Skip to content
3.16. Bowser in the Dark World                                          [0316]
Super Mario 64

3.16. Bowser in the Dark World [0316]

Learn how to navigate Bowser in the Dark World in Super Mario 64, defeat Bowser, and grab the basement key.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Learn how to navigate Bowser in the Dark World in Super Mario 64, defeat Bowser, and grab the basement key.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Head right down two giant steps and cross the narrow bridge.
  2. 2
    Walk up the hill, watching for fire shooting from the peak.
  3. 3
    Cross the fire area and go down the hill.
  4. 4
    Use one of the two square-shaped rotating platforms to cross the pit.
  5. 5
    Run up the sloped area ahead, avoiding another fire hazard.
  6. 6
    Walk up the next slope with five coins.
  7. 7
    At the top, jump onto the 'ferris wheel' platform and ride it to the other side.
  8. 8
    Jump off the ferris wheel.
  9. 9
    Kill the three Goombas for 3 extra coins and hit the yellow '!' block for an additional life.
  10. 10
    Cross the wooden bridge into the new area, collecting five coins.
  11. 11
    Follow the long path past four Sparks and crystals to the end.
  12. 12
    Use the yellow moving platform to reach the grey platform in the middle.
  13. 13
    Optionally, hit the yellow '!' switch for 3 additional coins.
  14. 14
    Jump onto the other side of the yellow moving platform to reach a new area.
  15. 15
    Jump onto the first set of moving platforms, then directly onto the second set, and finally onto the solid platform.
  16. 16
    Kill the Goomba on this platform for an additional coin.
  17. 17
    Look right to see two giant wobble boards. Jump onto the left side of the first wobble board and wait for the other side to rise.
  18. 18
    Walk onto the right side of the first wobble board and use it to jump onto the second wobble board.
  19. 19
    Stand on the left side of the second wobble board and wait for the right side to rise.
  20. 20
    Walk onto the right side of the second wobble board and jump onto the raised platform with two coins.
  21. 21
    Drop onto the platform below, which has two Goombas. Kill them for two additional coins.
  22. 22
    Look right to see a greenish platform sticking out of a vertical platform. Jump onto this greenish platform, then onto the next greenish platform above.
  23. 23
    Hit the nearby exclamation switch; the slope in front of you will turn into stairs.
  24. 24
    Quickly run up the stairs.
  25. 25
    At the top, go into the pipe to fight Bowser.

Bowser Fight:

  1. Bowser will try to burn you with his breath; watch out for it.
  2. To attack, run around behind Bowser and grab his tail with the B button.
  3. Swing Bowser around in circles by rotating the control stick as fast as you can.
  4. Use the C buttons to look around for the giant spike bombs in the four corners of the room.
  5. Throw Bowser (press B again) into any of the four spike bombs to defeat him. This only needs to be done once.
Tips
  • Watch out for fire hazards on slopes and bridges.
  • The 'ferris wheel' platform will automatically carry you across.
  • The wobble boards act like see-saws; use their tilting motion to reach higher platforms.
  • Swing Bowser as fast as possible for a farther throw.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content