NES Speedrun Games: Pushing the 8-Bit Limit

Over the past decade, speedrunning has exploded in popularity, starting as a small community within gaming and bursting into the mainstream thanks to events like the Games Done Quick marathons. NES speedruns are viewed as some of the most pure and challenging of them all, commanding mastery of precise mechanics in addition to the baseline difficulty of most Nintendo classics.

Out of the 1,000+ games for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a handful have become mainstays in speedrunning, continuing their legacy long since the golden era of 8-bit. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular NES speedrun games and see just how fast gamers have beaten them.

The Most Popular NES Speedrun Games

5. Contra

Contra has a long and storied history as one of the most popular NES speedrun games, due in no small part to its incredibly high difficulty. While many speedruns require fast reflexes and pattern recognition, this classic run ‘n gunner demands it from the very start, where immediate failure is your consequence for being too slow to the trigger. However, some very talented gamers have tackled this infamous test of speed, with a new world record being set just this year. Recently, runner “k1ngk0opa” beat the entirety of Contra in just 9 minutes and 47 seconds, outpacing over 350 other runners. Now might be the perfect time for the next elite gaming duo to emerge and tackle the longstanding co-op world record of 9 minutes and 51 seconds, currently held by TheMexicanRunner and Angrylanks.

4. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!

Like the actual sport of boxing, speedruns of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out are so incredibly technical that one missed punch can absolutely ruin your day. After decades of learning the ins and outs of this iconic arcade boxing title, the best speedrunners have nailed things down to a sweet science. However, the final boss, Mike Tyson, is still chewing up even the most seasoned of players. Currently, the world record is held by runner SummoningSalt, who boxed through the game’s 14 fights in an appropriate 14 minutes and 46 seconds. More incredibly though, SummoningSalt also holds the world record for beating the entire game blindfolded, leaving Mike Tyson on the canvas after just 18 minutes and 3 seconds. Punch-Out is one of those NES classics that’s infinitely replayable despite its overwhelming challenge, so it’s no wonder that 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 is as tough as they come, with dreadfully difficult bosses and dastardly pitfalls. The quest to defeat Dracula has bested many players since the game was released in 1986, but thanks to the work of some seriously skilled vampire hunters, it’s become one of the most popular NES speedrun games in existence. In fact, Castlevania speedruns have seen a resurgence in popularity as of late, with a new world record being nabbed 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 left for a truly perfect run, making it 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 makes perfect sense that it would be one of the most beloved NES speedrun games of them all. When compared to some of the other games on this list, speedrunning The Legend of Zelda is more about route optimization and solid strategy than anything else. However, speedrunners have absolutely picked this game to pieces over the last few decades, beating it in almost every conceivable way, even without a sword! Currently, the world record for the popular “no save and quit” category is held by runner Greenmario, with a stunning time of 26 minutes and 55 seconds. This record has stood strong for over 2 years, but that hasn’t stopped the fervor of the speedrunning community, who are still pushing to topple that wildly impressive time.

1. Super Mario Bros.

In truth, when it comes to popular NES speedrun games, the Super Mario Bros franchise constantly takes the cake. While every Mario title sees a slew of speedrunners racing to the goal line, it makes sense that the original Super Mario Bros is the most beloved of the bunch, but this is one of the few games that has almost been completely mastered.

With over 1,807 players entering their best times into consideration, the current world record is arguably the best a human could reasonably do. After years of communal research, intense practice, and some tricky mathematics, Super Mario Bros has mostly met its match.

Currently, the world record speedrun is 4 minutes and 54 seconds (and 631ms), held by runner Niftski. To give you an idea of how close the competition is, Niftski’s score is just .233 seconds faster than second place, and the other top 5 times are also separated by mere milliseconds. The optimization of Super Mario Bros has reached seemingly impossible heights, which wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t the most popular NES speedrun game ever made.

Contributed by Matt Owen

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