

Riding the food-boat, prepare your slide-jumps to reach higher crate. There is one wooden ⬆️ crate you can destroy without even using it. There's nothing above it but time losses.

Back on solid ground, you'll find a TNT on your way up. The same trick as this level's beginning applies here, double-jump off it to break an off-screen crate.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 216/272 crates

Getting to the final jetboard section of this level, make sure to enter the steep slope downwards facing either side, to turn towards the camera as soon as possible to boost to slowly descend, giving you enough control to break all crates. Or, you can wing it like a madman, whatever works. It's the only four crates that require this.

The level with the most crates. Let's do this.

Before anything else, turn around to vacuum in 6 crates behind the fences.
In the same area, 5 more crates lie behind the fences nearest to the TNT crates.

Before boarding the boat, make sure to break the 4 crates in the continuation of the wooden bridge.
Actually boarding the boat, vacuum the 4 crates waiting on the other side.

Riding the food boat, there will be multiple platforms you'll need to use your vacuum to reel in crate lots past them.

I was able to spare several Nitro crates by dodging a Nitro-carrying bat, as well as vacuuming around two giant Nitro walls (16 crates each). Past the second one lie 3 crates on the side that form a staircase. You'll want to use a TNT barrel to break them before breaking the Nitro wall that blocks the boat from proceeding.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 104/502 crates (left 33 Nitro crates behind)

I was able to dodge all Nitro crates between these two checkpoints, including the ones by the end of conveyor belts. They are not in my checkpoint count.

The only exception is the last Nitro wall the boat stops in front of. Before grabbing a TNT barrel to break it, move on the boat's roof to vacuum up two lots of crates on each side of the boat.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 157/502 crates (left an additional 45 Nitro crates behind)

💎 Hidden gem: True to this world, the hidden gem is atrociously hidden left of the checkpoint, above iron ⬆️ crates. Glide & bounce off them to propel yourself up and grab it.


I broke all Nitro walls moving forward, as I didn't have a choice in this 2D section.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: After regaining control of Crash, slide-double-jump towards the camera to find the hidden gem on a platform on the center of the screen.


📦 Checkpoint 3: 340/502 crates

Use the same technique as before to slow your descent through the very first downwards slope, getting boxes down the jetboard section.

This world is known to be as one of the more tedious sections of the game, indeed; I had to split this section in two to fit in all directions to follow not to miss a single crate.
You'll need to up your skills to get through these unscathed. At least you'll have all crates.

Throughout this entire world, you'll find Nitro crates in every bonus round, with no Nitro detonator by the end of the bonus round.
These Nitro crates get blown up by the end of every stage. You do not have to worry about breaking them if you leave some behind by the end of a bonus round.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 17/153 crates

The bonus round is in between the first two checkpoints.
This level, I left 8 Nitro crates behind exiting the bonus round.

Past the bonus room, when you're approaching a shipwreck, look to the side to find a watch tower that's being operated by a wooden crate.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 71/153 crates (missed 8 Nitro in the bonus round)

Stepping on ice platforms, ride them until you see them falling down an off-screen waterfall. A lone wooden crate will be by the other side you came from.


Staying on the same “lane” and going against the current, you should come accross a pier with crates waiting to be broken.
💎 Hidden gem: Jump from the highest crate from the stack on the pier to get the hidden gem.

Back to the ice platforms, you'll see another stone platform on the other side. Bounce off the wooden ⬆️ crate enough times to break above it one fruit crate, as well as another off-screen crate.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+7 crates 📦): When you reach the watefall that faces the camera and can see the checkpoint, instead of jumping towards it, jump through the waterfall to find a hidden cave that houses the N.Verted hidden gem. Further back in this cave are seven crates.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 97/153 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 100/153 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 114/153 crates

More ice platforms floating towards the camera. Once again, ride them while standing on the other side you're coming from to see one single crate sitting on a slippery platform before going back forward.

