Super Mario 64complete walkthrough
A complete Super Mario 64 progression guide with castle routes, cap switches, Bowser stages, a safe 70-star path and advice for collecting all 120 Power Stars.
- Difficulty
- Beginner to advanced
- Completion
- 10–18 hours
- Guide length
- 15 min
- Updated
- 2026-08-10
Controls and essential techniques
Learn these inputs before beginning the route.
| Input | Action and field note |
|---|---|
| Control Stick | MoveWalk slowly near narrow ledges; full tilt is not always safer. |
| A | Jump and swim strokeChain jumps while running for double and triple jumps. |
| B | Punch, grab and divePress B in the air while moving to dive and extend forward distance. |
| Z | CrouchCombine Z with A for backflips and long jumps. |
| C buttons | Adjust cameraReset the camera before precision jumps instead of fighting a bad angle. |
See the game in action
Real, unedited screenshots showing how Super Mario 64 looks during play on N64.
Authentic gameplay: captures are produced in the OldGames emulator when available and checked against credited editorial references when needed. No AI-generated artwork or recreated mockups are used.
Complete walkthrough
7 chapters from the opening stage through completion.
Castle grounds and first floor
Learn Mario's movement and build a reliable opening star route.
- Enter Bob-omb Battlefield and collect its early objective stars while learning camera control.
- Use Whomp's Fortress and Jolly Roger Bay for straightforward stars before harder red-coin missions.
- Collect at least eight stars, enter the first Bowser door and clear Bowser in the Dark World.
First Bowser key collected.
Basement courses
Open the basement, activate the Vanish Cap and expand the star total.
- Clear Big Boo's Haunt access from the courtyard and use its compact missions for several stars.
- Drain the castle moat, enter the hidden course and press the blue Vanish Cap switch.
- Collect basement stars in Hazy Maze Cave, Lethal Lava Land and Shifting Sand Land.
Vanish Cap active and basement route established.
Metal and Wing Cap switches
Unlock the remaining caps required for special missions.
- Reach the underground lake in Hazy Maze Cave and ride Dorrie to the Metal Cap course.
- Stand on the castle lobby sun emblem after meeting the star requirement to access the Wing Cap tower.
- Return to earlier courses for cap-dependent stars only after their switches are active.
All three cap switches active.
Second Bowser key and upper floors
Clear Dire, Dire Docks and unlock the upstairs course set.
- Earn the required basement total, enter Dire, Dire Docks and complete its first star.
- Clear Bowser in the Fire Sea and use careful long jumps around tilting platforms.
- Explore Snowman's Land, Wet-Dry World, Tall, Tall Mountain and Tiny-Huge Island for efficient objectives.
Second Bowser key collected.
Safe route to 70 stars
Favor consistent missions before tackling the hardest collectibles.
- Collect basic boss, race, eight-red-coin and exploration stars before 100-coin missions.
- Use Toad stars, Mips and castle secret stars to fill gaps without difficult course objectives.
- Reach 70 stars and open the endless-stairs door at the top of the castle.
70 stars collected.
Bowser in the Sky
Finish the story with controlled platforming and a three-hit throw pattern.
- Keep the camera centered on the narrow platforms and stop before rotating obstacles.
- Grab Bowser by the tail, rotate at a measured pace and release toward a bomb at the arena edge.
- Repeat three successful bomb throws while adapting to the shrinking arena.
Bowser defeated and main story complete.
All 120 Power Stars
Complete 100-coin missions, castle secrets and late-game challenges.
- Pair each 100-coin run with another mission so the course remains in a useful state.
- Audit all 15 main courses, three Bowser stages, secret courses, Toad rewards and Mips stars.
- After reaching 120, return outside and use the cannon to reach the castle roof reward.
All 120 Power Stars collected.
Secrets and field notes
Useful details for cleaner runs and full completion.
Long jump
Run, press Z and immediately press A. This is the most useful move for covering gaps and moving quickly through safe terrain.
Course-entry choice
Many paintings react to how Mario enters them. Experiment with height and position when a course has variable starting conditions.
Castle stars count too
Secret courses, Toad and Mips contribute to the 120-star total, not only the 15 main courses.
Frequently asked questions
Fast answers to common progression problems.
How many stars are required to beat Super Mario 64?
The intended final door requires 70 Power Stars. Full completion is 120 stars.
How do I unlock the colored caps?
Press the switches in the Wing Cap tower, the Metal Cap course reached through Hazy Maze Cave and the Vanish Cap course beneath the drained moat.
What should I do if the camera makes a jump difficult?
Stop on safe ground, use the C buttons to establish a clear angle, then make the jump. Precision is more reliable than correcting mid-air.
Sources and editorial note
This walkthrough was independently written and checked against publisher material where available. It does not reproduce manual text.
