Shotgun Mario 64 is a fan-made ROM hack of Super Mario 64, developed by Dorrieal and released in October 2023, that introduces a fully functional shotgun mechanic into Nintendo’s beloved 1996 platformer. Rather than focusing on new level design or visual overhauls like most Super Mario 64 hacks, this mod takes a much more chaotic approach, letting players blast their way through Princess Peach’s castle and beyond with a weapon that interacts with nearly everything in the game world. In this article, we’ll cover how the mod works, what makes it stand out, and why it’s earned such an enthusiastic following within the ROM hacking community.
A Joke Premise Built Into a Genuinely Deep System
At first glance, Shotgun Mario 64 sounds like a simple novelty: take a beloved family-friendly platformer and hand the main character a firearm. And on some level, that’s exactly what it is, a tongue-in-cheek answer to the kind of joke players have made for decades about wanting a “gun powerup” in Mario 64. But what separates this mod from a quick gimmick is just how thoroughly the shotgun mechanic was woven into the game’s existing systems.
When starting a new save file, players are given a brief tutorial covering the basics of firing the shotgun. What the tutorial doesn’t reveal, however, is just how far-reaching the weapon’s effects are throughout the rest of the game, a deliberate design choice meant to encourage players to discover the mod’s quirks and secrets through experimentation rather than explanation.
A Weapon With Genuine Movement Tech
Far from being a simple bolted-on feature, the shotgun integrates directly into Super Mario 64’s existing movement systems. Players can fire the weapon after virtually every type of jump in Mario’s moveset, including standing jumps, double jumps, triple jumps, long jumps, somersaults, and wall jumps. This opens up entirely new movement tech in a game already famous among speedrunners for its complex jumping mechanics, giving experienced players fresh tools to experiment with on top of decades of established Super Mario 64 movement tricks.
According to fans who have written about the mod, the recoil and timing of shotgun blasts mid-air can be used creatively to extend jumps, adjust trajectory, or set up entirely new routes through levels, making the weapon feel like a genuine extension of the game’s movement options rather than just a combat tool bolted onto the side.
Shooting Everything Has Consequences
What truly sets Shotgun Mario 64 apart from a typical “add a gun” mod is the sheer number of custom interactions built into the environment. Nearly every object and obstacle in the game world reacts differently when shot, often in unexpected or outright bizarre ways. A few examples players have documented include:
- Doors — Can be blown clean off their hinges instead of being opened normally.
- Trees — Sustain multiple types of visible damage and end up visibly singed after being shot.
- Cannon hatches — Can be destroyed outright, permanently putting the game’s Bob-omb Buddies out of a job.
- Power Stars — Comically split apart when struck with a shotgun blast.
- Moving platforms — Can sometimes be stopped entirely depending on where they’re hit.
This level of environmental detail means the mod isn’t just about combat, it fundamentally changes how players approach traversal, puzzle-solving, and even speedrunning routes throughout the game, since previously indestructible objects suddenly become destructible obstacles or shortcuts.
A Surprisingly Active Achievement and Challenge Scene
Shotgun Mario 64 has built up a dedicated following on RetroAchievements, where the community has created an entirely separate achievement set built specifically around the shotgun mechanic, layered on top of the game’s traditional star-collecting objectives. Many players who have completed this achievement set describe it as one of the most creatively designed modded experiences they’ve encountered, praising how thoroughly the shotgun was woven into existing level challenges rather than feeling like a tacked-on addition.
Some challenges specifically restrict traditional inputs, like avoiding the use of certain buttons, forcing players to rely entirely on shotgun-based movement tricks to complete objectives that would normally be straightforward. This has led to a small but genuinely engaged community discovering new tech and strategies well after the mod’s initial release.
How to Play Shotgun Mario 64
Like most ROM hacks, Shotgun Mario 64 isn’t a standalone download, it requires a legally obtained Super Mario 64 ROM file as a base, which is then modified using a patch file. Players typically use a patching tool, such as Floating IPS or an xDelta-compatible patcher, to apply the mod’s changes to their own copy of the original game before running it through an N64 emulator. Several browser-based emulator sites have also made the mod playable directly online without requiring any downloads or manual patching.
Why Fans Keep Coming Back
What ultimately makes Shotgun Mario 64 resonate with players isn’t just the absurdity of giving Mario a firearm, it’s how much thought went into making that absurd premise actually fun to interact with. Reviewers and fans alike have pointed out that despite the novelty concept, the mod manages to add genuine depth to an already beloved game, offering new movement options, unexpected environmental interactions, and a surprising amount of replay value for those willing to experiment.
For longtime Super Mario 64 players who have completed the game’s traditional 120-star run more times than they can count, Shotgun Mario 64 offers a genuinely fresh way to revisit familiar territory, proof that even a joke premise can turn into a remarkably well-crafted piece of fan game design when enough care is put into the execution.
Final Thoughts
Shotgun Mario 64 takes one of gaming’s most repeated jokes and turns it into a surprisingly deep, well-integrated mod that rewards experimentation and rewards players willing to dig into its many hidden interactions. Between its movement-enhancing mechanics and its long list of environmental quirks, it stands out as one of the more memorable and creatively executed Super Mario 64 ROM hacks the community has produced.