Moving against the current, you'll see a pirate standing on a boat. There's a crate behind him.

Reaching the final 2D section, before the wooden crates that sit on top of Nitros, break four crates ever-so-slightly peeking from behind the waterfall.

Unlocks after you beat Cortex's introduction level. This may be one of the longest and most complicated levels to navigate through.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 6/176 crates

The next area is a mess to navigate through. Just make sure to investigate all the way through by the water level by utilizing your blaster efficiently, drop'n'dash in the two pits in the middle area, and make sure to hit the [ ! ] crate furthest of the middle area before moving on the top one.

💎 Hidden gem(+4 crates📦): Once you've made sure you've gotten all crates in this area, before moving forward, backtrack through the top area (crates bridge) until you find a stack of wooden crates with the hidden gem resting on top.

Out of the 2D section, you'll find a bird flying over a gap. Turn it into a bounce block near the middle to reach a high-up crate.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 27/176 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 33/176 crates

This level shares a lot of similarities with its original counterpart, Snow Way Out, but it's a lot more “puzzley” as many iron [ ! ] crates need to be triggered before breaking them all.

Here as well, when reaching the drifting ice platforms, ride one to the point they fall down a waterfall to find that same lone wooden crate on the other side you came from.
From there you should see the same pier on the same side behind, but this time with lots of TNT and a single wooden crate floating all the way back. Get it before triggering the TNT.

Having gone back against the current, go through the side waterfall again to hit a hidden iron [ ! ] crate. Ride the ice platforms again until you reach the stone pier the same side the waterfall was to hit another [ ! ] crate. This one will have spawned two sets of five crates on the other side.
🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+1 crate📦): While you're on the pier, make sure to hit the one crate above the big stack using the wooden ⬆️ crate on top. Bounce off it a second time to snatch the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 76/176 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 92/176 crates

📦 Checkpoint 6: 106/176 crates

Again, ride the ice platforms right before their fall, this time to find an iron [ ! ] crate.
Back against the current, the next [ ! ] crate you're looking for is the one behind the pirate on a boat, on the other side.
There is a third one on a bridge with a pirate, switching sides once more.

After grabbing wooden crates generated by iron [ ! ] crates, you may then decide to go with the flow until you reach a [ ❗ ] crate surrounded by Nitro. There are nine wooden crates this one spawns that need to be broken. You may want to stop and look ahead when you hit it the first time.
If you went for all the timed crates in one go, you may want to step down to break the four crates hidden in the waterfall here as well.

Moving up, you'll see two flaming crates that are on a solid platform. You'll encounter a pirate after jumping through frail platforms. Do not spin him; this will break a wooden ⬆️ crate we need for a high up crate. Jump around it. That's the last tricky obstacle for this level.

After gaining the help of Kupuna-Wa, you'll come across a large collection of crates. There is one above all of them you can use the higher platform to slide, double-jump & spin to.


Right after that, one of the fast-falling ice platforms carries a crate.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 34/137 crates

There is only one crate down the main path. Break it, then backtrack to take the side path.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Reaching a rail-grinding section with Kupuna-Wa, you'll have to jump through a hoop with icicles on both its top and bottom. Go under the rail right after landing back on it.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 67/137 crates (before breaking any other crate)
There are two crates above the void next to that checkpoint.

Later on, you'll find a wooden ⬆️ crate resting on an iron crate. Use it to destroy the 1-UP crate above, then to backtrack through upper platforms to find two more crates all the way back. Careful with the icicle.

Moving forward, you'll find a Nitro crate surrounded by two wooden crates, up a slippery ice slope. From the top of that slope, slide-double-jump backwards to another platform, hiding two crates. Be mindful of the icicles.

In this level's bonus round, I left 8 Nitro crates behind, including the one above the [ ! ] crate, which serves no purpose other than to block access to a 1-UP crate.

