Super Mario 64 Cheat Codes & Secrets
Complete collection of cheat codes, passwords, unlockables, and hidden secrets for Super Mario 64 (1996).
Super Mario 64 Cheats & Secrets
Super Mario 64 is packed with secrets, shortcuts, and glitches that have been discovered by players and speedrunners over nearly three decades.
Unlock the Wing Cap
To obtain the Wing Cap (which lets Mario fly), you must collect 10 Power Stars. Return to the main hall of Peach’s Castle and look up at the ceiling while standing on the sun emblem. A red beam will transport Mario to the Tower of the Wing Cap stage, where he collects the cap and unlocks it for all levels.
Unlock the Metal Cap
The Metal Cap is found in Hazy Maze Cave. Find the door to the underground lake and ride the water platform. At the far shore, enter the Metal Cap Switch cave and hit the switch to make Metal Mario available in all levels that have green boxes.
Unlock the Vanish Cap
The Vanish Cap is found under the moat surrounding Peach’s Castle. To drain the moat, find and step on two underwater switches in the moat before entering the castle. This drains the water and reveals a hidden door. Inside, hit the blue switch to unlock the Vanish Cap.
Star Count Shortcuts
- Basement door: Requires 1 star (free effectively)
- Upstairs door: Requires 30 stars
- Clock Tower door: Requires 50 stars
- Bowser final stage: Requires 70 stars
- Princess’s Secret Slide: Find the door behind the star painting on the first floor — it’s a hidden slide that gives 2 easy stars
Princess’s Secret Slide Stars
In the first-floor room with the star painting, enter the slide level. Complete the slide quickly (under 21 seconds) for a second star. This is one of the fastest star pairs in the game.
The Mips Rabbit Glitch (Clip Through Door)
Catching the yellow rabbit Mips who runs around the basement twice gives stars, but there’s a glitch where grabbing Mips while he runs through a locked door can clip Mario into the door, occasionally allowing passage. This is used in some speedrun categories.
BLJ (Backwards Long Jump)
One of speedrunning’s most famous discoveries: by mashing the jump button while long-jumping backwards down a slope, Mario’s speed accumulates exponentially rather than capping. This can be used to clip through walls and reach areas far earlier than intended. Used in 0-star and 1-star speedruns.
Yoshi on the Roof
After collecting all 120 Power Stars, climb to the roof of Peach’s Castle (using the cannon unlocked with all stars, or by using the wing cap). Yoshi will be waiting on the roof. Talk to him for a special message from the development team and 100 extra lives.
Cannon Unlocking
Each level has a Bob-omb Buddy — a pink Bob-omb that opens the cannon for that stage when spoken to. The castle grounds cannon is opened by the Buddy outside the castle. From the castle grounds cannon, Mario can reach the castle roof for bonus stars.
Secret Aquarium
In the room with the Jolly Roger Bay painting, look to the left for a door without a star requirement. Inside is a small aquarium with 8 red coins to collect for a Power Star — one of the game’s hidden stars.
Wing Mario Over the Rainbow
On the third floor, there’s a room where hitting a ? box gives Mario a wing cap. Fly to various cloud platforms over a rainbow to collect 8 red coins. One of the more challenging stars in the game requiring good flight control.
100 Coins Stars
Every main course has a star available for collecting 100 coins in a single run. Some coins regenerate (blue coins last 5 regular coins each in certain stages), making some 100-coin stars significantly easier than others. Bob-omb Battlefield’s 100-coin star is considered among the harder ones.
Progression Tips
Fastest early stars:
- Bob-omb Battlefield Star 1 (Big Bob-omb on the Summit)
- Bob-omb Battlefield Star 2 (Footrace with Koopa the Quick)
- Princess’s Secret Slide Stars 1 and 2
- Tower of the Wing Cap
- The Aquarium star
With 10 stars unlocked quickly, you gain Wing Mario, dramatically opening up traversal options.