Bowser's Castle/Appearances

== In ==
===Super Mario Bros.===
Bowser's Castle first appeared in this game at the end of World 8. In World 8-3, Mario or Luigi had to fight Bowser's troops outside of the building. World 8-4 takes place inside of Bowser's Castle itself, where Mario or Luigi battles and defeats Bowser in order to save Princess Toadstool.
In the Super Mario All-Stars remake, a distinct feature that Bowser's Castle has from other castles is thunder and lightning flashing in the background.
===Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of World 8-4, except is shown to be located in the sky at the end of World 8-3. Bowser's Castle also appears in World D-3 and World D-4, where it is instead grounded.
In Super Mario All-Stars, like with the remake Super Mario Bros., the Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels remake also has the distinct feature of thunder and lightning flashing in the background.
===Super Mario Bros. 3===
Bowser's Castle returns as the setting for the very last level, the only castle level, and once again the location where Princess Toadstool is held hostage. The entirety of the eighth world, Dark Land, was built around it, evidenced by how it is alternatively named Castle of Koopa as well as Bowser's Castle in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, which also gives it an animated map icon. The very last level, World 8-Bowser's Castle, takes place inside of Bowser's Castle itself, which is not seen until reaching the end of Dark Land.
===Super Mario World===
Bowser's Castle can be found in the Valley of Bowser, coming after fighting Larry Koopa or Reznor. There are two entrances to this castle: the Front Door and the Back Door, serving as the main and secret entrances respectively. If the player goes through the front door, they must first go through two of eight doors, each one featuring different challenges, before reaching the dark hallway leading to the rooftop for the final battle. The back door goes straight to the dark hallway.
===Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS===
Bowser's Castle does not appear, although its role is somewhat implicit, given that Bowser took over Princess Peach's Castle, and Mario (as well as Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario in Super Mario 64 DS) had to free it from Bowser.
===New Super Mario Bros.===
Just as before, Bowser's Castle is where the final level takes place, in this case of World 8. Bowser's Castle is not seen at first, but after completing , a bridge rises out from a lake of lava, revealing there to be a second half of World 8, at the end of which is Bowser's Castle.
Bowser's Castle features Thwomps, Dry Bones, Burners, and Lava Bubbles. The ? Switches in the castle have an unusual effect of inverting the gravity, along with the positions of Mario or Luigi and any enemy. The second part of the castle is a looping room consisting of an abundance of lava, one Podoboo, and one Fire Bar. At the end of the castle, Mario or Luigi have to fight both Bowser Jr. and Bowser. After doing so, Princess Peach is rescued, and the game ends.
===Super Mario Galaxy===
Bowser's Castle does not appear, but the galaxy Bowser's Galaxy Reactor is based on it.
===New Super Mario Bros. Wii===
Bowser's Castle is located at the end of World 8. Here, after the playable characters complete for the first time, they reunite with Princess Peach, only for Kamek to take her to Bowser's Castle, originally hidden behind a rock wall in the northern part of the world map. The wall then recedes, revealing Bowser's Castle, and Bowser's laughter is heard as Kamek swoops down into his castle with Peach.
Bowser's Castle is the setting of , which consists of three parts: the first part is a regular side-scrolling area with lava, Podoboos and Fire Bars; the second part is an auto-scrolling vertical area where the lava drains downward; and the third is Bowser's lair, where Bowser is located. At first, Bowser is fought in his regular size, but after Bowser is defeated in this form, Kamek casts a spell on Bowser to make him gigantic, initiating the second part of the battle, where Bowser goes after Mario and the other characters through his castle.
In one segment of the ending cutscene, shown after completing the level, when six of the Koopalings flip Bowser on his belly, the castle falls onto all of them.
===Super Mario Galaxy 2===
There is another galaxy based on Bowser's Castle, Bowser's Galaxy Generator. Bowser's Castle itself appears in a mission of Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet, Breaking into Bowser's Castle.
===Super Mario 3D Land===
This is the first 3D Super Mario game to feature Bowser's Castle as main setting of a course. Super Mario 3D Land in particular features two Bowser's Castles, both of which appear in World 8. The first castle, set in : Part 1, is similar to earlier castle levels, and at the end, Mario fights Bowser and defeats him by pressing the switch at the end of the bridge, causing Bowser to fall down into the lava below. Mario makes his way to Peach, only for it to just be a wooden cutout. Bowser then appears with the real Peach and retreats to his other, larger castle.