⚠️ Reaching the next checkpoint, make sure not to break the high-up wooden crate.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 105/137 crates (8 Nitro crates missing from the bonus room)

💎 Hidden gem (+6 crates📦): Reaching falling ice platforms and sharks you need to slow down time to pass through, once again move backwards and up instead. From the other end of that high-up platforms, slide & jump all the way backwards while bouncing off that one wooden crate we spared earlier to reach another high-up platform with the hidden gem and two more wooden crates.

I would call these last two levels unbearable, but Crash 2 already made the pun.

🟡⚠️ The yellow gem is required to break all the crates in this level. ⚠️🟡

📦 Checkpoint 1: 46/227 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Reaching a bouncing crate with a flaming crate & fruit crate above, drop on the left side of the platform they're on to find the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 71/227 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Reaching Kupuna-Wa, move backwards to the suspended platforms and stay on the closest one long enough to lift the other one high enough to reach the hidden gem.

Moving forward with Kupuna-Wa, manoeuver around the falling ice platforms all the way through, move up, and do it again to the other side to find one 1-UP crate
Do it once more to move forward.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 133/227 crates

Just like with the previous level, you can leave Nitro crates behind in the bonus round. I didn't break any myself.

Riding Polar, drop down instead of jumping from any ledge you cross.

When entering a cave, stick to the inside wall (left) not to miss some crates.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 194/227 crates (missed 9 Nitro in the bonus round)

The crates of this level aren't exactly hidden. The electric platforms from Tawna's section and Polar's riding sequence are already troublesome enough.

Going past a swinging rope, double-jump off the wooden crate on top of a TNT crate, to reach a hidden crate above.

💎 Hidden gem: After wall-jumping on electric walls, move towards to camera to land on a lower-level hiding the hidden gem.


📦 Checkpoint 1: 40/228 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 92/228 crates

Once again you can leave Nitro crates alone in this level's bonus round. I missed 8.

At no point did I find it useful to boost while riding Polar. No crate really is hidden moving forward.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: When Cortex starts shooting trees, it is at the base of the first one he shoots. Time your jump.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 165/228 crates (missed 8 Nitro in the bonus round)

Early into the level, you'll be able to spot a [ ❗ ] crate floating in the air.
There's a giant purple plant in front of it, behind which hides a crate.

After getting an Aku Aku crate, you'll find another bouncy dinosaur you'll need to bounce off of to get two high up crates.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 19/110 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 31/110 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 41/110 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Reaching a wooden ⬆️ crate under a fruit crate with reinforced crates around them, use the ⬆️ crate to bounce around the top crates to reach the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 95/110 crates (one lone Nitro crate was left behind during the Kupuna-Wa section)

💎 Hidden gem (+2 crates📦): After taking your first turn, jump on the other vine to break a wooden crate, then very soon after jump back on the other vine to catch that very well hidden gem. Immediately jump back to catch yet another crate, then jump back again to survive.
If you're not going for the hidden gem, you can stay on the same vine to grab the two crates.

Cortex's introduction level. Before you do anything, walk towards the camera to find an out-of-sight crate.

After jumping up to get the first stack of crates, investigate behind the log to find a hidden crate.

💎 Hidden gem: When you come to a foggy gap, drop down and walk towards the camera to find the hidden gem.

When reaching a gap filled with water, a plant will spit on a Nitro crate. Transform that plant into a bouncy platform to reach an off-screen crate (you may need to use your blaster or de-transform re-transform the plant to break it).

📦 Checkpoint 1: 42/101 crates

Moving through the 2D section, after hitting the [ ! ] crate a little further ahead, then make sure you have a total of 60 before hitting the next checkpoint.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 61/101 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: After crossing a river of lava, you'll see a TNT crate above a fruit crate. The N.Verted gem is above. You can shoot the plant enemy to bounce to it.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 73/101 crates

📦 Checkpoint 1: 16/159 crates

When grinding the vine with Lani-Loli, once you enter a 2D section, there are 3 crates under the vine, then 3 above it. No need to jump.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 33/159 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Moving towards the camera, you'll reach a wall of bones into a giant tree log. Jump into the left side of the log to collect the N.Verted hidden gem.

