Super Mario 64 (スーパーマリオ64 Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon?) is a top-selling video game for the Nintendo 64. It debuted in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe on March 1, 1997. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the new console. As the Nintendo 64 flagship, it drove initial sales of the console and has sold over 12 million copies in total, not including the Wii's Virtual Console sales.
Super Mario 64, the first 3D platform game in the Mario series, established a new archetype for the genre, much as Super Mario Bros. did for 2D sidescrolling platformers. Hailed as "revolutionary", the game left a lasting impression on the industry, influencing many in the genre and leaving a lasting impact on 3D games in general.
In going from two to three dimensions, Super Mario 64 replaced the linear obstacle courses of traditional platform games with vast worlds in which the player must complete multiple and diverse missions, with an emphasis on exploration. While doing so, it managed to preserve the feel of earlier Mario games, including many of their gameplay elements and characters. It is acclaimed by many critics and fans as one of the greatest video games of all time.