Players Discover Major Glitch in 40-Year-Old Super Mario Bros. Game

Over four decades since its debut, you might assume that Super Mario Bros. has revealed all its secrets. However, a group of passionate speedrunners has just shattered that notion by uncovering a groundbreaking glitch in the NES classic that enables players to manipulate the game’s code in real time.

This discovery is highlighted in a recent YouTube video by Kosmic, a leading figure in the Super Mario Bros. speedrunning community. In the video, Kosmic recounts how a random crash during a casual playthrough of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels sparked an extensive investigation that led to the identification of a significant new glitch, potentially pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable in the game for the first time in 15 years.

The saga began when a user known as @LuigiSidekick started streaming The Lost Levels on Nintendo Switch Online, sharing clips of their gameplay. One particular clip showed the game crashing during a castle level. While this might seem trivial to the average player, it raised eyebrows among those well-versed in the game’s mechanics. Crashes like this don’t happen without reason, prompting the Mario speedrunning community to dig deeper into the incident.

This investigation revealed the possibility of Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) in The Lost Levels. For those unfamiliar, ACE allows players to reprogram a game while playing. Think of it like the classic 99-items glitch in Pokémon Red and Blue, where you can duplicate items through a precise sequence of actions. This technique is a game-changer for speedrunners, as it can unlock new strategies that drastically alter completion times.

After confirming that ACE could be executed in The Lost Levels, Kosmic gathered a team of speedrunners to replicate the glitch in Super Mario Bros. The video chronicles a lengthy trial-and-error process involving the Minus World, bisected Bowsers, and a troublesome Buzzy Beetle. The outcome? The first instance of ACE has been officially discovered in Super Mario Bros., allowing speedrunners to jump straight to the game’s ending—albeit after a complex setup.

However, don’t expect this trick to revolutionize speedrunning times just yet. In a conversation, Kosmic noted that the current execution of the glitch is slower than completing the game through traditional means. It also demands precise inputs that would be challenging to pull off in a live run. Even if someone figures out a faster method, it will likely be categorized as a separate record. Nonetheless, Kosmic believes this discovery could pave the way for future breakthroughs.

“It’s more about the achievement of making it possible and solving it,” Kosmic shared. “Now, you can access not just the Minus World, but any world or level you want—without hacks or cheats. It’s a glitch that opens up endless possibilities.”

History is being made.