ASuper Mario Bros.speedrunner has pulled off an extraordinary feat that’s sending shockwaves through the speedrunning community. A player known as Niftski has broken the world record for the original 1985 Super Mario Bros. by a full five seconds. This is an almost unheard-of margin in a game that’s been relentlessly optimized for decades.

This new record represents the biggest improvement in over a decade, marking a monumental moment in speedrunning history. Niftski (viaTwitter) achieved a time of 4 minutes and 54.631 seconds using the “warpless” category, which requires players to complete the game without using warp zones to skip levels.

Dying from a poison mushroom in the first level of Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels NES version.

This Speedrunner Beat A Long-Standing Super Mario Bros. World Record

Niftski Set A World Record In A Warpless Super Mario Run

You can watch Niftski’s incredible warpless speedrun above, which is not to be confused with the morecommonly known “Any%” category,which allows warp usage. The warpless category is more demanding and requires near-perfect execution throughout all 32 levels of the game.

To understand how significant this record is, you have to look at how little room there is left for improvement inclassicMariospeedruns. Over the years,players have shaved off millisecondsat a time, with hundreds of hours spent perfecting every jump, enemy dodge, and level transition.

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The fact that Niftski was able tobeat the previous world record by five secondsis staggering. It’s the largest jump in recorded time since 2011, when the record dropped by over six seconds thanks to a new technique. What makes Niftski’s run so impressive is not just the time itself, but the technical execution. The speedrun relies heavily on frame-perfect movements, pixel-accurate jumps, and flawless routing.

According toGamesRadar+, Niftski had to execute tricks like"fast acceleration," “flagpole glitch,” and “bullet bill glitch,“which involve manipulating the game’s code or physics within tight time windows. A single mistake can end a run, meaning consistency and precision are crucial.

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It’s Amazing Players Are Still Shaving Off Time From This Ridiculously Fast Record

Niftski Is Beating His Own Records At This Point, But It’s Still Awesome To Watch

TheSuper Mariospeedrun community has reacted with a mix of awe and disbelief. Many believed the warpless record was nearing its theoretical limit, with improvements coming only in tiny increments. Niftski’s achievement has completely reset expectations and sparked renewed interest in a game that’s nearly 40 years old.

Discussions have already begun around whether the record can go even lower, though most agree it will take an immense effort to top Niftski’s time. Niftski himself isno stranger to speedrunning greatness. He’s held various records inMariogames before and is considered one of the top players in the community. This latest record only solidifies his legacy.

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Ultimately, this new world record is a testament to the gamer’s dedication, skill, patience, and the enduring appeal of classic video games. Even after nearly four decades,Super Mario Bros.continues to inspire and challenge players, proving that mastery can still be pushed to new limits.

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