WhileSuper Mario 64has continued to have a shocking amount of popularity modern-day for a game so old, especially among the speed-running community online, the game has been left behind by many fans. WhileThe Super Mario Bros Moviemay have reminded many Mario fans of this classic entry, they may prefer looking to newer games than this classic one.
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Fortunately,Super Mario 64inspired many games, both ones that followed it in theMariofranchise and ones that were unrelated to the Italian plumber. Fortunately, in a world filled with great remakes of classic games, there are plenty of games reminiscent of older gaming days with updated, modern graphics and capabilities beyond themuch-beloved speed-running classic.
7Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy
For fans of old-school platformers who want a more modernized gaming experience than the originals can currently provide, theN.Sane Trilogymight be perfect.Crash Bandicoot’soriginal adventures were a great addition to the platforming genre, and despite the difficulty being higher than many modern gamers will be used to, they remain hugely funin a simple but engaging way.
TheN.Sane Trilogyis notable since the first of the three included games came out in 1996, the very same year asSuper Mario 64. While there are definite stylistic differences between the games, they are both hugely reminiscent of the mid-90s platform scene.
6Yooka-Laylee
Another game series that was hugely loved by fans of games likeSuper Mario 64was theBanjo-Kazooiefranchise. While this series hasn’t been updated recently, there is a much newer colorful platform that has drawn a huge number of comparisons from fans and critics to the style ofBanjo-Kazooie.
Yooka-Layleeis a 3D platform game that expresses itself in similar ways toSuper Mario 64, but with a modern style as the game was released in 2017. Originally funded through Kickstarter, this game broke records on the site for reaching the goal within forty minutes. The simple but delightful plot ofYooka-Layleefollows a chameleon and a bat trying to recover a magical book from an evil company. Yooka-Laylee has been hugely praised since its release for the fun, throwback style of platforming, and it even managed to attain a sequel titledYooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair.
5Super Mario Odyssey
One of the best examples of a more modern take on theSuper Mario 64style from the actual Mario franchise itself is surelySuper Mario Odyssey. Also released in 2017, this game followed Mario andhis new sentient hat companionas they journey through different worlds hunting Bowser, who has stolen Peach and intends to marry her.
With some similar plot points toThe Super Mario Bros Movie, which was recently released, fans will surely be excited to try this game out or revisit it if they are missing Super Mario 64. The level design in the explorative format ofSuper Mario 64will be a huge part of the appeal ofSuper Mario Odysseyfor fans of the classic game, but with several new mechanics,Odysseymanages to bring something new to the franchise while hearkening back to theSuper Mario 64style.
4New Super Lucky’s Tale
For fans of the level design style ofSuper Mario 64,New Super Lucky’s Taleis a great opportunity to explore colorful platform worlds similarly. A remake ofSuper Lucky’s Talewith a number of improvements over the original,New Super Lucky’s Taleisabout a fox named Luckywho moves through various worlds using the Book of Ages.
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Lucky has to stop a spurned member of the Guardian Order, of which his sister and parents are members, from taking the Book of Ages for himself. While the original game had some flaws, the remake has been much praised for the level design and platforming style, making it a perfect new game to try forSuper Mario 64fans.
3Psychonauts 2
For a story that is told in a very different manner than any Mario one, but still contains many of the similar platforming mechanics that players of those games will know. The newPsychonautssequel is a long-awaited return to the world of the psychic ability task force and the young trainee, Raz, who enters the minds of other characters in an attempt to unravel a mystery.
This intelligent story provides an easy way to send Raz through a wide range of level styles and makes it easy for different mechanics to be introduced in different minds. With huge praise for the level design and platforming,Psychonauts 2is a great game forSuper Mario 64fans looking for astylistic shift from the familiar.
2Bowser’s Fury
Released in 2021,Bowser’s Furywas a new part of theMariofranchise that pits Mario against Bowser while his nemesis was under the control of a black sludge. Mario goes on an adventure to save his enemy from the sludge in a game that has been described by fans as a version ofSuper Mario Odyssey,which incorporates elements fromSuper Mario 3D World.
This additional content isn’t the longest new Mario game around, but it is a very fun addition toSuper Mario 3D Worldfor fans of the style of both that game andSuper Mario 64. Mario fans won’t feel complete without adding a victory overBowser’s Furyto their repertoire.
1A Hat In Time
Another platform game that was released in 2017,A Hat In Timeis a throwback style of platformer that has been compared by fans and critics to Nintendo 64 platformers, includingSuper Mario 64andBanjo-Kazooie. The game is about Hat Girl, who istrying to collect timepieces to return home.
The adorable style of animation may be more reminiscent for old-school gaming fans ofKirbyoverMario, but the gameplay is fun, and the different levels are a delightfully colorful mixture of various gaming styles, which will be hugely pleasing to fans of games likeSuper Mario 64.
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