Introduction
The Nintendo 64 was a source of joy for millions of kids in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But amid beloved titles like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, a darker undercurrent emerged—stories of haunted cartridges, corrupted files, and ghostly glitches that chilled players to the bone. This is the digital folklore of the N64 era—where ghosts didn’t haunt houses, but game consoles.
1. The Legend of Ben Drowned
Perhaps the most famous haunted N64 tale, Ben Drowned centers on a copy of Majora’s Mask that behaved strangely after being purchased at a garage sale. The player documented their descent into the haunted game via a series of blog posts and videos. Distorted music, eerie dialogue, and a mysterious statue of Link created a sensation that blurred the line between reality and fiction. This creepypasta is now a defining moment in internet horror culture.
2. The Cartridge That Wouldn’t Die
Some users have reported finding Super Smash Bros. or GoldenEye cartridges that seemed to reset themselves or retain save data no matter what. One story involved a cartridge that always restored deleted data—even after being destroyed and replaced. Was it a glitch, or something more sinister?
3. The Screaming Mario 64 Hack
A rumored bootleg of Super Mario 64 allegedly contained a mod that made Mario scream endlessly if he entered a specific door in the castle. The game would crash, and Mario’s scream would echo for hours—leading some players to believe the file itself was cursed.
4. Haunted Pokémon Stadium
One eerie report involved a Pokémon Stadium cartridge where the player’s Pokémon would faint before battle even started. The game’s announcer voice would speak gibberish or whisper chilling phrases like “You shouldn’t be here.” No official glitch was ever acknowledged by Nintendo.
5. Zelda’s Shadow Link Glitch
A lesser-known myth tells of a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time cartridge where a second Link character appeared—shadowy, unpredictable, and sometimes aggressive. Some claimed this ‘ghost Link’ would follow the player even in safe zones and mimic every movement with increasing speed.
6. The Unstoppable Racer in Mario Kart 64
In one now-debunked legend, players reported a ghostly opponent in Mario Kart 64 who always placed first, never collided, and whose name changed depending on the player’s initials. Attempts to remove the save file failed, and screenshots of the “ghost kart” circulated in early gaming forums.
7. The Forbidden Level in Donkey Kong 64
Some fans insist there’s a secret, unfinished level in Donkey Kong 64 only accessible via a series of impossible button combinations. Those who found it reported reversed controls, demonic laughter, and flickering visuals. While likely a myth, the fear it generated was real for many curious gamers.
Conclusion
Whether these haunted N64 stories stem from corrupted code or wild imaginations, they reflect the unique blend of digital and paranormal that defines internet-age folklore. The N64 may be a relic of the past, but its haunted legends continue to terrify and fascinate gamers today. If you still have your old cartridges… maybe double-check them before you play.
Related Reading: Creepy Internet Urban Legends That Went Viral
