Inside Peach’s castleSuper Mario 64GUIDES

Super Mario 64 Courses and Stars

All 15 courses of Super Mario 64 with the names of their 105 stars as the game lists them, where each painting is in Peach’s castle, and the enemies and bosses that live there; then the secret courses, Bowser’s three stages and the 15 castle secret stars. Every course picture is drawn from the game’s own level data. Select a picture to see it larger.

Where the paintings are

The first Bowser stage gives the key to the basement, the second the key to the upper floors. Star doors and keys.

1Bob-omb Battlefield

Bob-omb Battlefield, drawn from the game’s level data

A grassy battlefield where the Bob-omb army fights the pink Bob-omb Buddies. King Bob-omb waits on the summit of the mountain, a Chain Chomp guards a star behind its gate, and Koopa the Quick races Mario to the top.

The Bob-omb Battlefield painting
Its painting
Where
First floor
To get in
No stars needed

Stars

  1. Big Bob-omb on the Summit
  2. Footrace with Koopa the Quick
  3. Shoot to the Island in the Sky
  4. Find the 8 Red Coins
  5. Mario Wings to the Sky
  6. Behind Chain Chomp's Gate
  7. 100 coins

2Whomp's Fortress

Whomp's Fortress, drawn from the game’s level data

A stone fortress high above the clouds, guarded by Whomps, Thwomps and Piranha Plants. The Whomp King rules the top, a Bullet Bill launcher stands on the upper level, and Hoot the owl can carry Mario to the caged island.

The Whomp's Fortress painting
Its painting
Where
First floor
To get in
Behind a 1-star door

Stars

  1. Chip Off Whomp's Block
  2. To the Top of the Fortress
  3. Shoot into the Wild Blue
  4. Red Coins on the Floating Isle
  5. Fall onto the Caged Island
  6. Blast Away the Wall
  7. 100 coins

3Jolly Roger Bay

Jolly Roger Bay, drawn from the game’s level data

A bay with a sunken pirate ship, an ocean cave full of treasure chests and Unagi the eel. Once the first star is taken, the ship rises to the surface.

The Jolly Roger Bay painting
Its painting
Where
First floor
To get in
Behind a 3-star door

Stars

  1. Plunder in the Sunken Ship
  2. Can the Eel Come Out to Play?
  3. Treasure of the Ocean Cave
  4. Red Coins on the Ship Afloat
  5. Blast to the Stone Pillar
  6. Through the Jet Stream
  7. 100 coins

4Cool, Cool Mountain

Cool, Cool Mountain, drawn from the game’s level data

A snowy mountain with a long ice slide that starts inside the cabin at the top, a mother penguin who has lost her baby, a racing penguin and a snowman looking for his head.

The Cool, Cool Mountain painting
Its painting
Where
First floor
To get in
Behind a 3-star door

Stars

  1. Slip Slidin' Away
  2. Li'l Penguin Lost
  3. Big Penguin Race
  4. Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins
  5. Snowman's Lost His Head
  6. Wall Kicks Will Work
  7. 100 coins

5Big Boo's Haunt

Big Boo's Haunt, drawn from the game’s level data

A haunted mansion full of Boos, flying books and a mad piano. It has no painting: once Mario has 12 stars, a Boo carrying a cage appears in the castle courtyard, and defeating it leaves the cage that leads inside.

Where
Courtyard
To get in
Defeat the caged Boo in the courtyard (12 stars)

Stars

  1. Go on a Ghost Hunt
  2. Ride Big Boo's Merry-Go-Round
  3. Secret of the Haunted Books
  4. Seek the 8 Red Coins
  5. Big Boo's Balcony
  6. Eye to Eye in the Secret Room
  7. 100 coins

6Hazy Maze Cave

Hazy Maze Cave, drawn from the game’s level data

A cave system under the castle: a maze of toxic gas, an underground lake where Dorrie swims, rolling rocks, and the way into the Cavern of the Metal Cap. Its painting lies flat on the floor, like a pool.

