American gamer beats Super Mario Bros in just 4 min 54 sec during spectacular speedrun
Almost everyone knows (it’s-a me!) Mario – the best selling video game character of all time, who first made his debut in an arcade game over 40 years ago and has since appeared in over 250 games.
Thu, 13 Mar 2025
Arguably his most famous appearance is in Super Mario Bros., an iconic game that first debuted in 1985 on Nintendo – and generations of gamers, either novice or professional, have at some point crowded around a screen and controlled the little Italian plumber over villains in the Mushroom Kingdom as he tries to rescue his beloved Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil Bowser.
And while many of us have fond memories spending hours collecting coins and smashing Koopa Troopas, some gamers take Super Mario Bros. very seriously, and want to become the fastest in the world to beat this popular game.
American speedrunner Niftski has set a new Guinness World Record by completing the 1985 classic "Super Mario Bros." in an astonishing 4 minutes and 54.565 seconds.
Niftski's journey to this record has been marked by dedication and continuous improvement. In April 2021, he became the first player to break the 4:55 barrier, achieving a time of 4:54.948. His latest accomplishment further cements his status in the speedrunning community.
Reflecting on his achievement, Niftski emphasized the importance of relentless practice. He revealed that he dedicates approximately 90% of his time to refining his skills and only 10% to actual speedrun attempts. This rigorous regimen has been instrumental in his success.
Despite this monumental achievement, Niftski remains driven. He has expressed a desire to further reduce his completion time, aiming to lower every Super Mario Bros. world record to at least 4:54.3 before considering his mission complete.
Niftski's accomplishment not only showcases individual excellence but also highlights the evolving nature of gaming, where players continually push boundaries to achieve new milestones.
For those interested in witnessing a previous world record speedrun by Niftski, here's a video showcasing his remarkable skills: