Speedrunners of the original Super Mario Bros. are now on the precipice of achieving a theoretical perfect run, standing only 0.1 seconds away from the absolute fastest possible completion time. The latest world record, set by Brazilian runner LeKukie on June 2, clocks in at an astonishing 4 minutes and 54.365 seconds. This time shaved 0.15 seconds off the previous record and brought the community within a mere 100 milliseconds of what is considered the game's perfect run.[IMAGE12: The cover for Super Mario Bros.]
LeKukie's journey to this near-perfect state is a testament to dedication against considerable odds. He began speedrunning in 2019 with only a PlayStation 2 and an emulated version of the Nintendo game, using a laggy controller. By 2022, he acquired an NES and quickly set a record in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. However, this record was invalidated when it was discovered that his Brazilian NES model ran fractionally slower due to a unique component change. Recognizing LeKukie's exceptional skill, members of the speedrunning community provided him with an official NES and recording equipment, enabling him to pursue official records.
After matching the Super Mario Bros. world record, LeKukie faced further challenges, including wearing out controllers on his NES with no immediate replacements. Despite these setbacks, with new controllers secured by the end of 2025, progress accelerated. In May, LeKukie achieved a perfect run up to the final level, 8-4, before a mishap in the lava. A few days later, he secured the current world record, notably executing a flawless 8-4 and improving his personal best by half a second. This achievement highlighted the possibility of a truly perfect run.[IMAGE2: Games Done Quick Photo By Dj "professorburtch" Burtch]
The precision required for these runs is immense, involving manipulating Mario with split-second, balletic movements, often changing direction within a single frame. While some speedrunners have utilized keyboards for enhanced precision, recent advancements in controller techniques, including LeKukie's innovative grip angles and flicking tricks, have seen the community return to controller-based play. LeKukie's record left only six possible frames of improvement in the final level, 8-4, assuming the rest of the game was played perfectly. The community has since focused on perfecting this segment, and LeKukie himself has completed runs from level 4-2 to 8-4 without a single missed frame. As noted by content creator Kosmic, these developments suggest that a perfect Super Mario Bros. run, once thought unattainable, may be achievable very soon.