30 Years Later, Super Mario 64’s Best Area Remains Undefeated In Video Game History

Published Aug 25, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Ewan is Deputy Editor for ScreenRant's gaming section. He still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase, and knows more about The Legend of Zelda and Doctor Who than is probably healthy. Ewan oversees the content operation of ScreenRant's gaming output, working with a talented team of writers and editors to cover everything from the latest GTA 6 news to the indie games you need on your radar. Former Editor of GAMINGbible, Ewan also has words at Kotaku, Den of Geek, NME, and UNILAD. He's appeared on various podcasts, including VGC's and BBC's Let's Talk About Tech. Sign in to your ScreenRant account When it comes to video games, Super Mario 64 remains absolutely iconic. It may not have aged well compared to the likes of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey, but given it was one of the first 3D platformers (and certainly the first genuinely great one), you have to respect it. 30 years since it first launched on the Nintendo 64, it has some of the best and most inventive levels we've ever seen in a video game. From racing penguins down ice slides to exploring a haunted house, there was so much to do. In one level you might be running a tough platforming gauntlet surrounded by lava, while in another you'll be exploring an underwater cavern. But which of these levels was actually the best? The answer, of course, is none of them. The Best "Level" In Super Mario 64 Is Obvious Yes, levels like Shifting Sand Land, Wet-Dry World, or Tick Tock Clock offered inventive challenges, but each unique world was accessed by exploring Peach's Castle, one of the most unforgettable and iconic locations in video game history. Even reading the name Peach's Castle in your head has probably started that classic music playing, hasn't it? To me, Peach's Castle is the best level in Super Mario 64, and it remains one of the greatest levels in video game history. You could be sniffy and complain Peach's Castle isn't a level in the traditional sense of the word. It's more of a hub world, yes, but it's also a playground for Mario and the player to enjoy. When the game starts, you can go right to the castle and leap through that first painting, sure. But you can also run around the garden, exploring the surrounding area, climbing trees, and generally having a lovely time in the sun. Who cares if Peach has been kidnapped? It happens all the time. Once you get stuck into the game proper, the Castle becomes a wonderful warren filled with mysteries and hidden secrets. There are secret slides to find, a hidden aquarium, a huge area underneath the moat, and so much more to uncover. For gamers in the late 90s experiencing 3D for the first time, to have a space like this to just exist in and run around was extraordinary. It may feel limited by today's standards, but in 1996 the level of detail was astonishing. Here was a world that felt genuinely alive, and invited you to simply enjoy spending time in it. Whether you worked to get all 120 stars in Super Mario 64 or not, every gamer of every skill level was guaranteed a good time by simply wandering the halls of the castle and seeing what waited around each corner. Nintendo encouraged us to play around and discover things for ourselves, giving Peach's Castle a kind of magic you just don't get with a lot of modern games. That, to me, is why Super Mario 64's hub world will always remain undefeated. Released September 26, 1996 ESRB E for Everyone Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Nintendo 64 SDK Franchise Super Mario Bros.