Super Mario 64 is a 3D platformer developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64, a launch title that defined the genre. Mario explores the open, interconnected worlds inside Princess Peach’s castle, collecting 120 Power Stars by completing varied objectives. Its free analog movement, multiple jumps, and dynamic camera set the template for 3D platforming and 3D games broadly.
How To Play Super Mario 64
Control
Action
Control Stick
Move Mario (walk, run, tiptoe)
A Button
Jump (chain for double and triple jumps)
B Button
Punch / grab / dive
Z Trigger
Crouch / ground pound / long jump (with A)
C Buttons
Adjust the camera
Start
Pause / menu
About Super Mario 64
Release date
JP: June 23, 1996 · NA: September 29, 1996 · EU: March 1, 1997
Developer
Nintendo EAD
Publisher
Nintendo
Platform
Nintendo 64; later Virtual Console, Switch (3D All-Stars)
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.