Super Mario 64 was the first Mario title to use fully 3D movement in a free-roaming world.
Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, the game moved Mario from side-scrolling stages into a three-dimensional castle and its surrounding worlds. Players could run, jump, swim, climb, and explore from multiple camera angles.
The Nintendo 64 controller’s analog stick was central to the design. It allowed precise movement through 3D spaces, while the console’s hardware supported polygonal characters and environments. The game’s camera system also became a major part of 3D platform-game design.
Super Mario 64 is sometimes grouped with later 3D Mario games such as Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, but those are sequels. Its status as the first fully 3D, free-roaming Mario adventure makes it a landmark Nintendo release.