Mario Odessey is a charming and fun game to play for Nintendo Switch. With that being said, many players found that the game, including it’s most celebrated level New Donk City, wasn’t that hard. In fact, some fans didn’t even like the musical number that happens in the level and found that scaling around a city was tedious.

Mario 64, on the other hand, is one of the most popular platforming titles of all times, and its level design is often considered to be near perfect. Below are ten levels that fans of the franchise have admitted they found more enjoyable and challenging than New Donk City.

10 Jolly Roger’s Bay

Jolly Roger’s Bay is the third level and shows off the game’s swimming mechanics. In the level, players find a sunken ship, treasure caves, and a grumpy eel. The level has just the right amount of increasing difficulty, and each star expands upon the levels overarching theme.

The ship that is sunken during the first star even resurfaces later on for a red coin hunt.

9 Cool, Cool Mountain

Cool, Cool Mountain is the fourth level in the game, which is based on a snowy mountainside. The level contains a large slide, where players will eventually race a penguin to the bottom and a snowman that Mario will need to help roll together to get a star.

The mountain has several segments that make slipping possible and one of the hardest stars in the game.

8 Tiny-Huge Island

Tiny-Huge Island is the thirteenth level in the game and uses an interesting gimmick. Mario can jump into two different pictures to enter the level. One frame is small and makes Mario appear huge in the level while the other one makes him tiny.

Players must rotate between using tiny and huge Mario in order to get all the stars in the level.

7 Rainbow Road

Despite Rainbow Road being the last and hardest course in the game, it is well designed. The level takes Mario on a ride using magic carpets and tests players’ jump timing. Seasoned players will still find challenge in the level without filling like the stars are unfair.

The overall design is interesting as the level is filled with rainbow lows and floating ships.

6 Tall Tall Mountain

Tall Tall Mountain is the twelfth level in the game and puts players at the base of a huge mountain. The mountain is accompanied by giant mushrooms and playful monkeys waiting to still Mario’s cap. The level even brings back the secret slide concept for the third time.

Tall Tall Mountain is one of the only verticle levels in the game, offering a nice change of pace for players.

5 Hazy Maze Caves

Hazy Maze Caves is the sixth level and, like it’s named suggests, is basically just one giant maze. Mario will have to navigate his way around the level to unlock the steel cap and find the secret lake that houses Nessie. There are even poison gases and moving platforms to content with.

The Maze is easy to get turned around in, and one star even uses poison gas to whittle down players.

4 Lethal Lave Land

Lethal Lava Land is one of the more enjoyable lava based levels in gaming. This is the second part of the game and is made of a volcano and an outer lava-filled lake. Players must safely navigate the map while keeping on solid ground and avoiding bouncing fireballs.

The stage also introduces bullies, which are enemies that try to push Mario into the lava.

3 Whomp’s Fortress

Whomp’s Fortress is the second level in the game and centered around the Whomp enemy. Players will have to scale the fortress while ground-pounding on whom enemies to unlock the various stars. One star even uses a friendly owl to help drop Mario into a cage.

While the level is a simple design overall, it is one that speedrunners love to redo.

2 Shifting Sand Land

Shifting Sand Land eighth area, you will enter and offers unique challenges for Mario to overcome. The area is filled with sinking sand that will slowly drown Mario both inside the pyramids and in the surrounding area. There is also a buzzard who tries to steal Mario’s hat after you take his star.

In addition, to reach the pyramid and oasis, you have to navigate a bridge with moving cubes that can crush you.

1 Big Boo’s Haunt

Big Boo’s Haunt is an area that gave tons of kids from the 90’s nightmare, mostly because of its horrifying living piano. This is the fifth and only course to be found in the castle courtyard. Once inside, Mario must navigate a mansion filled with boos, flying books, and sadistic merry-go-rounds.

Big Boo also brings wall jumping into the limelight and forces Mario to fight several bosses for stars.

NEXT: Super Mario: 10 Best Games In The Franchise, Ranked (According To Metacritic)