Missing boxes in chase sections have no influence on the box count, for the T.Rex smashes them for you.

Right after that first chase, do not jump on the ⬆️ crate, there's another one above it you'll need; use the question mark crate on the Nitro a little further ahead to get on the higher ⬆️ crate and get the box above. If you fail, you'll have to use the first ⬆️ crate to go around the second one to bounce off it.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 64/159 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 74/159 crates (before entering the bonus round on the side)

📦 Checkpoint 5: 133/159 crates

💎 Hidden gem: After you break one Aku Aku crate, step down and move towards the background then further behind the scenery to find this level's hidden gem.
Can you see it, now that it's on screen?

📦 Checkpoint 6: 142/159 crates

The one level I had the hardest time beating the developer time on. But, we ain't here for that.

After destroying the first giant wall, you'll face another, with two stacks of crate to destroy with TNT barrels before destroying said wall: one on the left, and one on the right.

💎 Hidden gem (+5 crates📦): At some point you'll enter a 2D section when you'll cross the water riding dinosaur heads and a couple of tree stumps. Just after that, before proceeding, turn towards the camera to find 3 TNT crates. Propel yourself towards the camera once to land on a tree stump, and another time to find the hidden gem.
Don't forget about the couple of crates around the tree stump before regaining the main path.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 54/317 crates (broken before taking care of anything else around)

Move around near the foreground and further on the side to find more crates to break.
Taking care of the second plant, remember your explosives do not hurt you.

Reaching the third destructible wall with a TNT barrel, instead of aiming at the wall, aim at four crates hidden on the side.
Past the wall there's a total of 3 crates to destroy with TNT barrels.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 86/317 crates

🍇 N.Verted Hidden gem: The only part to be wary about in this 2D section is when you move up a second time using iron ⬆️ crates; when you reach a platform with a Nitro crate at its ledge, you'll notice a stack of crate further away, with the hidden gem directly above it. It's hard to reach from the bouncing crates, but not impossible.

Moving back up, you should see a lone Nitro crate below the platform you're standing on. Move right past it and drop down to find a lower-platform hiding 2 wodden crates. Then climb back up.


📦 Checkpoint 3: 119/317 crates

Taking control of Crash again, when you see a TNT crate, don't miss your chance to break 2 wooden crates above it by utilizing your double jump on top of it as it gets ready to detonate.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 155/317 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 170/317 crates (before entering the bonus round on the side)

Once again, the T.Rex will break all crates you might miss during any chase section.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 253/317 crates

📦 Checkpoint 7: 275/317 crates

All three space station levels are pretty straightforward. There are no really-well-hidden crates.

🍇N.Verted hidden gem: It is at the start of the level, above and behind the doorframe to access the room with the TNT and the two flaming crates.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 35/181 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Right afther the checkpoint, behind the giant pipe on the left.
Left pipe.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 49/181 crates

After switching gravity, you'll see two Nitro crates, with a 1-UP crate past them. Sneak or slide through and break the 1-UP crate.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 59/181 crates (before smashing any other crate)

📦 Checkpoint 4: 94/181 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 138/181 crates

After entering a 2D section, make sure to hit the [ ! ] crate in the background.

With your next fall, there's gonna be a wall of crates within the wall forward. Dash through it.

💎 Hidden gem: Falling down another floor, go all the way back until you can't anymore, then walk towards to background to find the hidden gem.


