Warped Worlds
Warped Worlds is an artfully eerie game with enough atmosphere to terraform a planet.
Whether you're playing the binary version or the decomp version, you'll inevitably find yourself immersed in the familiar-yet-new worlds that await Mario.
For those who enjoy exploring Peach's Castle and it's secret locations, the binary demo has a solid amount to offer, as well plenty of very interesting (optional) dialogue.
If it's levels you're more interested in, the decomp demo may suit you better. And for those of you looking to dive more into strange, twisted (warped, even) world, definitely try out the unofficial 1.0; it's a version compiled by soupnuts6061 using all of the assets in the GitHub opensource archives for Warped Worlds, and therefore, the most complete version.
sm64.z64
sm64.z64 is an infamous hack with a mind of its own. Created by the same individual as Warped Worlds, it subverts expectations in the most interesting ways. This hack has been the subject of countless YouTube videos, and fueled more than a few discussions trying to dissect this unforgettable hack.
It may be a bit prone to crashing, but that's nothing a quick reset can't fix... right?
B3313
We can't not include B3313. This hack is the result of countless individuals contributing their own unique ideas and interpretations into one mega-enormous SM64 hack.
This entire project is a monument to all of the urban legends surrounding Super Mario 64, and playing through it will be an experience you're sure not to forget anytime soon. Not to mention, it is the only (known) SM64 hack to actually have a personalisation AI, that alters the game based on the player's inputs, thus making each and every playthrough unique.
Will you play the game, or will the game play you?
Dream 64
Dream 64 is a 30 Star hack created for one of the most well-attended ROM hacking competitions in the SM64 community- the Dream Themed Level Competition, hosted by the YouTuber, SimpleFlips.
While Dream 64 may not have been placed in the top ten entries, it undoubtedly made a lasting impact with its imaginative interpretations of the SM64's infamous wealth of urban legends, and even served as inspiration for the far more well-known hack B3313.
Breaking The Barrier
Breaking The Barrier is a ROM hack created by the YouTuber Marionova64 for use in their SM64 videos, that use the personalisation AI (and many other urban legends) as inspiration.
They were kind enough to make the ROM hack available for anyone to download, allowing anyone to play through the alternate world seen in their viral videos, and there's plenty to explore.
Like many of the other hacks recommended in this article, Breaking The Barrier would later go on to inspire many of the areas in B3313, one of the most well-known SM64 hacks.
SM64 Beyond The Castle Walls
What originally started off as a joke hack was soon developed into a creative set of levels, some with their own custom mechanics, and all with interesting visuals.
It's got a solid balance of charming levels and interesting hub areas, however, do heed the trigger warning at the top of this hack's wiki page!
Descend
Descend takes Mario on a trip down through a supposed "cave system" that he and a Bob-omb Buddy found the entrance to.
What starts out as a curious adventure soon turns into something else entirely, as Mario finds himself wandering through eerily familiar locations that only become more bizarre as he progresses.
Join Mario on this mind-bending journey through the twisted depths of a place he thought he knew well, and find the answer as to the nature of this underground complex.
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