Platformers · 1990s
Super Mario 64
The first great 3D platformer, built around a free-roaming castle that opens into hand-crafted worlds. Its analog-movement design made navigating three dimensions feel natural at a time when no one knew how that should work.
| First released | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo EAD |
| Original platform | Nintendo 64 |
Why it matters
It solved 3D movement and camera control in one stroke, and nearly every 3D game that followed borrowed pieces of its solution. Its open 'painting' structure pushed design away from strictly linear levels.
Play it today
Available through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack N64 library.
Start here
Movement is the point — spend the first hour just climbing around the castle grounds. The 1996 original holds up better than most early 3D games because its levels favor verticality over visuals.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_64 — release date, developer, design legacy
Sources for this page were checked 2026-09-21.