📦 Checkpoint 1: 36/230 crates

Move past the checkpoint and the door to find two hidden crates.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 57/230 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 98/230 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 164/230 crates

🍇N.Verted hidden gem: Reaching an elevator past the 2D anti-gravity section, before riding it, double jump by the platform just before it to find the N.Verted hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 16/152 crates

💎 Hidden gem: After entering another air conduct, you'll have to switch gravity to progress upwards. Don't switch gravity back once you reach the ceiling, instead move forward to drop upwards through the textures. Continue forward and spin to hit a hidden iron [ ! ] crate, then move the other side to collect the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 32/152 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 38/152 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 49/152 crates

When reaching a room with big blocks that move after hitting [ ! ] crates, hitting them from the top, you will only risk death if you don't move hitting the second one.

🍇N.Verted hidden gem: After riding down an elevator to the final checkpoint, move towards the camera before triggering the checkpoint.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 124/152 crates

🔵⚠️ The blue gem is required to break all the crates in this level. ⚠️🔵

It's that level. Arguably one of the hardest ones in the game, not to mention the two alien-slug rides.
This level can occasion poor deaths due to anti-gravity shenanigans. Don't fall for them. Follow this guide for maximal survival rate.

Past the first cave, when you have to cross a section with turtle-like creatures, instead of moving to the path forward, look in the direction the turtles are coming from to see a hidden crate in front of you.
Look in the distance.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 17/234 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 31/234 crates

Here comes the first alien riding sequence!
If you want all the crates, when given multiple paths, move as follows:

1. Stay down.
   
2. Propel yourself up then boost and jump at the very last second to smash all crates to the second ceiling.
   
3. Follow the crates on the drop down sequence (left, right, right).

📦 Checkpoint 3: 56/234 crates (before breaking nearby crates)

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+3 crates📦): Going through the blue gem path, you'll come across an iron [ ! ] crate. The non-slippery platform past it hides platforms towards the camera, one with a buried enemy, the next one with 3 crates - do not smash them straight away; for the N.Verted hidden gem lies above them.
While this was taken outside of the N.Verted world, imagine an upside-down gem on top.

Reaching the bonus platform, you'll see a Nitro crate with fruits on the ceiling. Use Ika-Ika's power to jump on the platform after the Nitro's, wait for it to move upwards, and switch gravity to the other side of the Nitro's platform to see another Nitro crate with a wooden crate on top.


When reaching a wooden ⬆️ crate stuck in a fire pipe, bounce off it once to get a 1-UP crate, DO NOT bounce off it twice. This will kill you.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 153/234 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Moving forward, you'll see a Nitro on the ceiling before finding Ika-Ika again. Once he joins you, go back past that Nitro crate to anti-gravity your way to the other side it's on.

When reaching a 2D section, you'll come across the Nitro detonator crate. Go on top of it, switch gravity once to hit a wooden crate, then immediately switch gravity back to stay within this planet's orbit.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 180/234 crates

All subsequent checkpoints are reached while riding the alien.

Same as before, here's the path you want to follow to get all crates for every choice you have:

1. Boost to jump on the upper platform, then let yourself drop down.
   
2. Drop down on a “turtle” to break a crate, then follow the left path. You will want to boost.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 203/234 crates

Stick to the inside wall you see liquid pouring from for one crate.
There are four crates in a horizontal line ahead, I could only break them after boosting above the gap on the side.

Stay close to the turtle's butts to get two more crates.

📦 Checkpoint 7: 218/234 crates

Confront the giant alien by sticking to the wall he starts his run from. From this wall, drop twice the same side when given the chance.
Then, go the furthest to the other side to be propelled up. Then, drop down the platform.

Lots of checkpoints for no apparent reason in this level. We take those.

You'll see two crates above the TNT at the start of the level. Careful with the flaming one.

💎 Hidden gem: After taking the elevator down, look to the left and go against the traffic to get the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 16/171 crates

📦 Checkpoint 2: 22/171 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 33/171 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 36/171 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 104/171 crates

Three packs of 5 crates, all containing TNT crates, float between you and the next checkpoint.
But I'm really writing that because there's absolutely nothing hidden in this level.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 120/171 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: You'll see it through one of the final platforms you can make appear/disappear with Lani-Loli's help.

