Super Mario 64complete walkthrough

Enter Peach's Castle, practice the long jump, backflip, wall kick, and camera reset in the lobby, then open the first star door to Bob-omb Battlefield.

Defeat King Bob-omb and collect straightforward battlefield stars before attempting the Chain Chomp or 100-coin routes.

Open Whomp's Fortress and Jolly Roger Bay, favor boss and exploration objectives, and use the Princess's Secret Slide for two low-risk castle stars.

Reach eight stars, enter Bowser in the Dark World, collect its red-coin star if comfortable, and defeat Bowser with one controlled throw into an arena bomb.

Use the first Bowser key on the basement door and begin with Lethal Lava Land or Hazy Maze Cave objectives that do not require a colored cap.

After reaching 12 stars, defeat the large Boo in the courtyard and enter its cage to unlock Big Boo's Haunt.

Ground-pound both stone pillars in the basement pool, exit through the drained moat, and drop into the hidden course to press the blue Vanish Cap switch.

Catch Mips in the basement after reaching 15 stars, then return to earlier floors whenever a basement mission becomes less efficient than an available castle secret.

Stand on the sun emblem in the main lobby after earning ten stars, look directly into the ceiling light, and press the red Wing Cap switch in the tower.

Ride Dorrie across Hazy Maze Cave's underground lake, enter the green portal behind the metal doors, and press the Metal Cap switch before the current carries Mario away.

Complete each switch course's eight-red-coin challenge when convenient; activating a switch alone does not award that course's secret star.

Revisit Jolly Roger Bay, Dire, Dire Docks, Hazy Maze Cave, and Vanish Cap missions only after the required colored block has become solid.

Reach 30 stars, open the large basement star door, and complete 'Board Bowser's Sub' in Dire, Dire Docks to move the portal away from the next Bowser course.

Enter Bowser in the Fire Sea, stop before tilting or collapsing platforms, and collect its red coins only if the route remains controlled.

Defeat Bowser with one arena-bomb throw, unlock the upstairs, and collect the nearby Toad star before choosing a new painting.

Learn each upper course's central rule: painting-entry height changes Wet-Dry World's water, while different Tiny-Huge Island entrances determine Mario's starting scale.

Audit every opened course and prioritize boss fights, races, simple red-coin routes, and exploration stars before precision platforming.

Speak with Toads on each castle tier and catch Mips again at 50 stars; these rewards count toward the final-door requirement.

Pair a 100-coin run with a red-coin or broad exploration mission, collecting dangerous coins early so a late mistake costs less time.

Use easier objectives in Snowman's Land, Wet-Dry World, Tall, Tall Mountain, and Tiny-Huge Island before relying on Tick Tock Clock or Rainbow Ride.

Reach 70 stars, climb to the top floor, and open the final star door so the endless staircase becomes a normal route.

Enter the 70-star door with full health and center the camera before every moving platform or narrow beam.

Treat the eight-red-coin route as a separate objective if necessary; collecting it and exiting is safer than carrying it into an unfamiliar final approach.

In the arena, circle outside Bowser's fire breath, grab his tail only after an attack finishes, and rotate at a steady speed instead of maximizing spin immediately.

Land three throws into the bombs, recenter after each arena collapse, and use long jumps only when Bowser's shockwaves leave a clear opening.

Use the pause-screen course totals to confirm all seven stars in each of the 15 main courses: six named missions plus the 100-coin star.

Audit the 15 castle secrets: three cap courses, three Bowser red-coin courses, two Secret Slide stars, Secret Aquarium, Wing Mario Over the Rainbow, three Toads, and two Mips rewards.

During each remaining 100-coin run, collect scarce blue coins and isolated groups before triggering the 100th coin on safe, reachable ground.

Revisit cap-dependent and high-floor missions with a deliberate camera angle, then save after every recovered star instead of batching risky objectives.

At 120 stars, use the newly opened cannon outside the castle to reach the roof and speak with Yoshi for the completion reward.