Super Mario Bros. Speedrunner Niftski Sets New Any% World Record on NES Emulator

Super Mario Bros.

Speedrunner Niftski Sets New Any% World Record on NES Emulator Super Mario Bros., Nintendo's legendary 8-bit platformer originally released for the NES in 1985, remains a pillar of speedrunning culture nearly four decades later.

Recently, the speedrunning community witnessed an extraordinary achievement as renowned player Niftski set a new world record for the any% category, completing the game with a time of 4:54.565.

This latest milestone, achieved using an emulator and keyboard, solidifies Niftski’s dedication and highlights the ever-narrowing margins in this highly competitive realm. For context, the any% speedrun of Super Mario Bros.

challenges players to finish the game as quickly as possible, frequently exploiting advanced strategies and pixel-perfect techniques.

Over recent years, the game has been so thoroughly analyzed by the global speedrunning community that even fractions of a second are considered significant breakthroughs.

Niftski’s latest record beats out previous runs by mere frames—a testament to the precision now required to reach the top. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Niftski explained that his performance in World 8-4 “could have been a few frames faster” if he had executed his planned strategies more optimally, but he expressed immense satisfaction nonetheless.

He noted, "This run is now only 18 frames, or 0.3 seconds, off what is considered absolute perfection.

While I intend to push for an even lower time in the future, I’m very happy with this result for now." Throughout the record-breaking run, Niftski monitored his heart rate, which peaked dramatically at 188 beats per minute during the intense final moments.

Addressing concerns about the potential health implications, he clarified that his typical resting rate hovers around 70 BPM and that the combination of excitement, caffeine, and the high stakes of streaming naturally escalates adrenaline levels.

"Speedrunning isn't a time when you're at rest—nerves can truly skyrocket when the pace is this intense.

I'm completely healthy and have no heart condition," he assured his followers. Niftski’s use of emulation and a keyboard for his Super Mario Bros.

runs has occasionally sparked debate within the community.

However, he underscored that emulation is fully accepted within speedrunning standards—"Emulation is 100% accurate," he stated, referencing long-standing rules on speedrun.com that permit emulator usage.

He also addressed the misconception that keyboard input offers an advantage over traditional NES controllers.

According to Niftski, "Keyboard offers no advantage, and might actually be less optimal for speedrunning this game.

I've simply developed a preference for keyboard from years of gaming experience." To further dispel myths regarding possible input exploits, Niftski explained that although keyboards could theoretically register simultaneous left and right inputs (L+R), such functions are banned since they are unachievable on standard, unmodified NES controllers.

During his run, emulator settings were configured to nullify dual inputs, ensuring no invalid moves were performed and the integrity of the record remained intact. Niftski’s latest breakthrough pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in Super Mario Bros.

any% speedrunning.

As the chase for the theoretical perfect time intensifies, fans and fellow competitors alike will be watching closely for his next attempt to lower the world record and further cement his legacy in the history of Nintendo speedruns.

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