📦 Checkpoint 7: 168/171 crates

Starting the level, go to the side (and back) to find a bunch of hidden crates.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: it is inside of the fourth dropping platform near the start. I advise hovering above the third one to trigger the fourth one to drop, whether you choose to stay on it or move back to the third platform to collect the hidden gem is up to you.

Later on, reaching a platform with flaming crates, instead of following the fruits, drop on the other side to find a 1-UP crate on a lower platform.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 151/441 crates (no Nitro crate that wasn't carried by a drone broken)

When you reach the moving buses, instead of immediately moving forward, move a little further on the side to see 4 floating wooden crates.

Moving forward, when stepping on red trucks, propel yourself from the second one to the opposite side where the buses are to find more crates.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 226/441 crates

💎 Hidden gem: Reaching an elevator, keep moving to the other side of the screen to reach a dark alleyway. The hidden gem lies by the end of that alleyway.

When swapping to Tawna, you'll first have to climb your way up a wall. After bouncing to the top, move away from the rail to find flaming, TNT, and regular crates. Carefully destroy flaming crates to free a wooden ⬆️ crate you'll need to bounce off of to reach one hidden 1-UP crate.

As Tawna, you're gonna grind on many rails. Never use your hookshot to leave too early. You want to smash every crate.

After the first grind rail sequence, you'll reach falling platforms. Get ready to use the hookshot across the first one you land on to trigger 4 timed crates you'll have to break in quick succession.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 297/441 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 304/441 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 321/441 crates

You can find more crates if you move towards the camera from the fifth checkpoint.

One 1-UP crate is above the traffic lane, always got destroyed by the enemy during my attempts.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 376/441 crates

There is only one Aku-Aku crate to get while you're struggling with traffic. It's above very fast buses.

This level wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for its very last section, the stuff of nightmares.

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem (+3 crates📦): Transform the first enemy you see into a bouncy platform when it's the furthest away from you. Rush towards him to bounce straight up, rush forward to bounce off a wooden crate, rush backwards above 2 wooden crates, bounce off them both then rush backwards again to find metal conducts in between the hidden gem lies.

Bouncing up ⬆️ crates, reaching the top one, fire one shot across the other side to destroy another crate.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 21/122 crates

I didn't break the Nitro crates in the next section.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 26/122 crates

📦 Checkpoint 3: 36/122 crates

💎 Hidden gem: When reaching an iron ⬆️ crate, shoot the [ ! ] crate on the foreground before going back three platforms to see another iron ⬆️ crate that leads to the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 48/122 crates

📦 Checkpoint 5: 63/122 crates

Nothing hidden forward, just a pretty tight mid-air platforming session. Note if you miss a crate as Crash, they don't respawn. Good luck!

This is it. The final world in the entire game, and the second one making me split my instructions through two sections (wouldn't you know it, Toxic Tunnels are toxic).
Hang in there, this is the final obstacle to complete your perfect record.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 14/135 crates

After the collapsing platform, when meeting with Ika-Ika, carefully go on top on the platform to find one 1-UP crate.

💎 Hidden gem (+1 crate📦): After fighting some rats and switching gravity up and down, you will come across another giant gear you need to ride, from which you'll need to switch gravity to move to another one above it.
Stay on the second giant gear until you see one fruit crate, with the regular hidden gem resting on top.
You can live through a full spin around the gear, so long as you're careful enough to stick as close to its center as possible.

Past the anti-gravity section, you'll find yet another giant gear to ride. The crates between its teeth are nothing but Nitro. Find a safe spot and ride on; however, prepare yourself to destroy a single wooden crate above the middle of the gear.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 30/135 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Two platforms above, behind the pipe on the left.

