How Long to Speedrun Every Super Mario Game? A Deep Dive into Mario's Fastest Runs

So, you've been watching those incredible speedrun videos, maybe you've even dabbled yourself. You hear about players shaving off milliseconds and pulling off insane glitches to beat games in record time. It's a whole different world from just enjoying a game casually. But when you think about a franchise as massive as Super Mario, a question naturally pops into your head: "How long would it *actually* take to speedrun *all* of them?" It sounds simple, but as any seasoned gamer knows, the devil is in the details, and the Super Mario franchise is a labyrinth of them.

The Sheer Scale of Mario

The Super Mario universe isn't just a few games; it's a sprawling collection that spans decades and genres. From the iconic 2D platformers that started it all to 3D adventures, kart racers, RPGs, and even party games, Nintendo has consistently delivered new ways to experience their flagship franchise. This sheer volume makes any attempt to calculate a "total speedrun time" incredibly complex. It's not just about the number of games, but also the different versions, the evolving speedrun categories for each, and the constant discovery of new strats and glitches.

Understanding Speedrun Categories: Any% vs. 100% and Beyond

When we talk about speedruns, the first thing any true gamer knows is that "speedrun" isn't a single, monolithic goal. The most popular category is typically Any%, which means beating the game as quickly as possible, regardless of what you collect or achieve in-game. This often involves exploiting game exploits and glitches that bypass large portions of the game. On the other hand, 100% Completion runs require you to achieve every in-game goal, collect every item, and perform every necessary action. These are significantly longer and often require different, less glitch-reliant strategies.

Then there are even more niche categories, like Low% (completing the game with the absolute minimum requirements), All Bosses, or specific challenge runs. For a franchise like Mario, this means the potential time investment skyrockets when you consider all the possible ways to play.

The sheer variety of categories for a single Mario game can drastically alter the perceived "speedrun length." A Super Mario World Any% run is vastly different in time and strategy from its 100% counterpart.

The Core Mario Experience: How Long for the Mainline Titles?

Let's break down some of the most iconic mainline Super Mario titles. These are the games that define the franchise:

  • Super Mario Bros. (NES): A classic. Any% runs are incredibly short, often under 5 minutes thanks to TAS-level precision and sequence breaks. A 100% run would be considerably longer, focusing on completing every level perfectly.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES): Introduced more complex level design and power-ups. Any% runs utilize warp whistles and precise movement to achieve times under 10 minutes.
  • Super Mario World (SNES): Famous for its hidden exits and the introduction of Yoshi. Any% runs are famously around 13-15 minutes, often involving the famous Backwards Long Jump (BLJ) or similar game mechanics exploitation.
  • Super Mario 64 (N64): A revolutionary 3D title. Its speedrun is legendary, with the Any% category (often targeting 70 Stars) being highly optimized and sitting around 15-20 minutes. The 120 Star run is a much longer, more comprehensive challenge, taking over an hour.
  • Super Mario Sunshine (GCN): Known for its unique FLUDD mechanics. Any% runs can be around 30-45 minutes, involving intricate routing and precise usage of FLUDD for movement and butterflying techniques.
  • New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): A return to 2D side-scrolling with a modern twist. Runs are generally around 20-30 minutes for Any%.
  • Super Mario Galaxy (Wii): Praised for its creative level design and music. Any% runs are typically around 1 hour and 15 minutes, with specific speedrun strategies involving sword flying and precise inputs.
  • Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): An even more refined experience. Runs are similar to the first, often clocking in around 1 hour and 10 minutes for Any%.
  • Super Mario 3D Land (3DS): A unique blend of 2D and 3D elements. Any% runs are around 30-40 minutes.
  • Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch): A massive game with a robust multiplayer and a significant amount of content. Any% runs for 3D World alone are around 1 hour and 30 minutes, with Bowser's Fury adding another significant chunk for any% completion.
  • Super Mario Odyssey (Switch): Known for its open-ended sandbox kingdoms and the capture mechanic. The Any% run, often requiring around 130 moons, is a masterclass in movement tech and routing, typically around 55 minutes to 1 hour.