The Hazy Maze Cave painting
Its painting
Where
Basement
To get in
Basement key (from Bowser in the Dark World)

Stars

  1. Swimming Beast in the Cavern
  2. Elevate for 8 Red Coins
  3. Metal-Head Mario Can Move!
  4. Navigating the Toxic Maze
  5. A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit
  6. Watch for Rolling Rocks
  7. 100 coins

7Lethal Lava Land

Lethal Lava Land, drawn from the game’s level data

Stone and wooden platforms on a sea of lava, with Bullies to push in, a 15-piece sliding puzzle of Bowser’s face, rolling logs and a volcano Mario can enter.

The Lethal Lava Land painting
Its painting
Where
Basement
To get in
Basement key

Stars

  1. Boil the Big Bully
  2. Bully the Bullies
  3. 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces
  4. Red-Hot Log Rolling
  5. Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano
  6. Elevator Tour in the Volcano
  7. 100 coins

8Shifting Sand Land

Shifting Sand Land, drawn from the game’s level data

A desert with quicksand, rolling Tox Boxes, a sandstorm Tweester and Klepto the condor. Eyerok guards the inside of the pyramid.

The Shifting Sand Land painting
Its painting
Where
Basement
To get in
Basement key

Stars

  1. In the Talons of the Big Bird
  2. Shining Atop the Pyramid
  3. Inside the Ancient Pyramid
  4. Stand Tall on the Four Pillars
  5. Free Flying for 8 Red Coins
  6. Pyramid Puzzle
  7. 100 coins

9Dire, Dire Docks

Dire, Dire Docks, drawn from the game’s level data

Underwater docks where Bowser’s submarine is moored until its star is taken, with whirlpools, jet streams and a manta ray that leaves a trail of rings.

The Dire, Dire Docks painting
Its painting
Where
Basement
To get in
Behind the 30-star door

Stars

  1. Board Bowser's Sub
  2. Chests in the Current
  3. Pole-Jumping for Red Coins
  4. Through the Jet Stream
  5. The Manta Ray's Reward
  6. Collect the Caps...
  7. 100 coins

Enemies

Friends

10Snowman's Land

Snowman's Land, drawn from the game’s level data

A snowfield under a giant snowman’s head, with a freezing pond, an igloo and the Chill Bully. Its painting is only seen in the reflection of the mirror room.

The Snowman's Land painting
Its painting
Where
Second floor
To get in
Second key (from Bowser in the Fire Sea)

Stars

  1. Snowman's Big Head
  2. Chill with the Bully
  3. In the Deep Freeze
  4. Whirl from the Freezing Pond
  5. Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins
  6. Into the Igloo
  7. 100 coins

11Wet-Dry World

Wet-Dry World, drawn from the game’s level data

A flooded town. Touching the crystal switches raises or lowers the water, and how high Mario jumps into the painting sets the water level he starts with.

The Wet-Dry World painting
Its painting
Where
Second floor
To get in
Second key

Stars

  1. Shocking Arrow Lifts!
  2. Top o' the Town
  3. Secrets in the Shallows & Sky
  4. Express Elevator--Hurry Up!
  5. Go to Town for Red Coins
  6. Quick Race Through Downtown!
  7. 100 coins

12Tall, Tall Mountain

Tall, Tall Mountain, drawn from the game’s level data

A tall mountain with a waterfall, giant mushrooms, a slide inside and Ukiki the monkey, who takes Mario’s cap.

The Tall, Tall Mountain painting
Its painting
Where
Second floor
To get in
Second key

Stars

  1. Scale the Mountain
  2. Mystery of the Monkey Cage
  3. Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins
  4. Mysterious Mountainside
  5. Breathtaking View from Bridge
  6. Blast to the Lonely Mushroom
  7. 100 coins

13Tiny-Huge Island

Tiny-Huge Island, drawn from the game’s level data

One island in two sizes. Its two paintings lead to the huge and the tiny version, and pipes connect them; Wiggler lives inside the mountain.

The Tiny-Huge Island painting
Its painting
Where
Second floor
To get in
Second key

Stars

  1. Pluck the Piranha Flower
  2. The Tip Top of the Huge Island
  3. Rematch with Koopa the Quick
  4. Five Itty Bitty Secrets
  5. Wiggler's Red Coins
  6. Make Wiggler Squirm
  7. 100 coins

14Tick Tock Clock

Tick Tock Clock, drawn from the game’s level data

The inside of a giant clock. Where the castle clock’s minute hand points as Mario jumps in sets the machinery: near 12 everything stops, around 3 it runs slow, around 6 at random and around 9 fast.

The Tick Tock Clock painting
Its painting
Where
Third floor
To get in
50-star door

Stars

  1. Roll into the Cage
  2. The Pit and the Pendulums
  3. Get a Hand
  4. Stomp on the Thwomp
  5. Timed Jumps on Moving Bars
  6. Stop Time for Red Coins
  7. 100 coins

15Rainbow Ride

Rainbow Ride, drawn from the game’s level data

Floating platforms high in the sky, linked by magic carpets that ride along rainbows, with a big house and a flying cruiser. It is entered by jumping into a hole in the third floor rather than through a painting.

Where
Third floor
To get in
50-star door

Stars

  1. Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow
  2. The Big House in the Sky
  3. Coins Amassed in a Maze
  4. Swingin' in the Breeze
  5. Tricky Triangles!
  6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
  7. 100 coins

Secret courses and Bowser stages

Each gives castle secret stars rather than a numbered course’s seven.

Bowser in the Dark World, drawn from the game’s level data

Bowser in the Dark World

First floor, behind the 8-star door · 1 star (8 red coins)

The first Bowser stage. Beat Bowser at the end for the basement key.

GoombaAmp

Bowser in the Fire Sea, drawn from the game’s level data

Bowser in the Fire Sea

Basement, from the Dire, Dire Docks room after “Board Bowser’s Sub” (30 stars) · 1 star (8 red coins)

The second Bowser stage, over a sea of lava. Beat Bowser for the key to the upper floors.

GoombaBob-ombBullyAmp

The Princess's Secret Slide, drawn from the game’s level data

The Princess's Secret Slide

First floor, behind the stained-glass window of Peach · 2 stars

A long slide. One star waits at the bottom; a second appears for finishing in under 21 seconds.

Tower of the Wing Cap, drawn from the game’s level data

Tower of the Wing Cap

Main hall: look up into the sunlight once you have 10 stars · 1 star (8 red coins)

Wing Mario flies around a tower in the clouds. Pressing the red switch on top fills the red ! Blocks everywhere.

Cavern of the Metal Cap, drawn from the game’s level data

Cavern of the Metal Cap

Inside Hazy Maze Cave · 1 star (8 red coins)

An underground river and the green switch that fills the green ! Blocks with the Metal Cap.

Snufit

Vanish Cap Under the Moat, drawn from the game’s level data

Vanish Cap Under the Moat

Basement, after draining the moat · 1 star (8 red coins)

Platforms over a pit and the blue switch that fills the blue ! Blocks with the Vanish Cap. Ground-pound the two pillars in the basement to drain the moat first.

Amp

Wing Mario Over the Rainbow, drawn from the game’s level data

Wing Mario Over the Rainbow

Third floor · 1 star (8 red coins)

Red coins among rainbows and clouds, collected with the Wing Cap.

Bob-omb Buddy

The Secret Aquarium, drawn from the game’s level data

The Secret Aquarium

First floor, in the Jolly Roger Bay room · 1 star (8 red coins)

A small aquarium tank hidden behind the wall of the Jolly Roger Bay room.

The 15 castle secret stars

WhereStarsHow
Princess’s Secret Slide2Reach the bottom; then reach it in under 21 seconds.
Bowser stages3The 8 red coins in each of the three Bowser stages.
Cap courses3The 8 red coins in the Tower of the Wing Cap, the Cavern of the Metal Cap and Vanish Cap under the Moat.
Wing Mario over the Rainbow1Its 8 red coins.
The Secret Aquarium1Its 8 red coins.
Toad3Three Toads in the castle each give a star once Mario has 12, 25 and 35 stars.
Mips2Catch the rabbit in the basement once Mario has 15 stars, and again at 50 stars, when he runs faster.

120-star checklist

Sources & picture credits

Pictures made from the Super Mario 64 (USA) game data: characters, enemies and items are drawn from their own 3D models, posed with a frame of one of their own animations; courses are drawn from their level geometry with their objects in front of their own sky. They are rendered without the game’s fog, shadows or moving water textures, so they look a little cleaner than on the console. Course and star names are the game’s own text (shown in capitals in the game). The enemies listed for each course are the ones the game places there in any of its six missions. Game content © Nintendo.