The 5 fastest Mario speedruns
Mario is an Italian plumber with no ass and legs that can run like the wind. In this year’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, he has a bumbling personality. However, in the hands of a deft player, Mario can become a lean, mean pipe-jumping machine. The most skilled players can complete Super Mario 64, a game that typically takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, in under two hours. For these players, no amount of fireballs and Thwomps will stop them from finishing the game as quickly as possible.
The level of skill brought to these runs is undeniable. In the most precise speedruns, a mere pixel or two can make or break a run. A single level, like the 5-2 level fromSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, can capture an entire history of speedrunning and its innovations in its pixelated platforms. In other cases, fan-made levels in games like Super Mario Maker 2 and “Kaizo” Mario levels have pushed fans to create even more intricate levels for those looking for the ultimate challenge.
It’s a thrill and a pleasure to see beloved games played so well. Because of this, we’ve decided to round up the fastest Mario speedruns in the world, picking five of the most popular Mario games with the highest number of total runs according to Speedrun.com. Some games have different completion requirements (e.g., 120 stars, Any%), so we specify these requirements in each section.
Run date: Oct. 16, 2023
Run time: 1h 37m 32s
Category: 120 Stars
Super Mario 64 has withstood the test of time as a classic Mario game. It has its share of bugs, but the game was ahead of its time as a 3D platformer and has the second-highest number of speedruns of any game on Speedrun.com. As such, it’s a hotly contested record. At time of publication, the record is currently
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