You think you're done. You’ve jumped through the paintings, bullied the bullies, and probably fallen off the clock more times than you’d care to admit. But the counter says 105. Or 112. Where are the rest? Most players realize pretty quickly that the paintings aren't the only way to get a Power Star, but finding all 15 Super Mario 64 secret stars—officially called Castle Secret Stars—is a whole different beast. It’s one of those things that separates the casual weekend players from the people who actually know the castle’s layout better than their own backyard.
Some of these are easy. You talk to a Toad, he hands you a star. Cool. Others? They require you to master the clunky, charming 1996 camera angles while flying through the air or diving into literal holes in the wall you never noticed.
The Toads Are Holding Out on You
Seriously. Why is Toad just standing there with a Power Star in his pocket while Bowser is literally taking over the castle? There are three specific Toads who will just give you a star if you bother to chat with them.
The first one is down in the basement. You’ll find him right near the entrance to Hazy Maze Cave. You need 12 stars for him to show up, so if he’s not there, keep playing. The second Toad is on the second floor, chilling near the stairs by the Tall, Tall Mountain painting. You’ll need 25 stars to trigger this one. Finally, there’s a Toad on the third floor, standing right next to the Tick Tock Clock. He won’t give up the goods until you’ve hit the 35-star mark. It’s the easiest way to pad your total, yet so many people just run right past them.
The Rabbit in the Basement
MIPS is a legend. Or a nightmare, depending on how much you struggle with Mario’s diving mechanics. This golden rabbit appears in the basement after you hit 15 stars. Catching him is... an experience. He’s fast. He’s twitchy.
Pro Tip: Don't just chase him in circles. Try to cut him off or corner him near the doors.
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Once you grab him, he squeals and gives you a star. But wait. He comes back. Once you hit 50 stars, MIPS respawns in the basement for a second round. Catch him again for another of the Super Mario 64 secret stars. Honestly, the second time feels a bit like bullying, but hey, we need that 120-star completion.
The Princess's Secret Slide
This is usually the first secret most people find. On the mezzanine level, there’s a room with three stained-glass windows of Peach. Jump through the one on the right. Boom. Slide level.
Most people get the first star just by reaching the bottom and hitting the yellow box. But there's a second one hidden here. You have to be fast. Like, under 21 seconds fast. If you can make it down the slide in 20.9 seconds or less, a second star appears. It takes practice. You’ll probably fly off the edge a dozen times trying to take the corners tight. It’s worth it.
The Hidden Cap Stages
The cap switches are more than just utility; they are full-blown secret levels with their own red coin challenges.
Tower of the Wing Cap
Once you have 10 stars, a bright light shines on the sun rug in the main lobby. Stand on the rug and look up. You’ll be warped to a tower in the sky. You need to collect 8 red coins while flying to get the star. Do not forget to hit the big red switch first. If you leave without hitting the switch, you can’t use the Wing Cap in other levels, which makes the rest of the game a massive pain.
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Cavern of the Metal Cap
This one is tucked away inside Hazy Maze Cave. Head to the underground lake where Dorrie (the big blue dinosaur) is. Ride Dorrie to the platform with the double doors. Behind those doors is a stream that pulls you into the secret stage. Use the Metal Cap to walk underwater and grab the 8 red coins.
Vanish Cap Under the Moat
You have to drain the castle moat first. Go to the basement, find the room with two pillars in the water, and ground-pound them. This drains the water outside. Go outside, find the hole in the ground where the water used to be, and jump in. This stage is a bit tricky because the star spawns inside a cage, so you have to time your Vanish Cap usage perfectly to walk through the mesh at the end.
The Secret Aquarium
If you go to the room with the Jolly Roger Bay painting, look at the walls. There are two black square holes high up. One has a 1-up, the other is the entrance to the Secret Aquarium.
It’s a peaceful, eerie little level. No surface to breathe. Just you, some fish, and 8 red coins. It’s not hard, but the lack of air makes it a bit tense. Just keep an eye on your health bar; every coin you pick up refills your breath a little bit.
The Bowser Stage Red Coins
People forget that the Bowser levels—Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Fire Sea, and Bowser in the Sky—each have a secret star. You get these by collecting all 8 red coins in the level before jumping into the pipe to fight Bowser.
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Fire Sea is usually the one that trips people up. There’s a red coin hidden behind an elevator that you have to send up without you. You step on it to trigger it, then jump off immediately. The coin is underneath. It’s a classic Nintendo move: hiding things in the one place you're trained not to look.
Wing Mario Over the Rainbow
This is the final secret stage, and frankly, it's kind of a mess. You find it on the third floor, across from the Rainbow Ride entrance. It’s another flying level, but the platforms are tiny and the stakes are high. If you fall, you don’t die; you just land in the castle courtyard and have to trek all the way back up to the third floor. It’s tedious. But it’s the 15th secret star, and you can't hit 120 without it.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your pause menu: If you aren't at 15/15 for the "Castle Secret Stars" (the row at the bottom of the star list), start with the Toads and MIPS, as those are the quickest to grab.
- Drain the Moat: If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out on the Vanish Cap and a few other hidden items outside the castle.
- Practice the Slide: If you’re stuck on the 21-second mark, try holding forward on the analog stick to increase your speed, but let go just before the sharp turns to regain control.
Once you’ve nailed these, the road to 120 stars becomes a lot clearer. Just remember: if a room looks empty, it probably isn't. Jump at the walls. Look at the ceiling. In this game, the developers wanted you to be a little bit paranoid.