Later on, you'll find more giant gears to ride on. The one that interests us is sideways, with wooden crates between its teeth. There is one crate in every space.
Past this giant gear are five airborn crates you'll want to bounce off of, and another crate by the end of a water slide.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 64/135 crates

After riding down a platform with two stacked fire-crates, you will find a platform with two electric bugs - there is an Aku Aku crate between this platform and the one forward.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 71/135 crates

Time your jump so that your wall runs aren't interrupted by spinning spiky gears. Aku Aku won't save you there.

Before reaching checkpoint 5, you'll find Kupuna-Wa. There are no crates on the gears she helps you slow down time next to.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 103/135 crates

From there until the end of the level, the remaining crates aren't exactly hidden. Be on the lookout for three crates in front of a giant gear, as well as one above a descending water slide. The rest should be fairly easy.

🌈⚠️ All 4 colour gems are required to break all the crates in this level. ⚠️🌈
Objectively the hardest level in the entire game. This level has it all. It's a gauntlet.

Before anything in this level, go towards the camera to find 4 hidden crates to break.

Reaching the minecarts, move towards the way they are coming from to find an iron [ ! ] crate high up in the air.
Now ride a minecart, break a couple of crates, and double-jump a little before getting back on the main path to find a high up 1-UP crate.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 40/273 crates
Move forward through the just opened door to find all the crates you need to break.

After riding the green gem platform, you will slide under an electric trap at the bottom of a tall wall and above a pool of acid to reach a platform higher up. Slide-jump back on top of that wall to find a single crate.


After riding the red gem platform, when you reach a minecarts section, ride one all the way towards the camera, until you can see 2 crates resting on the opposite side from which you came.
Riding minecarts away from the camera now, look for a platform right on the water with 2 TNT cranes and 1 wooden one for you to destroy.
Once the TNT crates are set for detonation, be ready to get back on the minecarts.
You can then jump on the other side to find a platform with two electric bugs. Dispose of them and use the ⬆️ crate to go back and reach 4 wooden crates above.


Down the yellow gem route, you will find a stack of one ⬆️ crate, one wooden crate, four TNT crates, and one iron crate. Make sure you go over this pile of crates before breaking the wooden crate and setting off the TNTs.
If you fail to make it on top of that stack of crate, you can rest just before it to backtrack and try again.
If you can't make it through the small gap below the ceiling, break the wooden crate then be quick to go through using the swinging platform before it.
When going back through the now boucing iron crate, time a short jump by holding a direction against the ⬆️ crate and pressing the jump button at the same time the iron crate lands on the ⬆️ crate.

💎 Hidden gem: Come on. Well deserved.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 117/273 crates (no enemy was used to destroy previous Nitro crates)

📦 Checkpoint 3: 131/273 crates

📦 Checkpoint 4: 138/273 crates

Don't forget to visit the bonus round through the platform next to the checkpoint.

Once done, hop on a minecart and jump on the platform above the electric barrier by their exit to find 4 crates. The same must be done further ahead to reach more crates.
After passing by a low-ceiling, you will want to jump on another minecart to reach one high up crate.
After yet another one, there are 3 more crates to break above you.
Before moving up, you will want to reach the other end of the minecart tracks where a ton of fruit and a 1-UP crate are waiting for you.

Going up, from the first set of swinging platforms, instead of jumping to the next one, slide to the opposite direction to find another ledge with 3 crates.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 207/273 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: Directly above the previous checkpoint, accessible via the swinging platforms.

📦 Checkpoint 6: 221/273 crates

Reaching an electric trap with 2 TNT crates, don't forget to smash the fruit crate on the side.

By the end, where you go through many swinging platforms, make sure to check each of them, as many of them have crates sitting on them.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 8/170 crates

By the first set of dimensional platforms, ride the second one all the way up, crouch, and initiate a double jump right as you activate Lani-Loli's power to phase Nitro crates out of this reality, making a 1-UP crate accessible.