The second Bowser's Castle takes place in the level : Part 2. Here, a large part of the level involves Mario riding on Bonecoasters. At the end is a big red door, leading to the final area with Bowser. Here, Peach is found tied up to the flagpole, but before Mario can rescue her, Bowser falls from above and tries to crush him, causing the floor to collapse and initiating the final battle. Mario makes his way up the castle, avoiding Bowser's fireballs as well the Spiked Balls and Barrels thrown by him. Eventually, as Bowser chases after Mario across the second bridge, Mario presses the switch at the end, causing the bridge to collapse and for Bowser to fall. As Mario continues to make his way up the castle, Bowser returns and pursues Mario, breathing purple flames that jet toward him. Eventually, Bowser chases Mario across another bridge, but Mario manages to press the last switch at the end, causing the bridge to explode and leaving Bowser to fall down into the lava. Mario then rescues Peach and they head back home. Unfortunately, Mario has to go to the Special Worlds, as his younger brother, Luigi, has been kidnapped by Dry Bowser and his minions. 
After Mario and Luigi complete the Special Worlds, Bowser abducts Peach again, and Mario must return to Bowser's Castle to defeat him and rescue Peach once more.
===New Super Mario Bros. 2===
Bowser's Castle appears at the end of World 6, being the setting of the last regular level, World 6-Bowser's Castle. The exterior of the castle is similar to its appearance in New Super Mario Bros.. As usual, Bowser is fought as a boss at the end of his castle. Similarly to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, there are two parts of Bowser's battle, with the latter part featuring him in a larger size.
===New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe===
Although Bowser's Castle does not appear itself, Bowser takes over Peach's Castle at the start of the game and starts renovating it to better resemble his own castle, ultimately being successful by the time of the final battle against Bowser Jr..
===Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury===
The seventh world, World Castle, is centered around Bowser's Castle, which appears to be floating high above the Sprixie Kingdom. The last world, World Bowser, features a second castle, which is themed after an amusement park and is where the course The Great Tower of Bowser Land takes place.
===Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS===
Bowser's Castle appears in the 10 Mario Challenges and the 100 Mario Challenges.
===Super Mario Odyssey===
Bowser's Castle is located in Bowser's Kingdom. Unlike most other appearances, Bowser's Castle is instead a traditional Japanese castle, with a concentric series of walls and baileys, a traditional garden and tea house, and a central keep. Another difference is that rather than consisting of lava, it has moats filled with Poisoned Water.
===Super Mario Maker 2===
Bowser's Castle makes a cameo appearance in the background of castle-themed courses in the Super Mario 3D World style. Since the version 3.0.0 update, Bowser's Castle also appears as a world part for World Maker.
===Super Mario Bros. Wonder===
Although the location itself does not appear, a variation of Bowser's Castle is used where Bowser uses the Wonder Flower's power to combine Prince Florian's castle with the Koopa Clown Car to create a flying fortress with a large Bowser head on the front. Bowser then proceeded to conquer portions of the Flower Kingdom with his new fortress.
== In ==
===Super Mario Kart===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of three race courses, Bowser Castle 1, Bowser Castle 2, Bowser Castle 3.
===Mario Kart 64===
Bowser's Castle is only the setting for one track. Again, the track is covered with angry Thwomps and lava. Half of the course is outside the castle, while half of it is inside. It is also the only solo Bowser Castle to not be in the Special Cup. This course reappears as a retro course in Mario Kart Wii, and it is the final track in the Lightning Cup.
===Mario Kart: Super Circuit===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of four race courses, Bowser Castle 1, Bowser Castle 2, Bowser Castle 3, and Bowser Castle 4. The first three are the last courses of the Mushroom, Flower, and Star Cups, while the last one is the penultimate course of the entire game, appearing as the third course in the Special Cup before this game's Rainbow Road. In addition, the three Bowser Castle tracks from Super Mario Kart make a reappearance.
