A look back at the 1996 Nintendo 64 launch title that reinvented the entire platforming genre — and how to play it today.
When Super Mario 64 launched alongside the Nintendo 64 in 1996, it didn't just add a new dimension to the series — it effectively wrote the rulebook that every 3D platformer since has borrowed from. Camera control, analog movement, and open-ended level design that let players tackle objectives in almost any order were all things Super Mario 64 got right on its very first attempt.
Earlier attempts at 3D action games often struggled with clunky cameras and imprecise controls. Super Mario 64 solved both problems at once: the analog stick gave Mario a full range of movement speed instead of binary walk/run states, and the game's Lakitu-cam system (a virtual cameraman following Mario) became the template most 3D games still use in some form today.
Rather than a simple level-select screen, Super Mario 64 placed players inside a fully explorable castle. Paintings on the walls served as portals into each of the game's 15 main courses, and secret passages hid extra stars and even entire bonus levels — an approach that made exploration itself feel rewarding, separate from any individual course.
The most accessible modern route has been Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Nintendo Switch, a compilation pairing Super Mario 64 with Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo has treated this collection as a limited-run release in the past, so it's worth checking current eShop or retail listings before assuming it's permanently available.
Beyond its commercial success, Super Mario 64 is frequently cited by game designers as a direct influence on 3D camera and movement systems across the industry, making it one of the most historically significant games ever released — not just within the Mario series, but in gaming as a whole.
No — the first Super Mario game was the original Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Super Mario 64 (1996) was, however, the first fully 3D entry in the series and one of the first successful 3D platformers of any kind.
The original release features 120 Power Stars spread across 15 main courses and several secret levels, each with multiple star objectives per course.
Nintendo has periodically re-released Super Mario 64 through collections like Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Switch. Availability changes over time, so check the current Nintendo eShop listing for the latest way to play it on modern hardware.
Jump straight into the free browser version of the original Super Mario Bros game — no download required.
Play Super Mario Game Online Free