Right before the second checkpoint, when riding multiple platforms Lani-Loli can render usable, you'll come across one that goes horizontally, and one that goes vertically. Both cross paths. Ride the one that goes vertically all the way to the top to find an out-of-sight crate.


📦 Checkpoint 2: 14/170 crates

Moving forward with Kupuna-Wa, you'll enter a large room with three wooden sawblades going across. While slowing down time and jumping on them, prepare yourself to reach a 1-UP crate high in the middle of this room.

Right after that, you'll come across an acid pit and zooming wooden sawblades. On the left is a Nitro crate. What interests us is the 1-UP crate above it. I didn't break the Nitro.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 64/170 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: High above the checkpoint. Move a few steps back and move the camera if you want to see it. You can use the stack of TNT crates ahead to gain some height and slide-double-jump from it to reach it.

At some point you'll fight a knight in front of a row of Nitro crates, before a row of TNT crates.
Ahead of these 2 TNTs is another TNT crate flying above; do not break it yet. Land safely on the stone platform that has the next checkpoint.
Now, before breaking the checkpoint crate, slide & double-jump your way back towards the TNT, and bounce further back to see a line of wooden crates. Destroy them while saving the one that's closest to where you're coming from last, so that you can safely jump back to the stone platform where checkpoint 4 is.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 93/170 crates

After trigerring the lift, you will have little time to reach crates one floor above.

As you move forward and notice the next checkpoint, take note there are 4 wooden crates above the 2 TNT crates on the side.

📦 Checkpoint 5: 130/170 crates

📦 Checkpoint 6: 132/170 crates

You'll be juggling with many masks there.

💎 Hidden gem (+2 crates📦): At some point you'll reach a section with Lani-Loli, followed by Akano; all while being chased by a wall of lasers.
A lone TNT crate will be floating above; land on it before sliding from it up and forward to find a wooden crate, as well as this level's hidden gem.


📦 Checkpoint 7: 140/170 crates

You got all hidden crates by then. Good luck for the final push! You have just enough time to think.

As much as I like not to destroy Nitro crates to keep my box count as low as possible at all times, you'll have to destroy most of the ones in your path to move forward as Cortex.

📦 Checkpoint 1: 14/129 crates

After moving through several horizontally-moving platforms, you will come across a bat. There is a crate directly ahead of it. Make sure to transform & use the bat as any platform to go back and forth for that crate.

💎 Hidden gem (+3 crates📦): Coming across a [ ! ] crate, shoot your pistol through the lasers to destroy a Nitro crate waiting for you to cross; then hit the [ ! ] crate to block the lasers blocking your path.
Moving forward, you will see another [ ! ] crate, above a ⬆️ crate.
Use that ⬆️ crate to get on top of the [ ! ] crate, then back track to an immobile floating platform, shoot the Nitro crate in your path, and go through the window in the wall and through 3 crates to find the hidden gem.

📦 Checkpoint 2: 60/129 crates

I didn't shoot the 4 Nitro crates ahead in my playthrough.

📦 Checkpoint 3: 82/129 crates

🍇 N.Verted hidden gem: When reaching the mask marathon, the hidden gem is right after reaching Kupuna-Wa, above the sawblades, high above a question-mark crate.

📦 Checkpoint 4: 90/129 crates

When playing through the next rapid mask-swap section, when you reach Lani-Loli and Akano, don't forget to get that one wooden crate above the TNT ones (see Cortex Castle's section for more details- that's where this level's hidden gem is).

Huge thanks to Kevin Thielenhaus[gameranx.com] for his 100% guides on all levels for Crash 4. This guide was heavily inspired by his work; I wanted to make something convenient for Steam users all in one place.
You can find a link to an article listing his guides for all main levels here[gameranx.com].

I owe FluffyCobra some thanks too, as their guide made it particularly easy to incorporate N.Verted Hidden gems to mine.

All feedback is welcome to report typos, help clarify instructions, add missing ones or missing screenshots.
Thank you for reading this guide!