Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is a 1996 platformer developed by Nintendo as a launch title for the Nintendo 64. It reinvented the Mario formula in three dimensions, sending the plumber through the paintings of Princess Peach's castle into varied worlds to collect 120 Power Stars and thwart Bowser.
The game set the template for 3D platforming, introducing a free-roaming camera controlled by an in-game cameraman and an analog control scheme that gave Mario a rich moveset of long jumps, triple jumps, wall kicks and ground pounds. Its open-ended levels offered multiple objectives that could often be tackled in different orders, and hub-based progression let players return to worlds to hunt stars they had missed. Its intuitive controls and sense of freedom were widely praised and studied by developers for years afterward.
Its influence on 3D game design is difficult to overstate, shaping how countless action and adventure games handle movement and cameras. Modern players can revisit it through Nintendo's official re-releases and retro subscription offerings on current consoles.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Super Mario 64, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Hat in Time Indie | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Penny's Big Breakaway Indie | € 27,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars / NSO | € 19,99 + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | Switch |
| Super Mario Odyssey | € 59,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | € 59,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
A Hat in Time Indie
€ 29,99A joyful indie 3D platformer in the collectathon tradition.
A Hat in Time runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Penny's Big Breakaway Indie
€ 27,99A momentum-driven 3D platformer from ex-Sonic Mania developers, full of the improvised movement Mario 64 rewarded.
Penny's Big Breakaway runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars / NSO
€ 19,99 + in-app purchasesSuper Mario 64 is available via Nintendo Switch Online and collections.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars / NSO runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Super Mario Odyssey
€ 59,99The acclaimed modern 3D Mario, a spiritual successor to Mario 64.
Super Mario Odyssey runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
€ 59,99Two games in one, and Bowser's Fury is the closest Nintendo has come to Mario 64's open playgrounds.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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