Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Adds Classic Speedrunning Challenges on Nintendo Switch

Published on: June 09, 2025

Nintendo continues to celebrate its rich history of speedrunning and classic gaming with new challenges in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

With a focus on competitive play and community engagement, this latest batch of challenges draws on iconic moments from some of the most beloved NES titles, offering players a unique opportunity to relive and master retro gameplay in a modern setting. Starting now, players can access a fresh set of time-limited speedrunning events in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition.

The featured challenges include: "Not Lichen It" from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, "Fire in the Hole" from The Legend of Zelda, "In Rhythm" from Excitebike, "Magic Jar Excavation" from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and "Curtain Call: Lemmy" from Super Mario Bros.

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These carefully crafted stages are available until June 16 at 1:59 a.m.

PT, encouraging players to test their skill and strive for the fastest runs. Nintendo has emphasized the community aspect of the championships, inviting all participants from past competitions to check their rankings both globally and among peers born in the same year.

Players can also view replays of the top performances for each challenge, providing valuable insight into optimal strategies and techniques to improve personal bests. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is an homage to the company’s storied competitive legacy, gathering more than 150 speed-based moments from 13 NES classics into a single, accessible package.

These challenges are meticulously curated to appeal both to veterans of the early days of the NES and newcomers looking to experience some of the most memorable segments in video game history.

Titles featured include widely recognized franchises such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Excitebike—all optimized for the Nintendo Switch hardware. The game supports both global online play and local couch competition, allowing friends and family to challenge one another.

To take part in online features, players must have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and a registered Nintendo Account.

Memberships are sold separately and auto-renew unless canceled, with additional terms applicable as outlined on Nintendo’s official support site.

Local multiplayer may require additional accessories, which are also sold separately.

It’s important to note that the NES games included are composed of select challenges, not the full versions of the original titles. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a testament to Nintendo's continued dedication to honoring its past while fostering modern competitive communities.

Whether revisiting cherished memories or vying for new high scores, players on Nintendo Switch are invited to see how far their speedrunning skills can take them during this exclusive event window.