===Mario Kart: Double Dash!!===
Bowser's Castle is the third track in the Special Cup, succeeding Dino Dino Jungle and preceding Rainbow Road. In this game, the level is mostly inside, but the beginning is outside. Just like every other Bowser's Castle, this one also has Thwomps and lava. This castle debuted the signature Mecha-Bowser, which shoots out fireballs. The racers start outside the castle and drive into a 2-way split, with Thwomps on either side. After coming out of the split, they turn into an area filled with lava and fireballs firing out. The track splits and joins back at the launch ramp, while in the middle there is a pit of lava. There is a room with large fireballs spinning counterclockwise in a circular room. Hitting these will cause one to spin out. Towards the end of the room, there are boosts to take the racers back outside the castle over some more lava back to the starting line.
===Mario Kart DS===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of another track, Bowser Castle, sans apostrophe. It is unique in the fact it is darker and consists of more metal parts than other Bowser's Castle tracks. It is the third track in Special Cup, coming after Peach Gardens and preceding Rainbow Road. Aside from this, returns from Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
===Mario Kart Wii===
Bowser's Castle returns as the setting of another course of its own, retaining the usual lava, fireballs, and even the Mecha-Bowser from the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! track of the same name. It succeeds Moonview Highway and precedes this game's Rainbow Road. In addition, both and return as classic courses, from Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit respectively.
===Mario Kart 7===
Bowser's Castle is once introduced as the setting of another course, featuring lava as well as Thwomps. It is the penultimate course in the game, coming after Rosalina's Ice World and before this game's Rainbow Road. Like several other tracks, there is an area eligible for gliding and underwater driving. The course's music is a combination of Mario Kart Wiis Bowser's Castle music and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!s Bowser's Castle music. returns from Mario Kart: Super Circuit as a classic course, now sporting a Glider 
===Mario Kart 8===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of another track of its own. It features a giant Bowser Statue, which punches the track to swerve a section of it. This is the only Bowser Castle track to lack any Thwomps. Before the race starts, the castle's portcullis rises up.
As with the previous five games, the course is the penultimate track, being featured in the Special Cup, coming after Bone-Dry Dunes and before Rainbow Road.
==In ==
===Mario is Missing!===
Bowser's Castle is the main setting, but it now unusually has Antarctica as its greater location. Bowser's Castle features many doors with portals to various cities around the in-universe real world.
===Mario's Time Machine===
Bowser's Castle is the main setting of the MS-DOS and Super Nintendo Entertainment System version, specifically as the location of Bowser's Museum. The Nintendo Entertainment System version instead features Bowser's Museum as a separate building.
==In Yoshi's Safari==
Bowser's Castle is where the final level of the same name takes place.
==In ==
===Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island===
Bowser's Castle returns as the final level of the game, named King Bowser's Castle.
===Yoshi's Island DS===
Bowser's Castle has appeared in the clouds. Bowser travels back in time and kidnaps the babies in order to find the seven Star Children. Bowser's Castle is the setting of the final castle level, At Last, Bowser's Castle!, let alone the final level overall. All the babies (including Baby Wario and Baby Bowser) are able to ride Yoshi's back in this level.
Yoshi can take five different routes in the castle, one route for each baby. It doesn't matter which route you take, as you'll end up in the same room before the final boss. If you enter the boss door with Baby Bowser on your back however, you'll end up with Baby Mario due to Baby Bowser being the first of three bosses of the final castle. The other two bosses are Bowser and, like its Yoshi's Island counterpart, a bigger version of Bowser.
== In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars ==
Bowser's Castle (called Bowser's Keep in the game) is attacked by Smithy's Army and his minion Exor. Bowser was kicked out of his own castle and was forced to try to break back into his castle with the remainder of his army of Goombas and Koopas.
== In ==
=== Paper Mario ===
Bowser's Castle is located directly underneath Princess Peach's Castle. During a ball at the Princess's castle, Bowser forced his castle into the air, causing an earthquake which broke Princess Peach's Castle away from the ground and into the air. Bowser's base of operation serves as the final dungeon of the game and is led directly in Princess Peach's castle. In Bowser's Castle, there is a room with a treasure chest that was designed so that Mario could only enter it while riding Lakilester since the doorway and the room itself contains lava that would damage Mario should he try to walk into the room. The player is capable of jumping towards the door's frame, and, although being hurt and thrown backwards, Mario can trigger the game to display the other room as if Mario had entered it. Since the entrance to the room is covered in lava, however, the game does not spawn Mario in the room, and the game will crash, with the crash handler stating that a "FLOATING POINT EXCEPTION" occurred.
===Super Paper Mario===
Once again, Bowser's castle plays a minor role. In the beginning of the game, Bowser addresses his troops as he plans to capture the princess, but is interrupted by the Mario Bros. and Count Bleck.
Later, after being transported to The Bitlands with several of his troops, Bowser, upon finding several Super Mario Bros.-styled fortresses, takes them as his own, with him inhabiting the largest of them. Mario, however, manages to destroy that one.
===Paper Mario: Sticker Star===
Bowser's Castle returns in the form of Bowser's Sky Castle counting as the final place in level in Paper Mario: Sticker Star. Mario fights Kamek first then confronts Bowser who is wearing the final Royal Sticker. After Bowser is defeated, the Royal Stickers and Kersti return to the Sticker Comet and Mario and Peach watch as the parade goes on. Its design is heavily based on the Bowser's Castle from Super Mario 3D Land and is probably the only Bowser's Castle not to contain any enemy (Kamek counts as a mini-boss fight).
==In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour==
The golf course Bowser Badlands is located near Bowser's Castle.
== In ==
=== Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga/Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions ===
Bowser's Castle is the final location. Bowletta rules in Bowser's Castle, who is the final boss of Superstar Saga. Bowletta's minions are the Koopalings. The order of the Koopaling bosses is a reference to the order of bosses in Super Mario World. It is also the final world of the Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser campaign in the remake.
====Enemies ==== 
*Boo
*Chomp Bro
*Gunner Guy
*Hammer Bro
*Magikoopa
*Sniper Bill
====Bosses====
*Koopalings (Iggy Koopa, Morton Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa, Roy Koopa, Wendy O. Koopa, Larry Koopa)
*Fawful
*Bowletta
====Levels (Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser) ====
*Fireball and Boomerang Crossfire
*Chain Chomp and Spike Stomp
* A Tale of Tails
*Double Trouble Koopaling Caper
* Pokey Panic
*Rumble in the Castle!
* Gold Beanie's Final Stand
*Goomba's Worth
*Showdown Time!!
*Believe in Bowser
*Captain Boo Trial
*The Mightiest Minions
*The Beastly Bean Battalion
===Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time===
In the present, Bowser's Castle is walled by a two-story wall and a tower with two side towers that resemble hands connected to the main tower. The main tower has the same collar as Bowser, and the top part of the tower is a likeness of Bowser's head. Inside it looks exactly like in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. In the past, Baby Bowser's castle is almost exactly like that of his older self, except with a likeness of Baby Bowser's head. However, inside the castle, Baby Bowser's room has toys, happy faces, and flower paintings; the Koopalings' rooms are not here as well because Bowser did not have children at the time.
===Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey===
Bowser's Castle was taken over by Fawful. It is the first boss fight as Giant Bowser. It was later redecorated by Fawful into Fawful's Theater.
==In Mario Pinball Land==
Bowser's Castle is where the final level, Fiery Stage, takes place. All previous bosses can be found and battled in the castle once more, followed by Bowser himself.
==In ==
===Mario Power Tennis===
Bowser's Castle is the setting of the tennis court Bowser Castle Court.
===Mario Tennis Open===
Bowser's Castle returns as a tennis court.
===Mario Tennis Aces===
Bowser's Castle is located in the center of Inferno Island, and is the setting of the Battle the Treasure Guardian! mission.
==In Mario Hoops 3-on-3==
Bowser's Castle is the setting of a basketball court of the same name, and it can be seen in the background. The court has several hazardous gimmicks, including Thwomps, Podoboos, and Bombs from the Final Fantasy games.
==In Mario Sports Mix==
Bowser's Castle is once again the setting of the sports stadium of the same name.
== In other media==
===The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3===
Bowser's castle appears in Dark Land in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.
===Super Mario World (television series)===
Here, it is named Neon Castle, and is based on its appearance in Super Mario World.
===The Super Mario Bros. Movie===
Bowser's castle appears as a floating volcano in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Category:Location appearances