Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 single-handedly defined 3D platformers, selling 11 million copies and setting a standard that outperforms every other game on this list in terms of control innovation. Its analog stick, open-world hub, and 120 Power Star objectives created a blueprint copied for two decades—even #1 Ocarina of Time borrowed its free-roaming camera. The game's 64-bit graphics and 3D movement were so precise that speedrunners still discover new tricks 25 years later. By focusing on pure, joyful exploration, it sold 3 million more copies than GoldenEye 007 and proved that a good platformer could thrive without a deep story. Its 15 distinct worlds offered more variety than the average 1996 title, cementing Mario as the face of 3D gaming.