Just these mainline titles already represent a considerable time investment if you were to run them all back-to-back. Imagine adding in every single one of them!

Beyond the Platforming: Speedrunning Mario's Spin-offs

But Mario isn't just about jumping! Think about:

  • Mario Kart games: Many of these have Any% categories focusing on winning races quickly, often utilizing item strategies and shortcuts. Times can vary from a few minutes per cup to hours for a full 150cc Grand Prix run.
  • Mario RPGs (e.g., Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario series, Mario & Luigi series): These typically have longer Any% runs, often in the 2-5 hour range, due to their story-driven nature and turn-based combat. Exploiting battle mechanics and dialogue skips are key.
  • Mario Party games: Speedrunning these is less common in the traditional sense, as they rely heavily on multiplayer and RNG. However, some communities attempt "fastest board" or "most coins in X turns" challenges.
  • Sports titles (e.g., Mario Tennis, Mario Golf): These often have categories based on winning tournaments or achieving specific feats quickly.

The sheer diversity means you'd need to learn entirely different speedrunning strategies for each sub-series.

Calculating the Total Time: The Ultimate Speedrunner's Quest

So, let's try to rough out an estimate. If we take the Any% times for just the mainline platformers mentioned above (averaging around 5-6 hours if you were to play them sequentially without breaks and accounting for setup), that’s already a significant commitment. Now, factor in dozens of spin-off titles, each with their own unique speedrunning meta and categories. Add the time it takes to learn each game's specific speedrun analysis, practice difficult speedrun tech, and perfect the routing. You're likely looking at well over 100 hours, and that's a conservative estimate for just Any% runs across a broad selection of Mario games.

If you were to attempt 100% runs for every game? That number would easily climb into the hundreds, possibly even thousands, of hours. It's a task that requires immense dedication and a deep love for the Super Mario franchise.

The most dedicated runners spend years mastering a single game's speedrun. Doing that for the entire Super Mario franchise is a monumental, lifelong endeavor.

The Role of the Speedrunning Community

The beauty of the speedrunning community is its collaborative nature. Resources like speedrun.com, dedicated Discords, and YouTube tutorials are invaluable. Runners constantly share new gaming strategies, discover new game exploits, and refine existing routes. For Mario games, this means that the "optimal" time to beat a game can change overnight thanks to a new discovery.

The data presented here is based on current video game records and community-accepted times, but this landscape is always shifting. What might be a 15-minute run today could be a 14-minute run tomorrow with a new speedrun technique.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest Super Mario speedrun?

The fastest speedruns are typically for the earliest 2D titles like Super Mario Bros., which can be completed in under 5 minutes using precise glitch execution. However, for a game like Super Mario Odyssey, the Any% speedrun is closer to an hour.

How do speedrunners find new glitches?

Speedrunners often use memory viewers, debug tools, and practice different inputs or actions in unusual sequences to discover new glitches or sequence breaks. It's a process of trial, error, and deep understanding of the game's code.

Is it possible to speedrun ALL Super Mario games?

Technically yes, but it would take an extraordinary amount of time and dedication, likely thousands of hours, to master the speedruns for every title and category within the vast Super Mario franchise.

What's the difference between Any% and 100% speedruns?

Any% focuses on finishing the game as quickly as possible using any means necessary, often including glitches. 100% requires completing all in-game objectives, collecting all items, and finishing with the highest possible completion percentage, which usually takes much longer.

Where can I find specific Mario speedrun times and strategies?

The best resource is speedrun.com, where you can find leaderboards, guides, and videos for almost every game imaginable, including all the Super Mario titles.

Ultimately, the question of "how long" is less about a definitive number and more about appreciating the incredible dedication and skill involved in mastering these beloved games at breakneck speeds. Whether you're aiming for a world record or just want to shave a few minutes off your personal best, the Super Mario franchise offers a lifetime of challenges.

What's your personal favorite Mario speedrun category to watch or attempt? Share your thoughts and any Mario speedrunning tips you have in the comments below! If there's another game or franchise you'd like us to break down, let us know!