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Speedrunning has grown in popularity over the past decade, starting with a small gaming community and breaking into the mainstream thanks to events like the Games Done Quick marathons. NES speedruns are considered some of the cleanest and most difficult of all, requiring a mastery of precise mechanics in addition to the basic difficulty of most classic Nintendo games.
Of the more than 1,000 games for the Nintendo Entertainment System, few have become mainstays in speedrunning, continuing their legacy from the golden era of 8-bit. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular NES speedrun games and see how fast gamers beat them.
Most Popular NES Speedrun Games
5. Against
Against has a long history as one of the most popular NES speedrun games, due in no small part to its incredibly high difficulty. While many speedrans require quick reflexes and pattern recognition, this classic run-and-gunner requires it from the get-go, with immediate failure the consequence of pulling the trigger too slowly. However, a few very talented gamers have tackled this infamous speed test, and just this year a new world record was set. Recently, the runner “k1ngk0opa” beat everyone Against in just 9 minutes and 47 seconds, ahead of over 350 other runners. Now might be the perfect time for the next elite gaming duo to come out and break the long-standing co-op world record of 9 minutes and 51 seconds, currently held by TheMexicanRunner and Angrylanks.
4. Mike Tyson Punch Out!!
Like boxing, speedrun Mike Tyson’s Punch Out so incredibly technical that one missed shot can ruin your day. After decades of learning the ins and outs of this iconic arcade boxing game, top speedrunners have got things down to a sweet science. However, the final boss, Mike Tyson, still chews up even the most experienced players. The world record is currently held by runner SummoningSalt, who spent 14 bucks in the game in the corresponding 14 minutes and 46 seconds. More incredible, however, is that SummoningSalt also holds the world record for completing an entire game blindfolded, leaving Mike Tyson on the canvas after just 18 minutes and 3 seconds. Knocking out it’s one of those classic NES games that can be replayed endlessly despite its high difficulty, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular NES speedrun games of all time.
3. Castlevania
In the world of retro-action side-scrollers, the original Castlevania as tough as it gets, with horribly difficult bosses and dastardly traps. The task of defeating Dracula has defeated many players since the game was released in 1986, but thanks to the work of some very skilled vampire hunters, it has become one of the most popular NES speedrun games. in fact, Castlevania Speedruns have seen a resurgence in popularity recently, with a new world record set by runner SBDWolf as recently as May 2024. Although SBDWolf finished the game in just 10 minutes and 41 seconds, there is still plenty of room for a truly perfect run, making him one of the most competitive NES speedruns of the year.
2. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda might just be the most memorable fantasy adventure in video games, so it only makes sense that it would be one of the most beloved NES speedrun games. Compared to some of the other games on this list, speedrunning The Legend of Zelda more about route optimization and solid strategy than anything else. However, speedrunners have absolutely ripped this game to pieces over the last few decades, beating it in just about every way possible, even without the ball! The world record in the popular “don’t keep and throw” category is currently held by runner Greenmario with a stunning time of 26 minutes and 55 seconds. This record stood for more than 2 years, but that did not stop the passion of the speedrunning community, which is still striving to beat this extremely impressive time.
1. Super Mario Bros.
In truth, when it comes to the popular NES speedrun games, the Super Mario brothers the franchise consistently takes the cake. While everyone Mario The title shows a lot of speedrunners racing to the goal line, it makes sense that the original Super Mario Bros is the most beloved of the bunch, but it’s one of the few games that’s almost completely mastered.
With more than 1,807 players who have posted their best times, the current world record is possibly the best a human could have achieved. After years of collaborative research, intensive practice, and some complicated math, Super Mario Bros basically met his match.
Currently, the world record for speed running is 4 minutes 54 seconds (and 631 ms), owned by runner Niftsky. To give you an idea of how close the competition is, Niftsky’s result is just 0.233 seconds faster than second place, with the rest of the top 5 also separated by just milliseconds. Optimization Super Mario Bros has reached seemingly incredible heights that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the most popular NES Speedrun game ever made.
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