How to Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

Chances are, if you've ever heard of Nintendo before, you've played Super Mario Brothers. Your memories of the first installment of our favorite Italian plumber are most likely filled with love and hate. We have decided to remedy our generation's nightmares of the frustrations that came along with playing this game and write in detail how to beat the game in six minutes or less.

This explanation is not intended for the “less-than-casual” Mario player. If you are not familiar with the controls or basic concept of the game, we first advise you to read over the manual for the game and then play a few times to get used to how the game works.

Steps

This walk through will be broken up by level so you, the reader, can easily reference to any challenging spot in the game you come across.

Method 1

Method 1 of 8:

World 1-1

1
As the game begins, start running at full speed. (As a rule of thumb, always be going at full speed!)
2
Do not stop for the first Goomba to pass, jump from pipe to pipe to avoid every Goomba.

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3
Enter the 4th pipe that you encounter.
4
Do not fuss over trying to pick up every coin inside the tunnel, exit as quickly as possible.
5
After this keep to our rule of being “above the danger”* and finish the level without worrying about making a perfect jump to the flag.

Approx. time of completion: 30-37 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 5

Method 2

Method 2 of 8:

World 1-2

1
Continue to run at full speed (This will be assumed from now on).
2
Avoid the two Goombas by jumping over the “?” blocks.
3
Time your jumps perfectly so that you can jump each pillar without losing any time.
4
As the two turtles (Koopa Troopas) approach you after the pillars, do not stop! Jump and use the blocks to ricochet yourself into hitting the 2nd Koopa Troopa. Do not slow down for this!
5
Use the “Ricochet Jump” (see Technical Terms)to pass by the next few enemies you encounter.
6
To avoid the piranha plants, you must land exactly in front of or behind them yet still landing on the pipes.
7
Jump onto one of the ascending elevators and jump on top of what looks to be the ceiling (with all of the information at the top).
8
Continue to run to the right and take the warp pipe to World 4

Approx. time of completion: 30-37 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 13

Method 3

Method 3 of 8:

World 4-1

1
Jump the first pipe and run under the first spiked ball thrown by Lakitu.
2
It is important in this level to remember to not be tempted to stop for any coins or “?” blocks.
3
It may be hard to believe but it is possible to make a “clean jump”** over the next piranha plants you see. Do not stop, if you time your jump perfectly you can jump from the ground clear over the plant.
4
At the next gap, jump onto the bottom row of blocks and jump the next pipe.
5
You must also make a “clean jump”** over the stack of 3 blocks that is somewhat of a wall before the last gap.
6
Finish the level by jumping up the large stack of blocks and jumping to the flag. Ignore the brick below you when you jump.

Approx time of completion: 25-32 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 19

Method 4

Method 4 of 8:

World 4-2

1
In one jump clear the first two gaps, land on the single space and immediately jump on top of the stack of bricks in front of you. (be sure to land ON TOP of the stack)
2
Next there are three Goombas, do a “ricochet jump” and land on the 2nd one, bouncing over the 3rd.
3
Jump between the four “?” blocks and onto the moving elevators.
4
From the elevator jump, hit the farthest left block in the row of three, causing a beanstalk to grow out of the block.
5
While the plant is growing, position yourself directly below the rightmost block of the platform that the beanstalk is growing on and jump.
6
Jump first on this stepping block you created and then to the platform the plant grew out of and climb the plant.
7
In this special stage, you can collect the coins if you wish.
8
Enter the warp pipe to warp to World 8

Approx time of completion: 29-36 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 27

Method 5

Method 5 of 8:

World 8-1

1
Jump over first monster, then, immediately jump over the next 3. (Timing your first two jumps are an important factor in avoiding the plant that emerges from the tube).
2
After hopping over the first tube, immediately jump again to avoid the 2 turtles.
3
There is no need to jump over the next 6 pits you encounter. You can simply run over them.
4
Bypass the plant in the next tube by leaping on the tube's edge and then immediately jumping again.
5
The next tube can be leaped over normally
6
You want to time your jump over the next tube to kill the second monster.
7
Save time by avoiding the next four turtles you see.
8
After jumping over the first wall of blocks, immediately jump again to avoid the jumping monster.
9
Leap between the next two jumping monsters.
10
You will come to three tubes separated by chasms. The first two contain plants. You will have to leap on to the edge of the second tube, and on to the third tube without a plant.
11
Leap off of the third tube to avoid four monsters.
12
You will come to another chasm. Carefully time your jump to land on the piece of land in the middle.
13
Timing is even more key while performing the next jump you come to.
14
Be careful to avoid falling into the pits.

Approx. time of completion: 39-46 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 41

Method 6

Method 6 of 8:

World 8-2

This is rumored to be the most difficult level in the run-through so brace yourself! It requires many tactical and somewhat tricky jumps while still being able to maintain a full out run. It's not for the novice Mario player!

1
As you climb the first rock tower, you will see two Koopa Troopas and a Lakitu. Jump over the first Koopa and the Spiny thrown by Lakitu simultaneously and then immediately slip under the 2nd approaching Koopa Troopa.
2
Once you reach the section of the level littered with cannons, the only way to continue at full speed is to stay above every cannon. The trick is to land on top of as many as possible, avoiding every Bullet Bill.
3
After the cannons you will be required to jump four tubes with piranha plants sticking out. Timing is of the essence to ensure clearing each jump. The third large tube is placed after a huge ravine. Land in front of the tube and slow down slightly in order to perform a “clean jump”. This is the only part of the game that requires you to slow down!
4
The final tricky part of this level occurs after this jump. In order to clear a sequence of Koopa Troopas, it will be necessary to run under the first and then jump quickly to land on the single cannon while instantaneously jumping the gap immediately after it. (if you have trouble with this part, you can also take the warp tube to clear all the Koopas)
5
The few enemies after this point can be ignored as they do not cross your path of movement.
6
Run up the block wall and grab the flag to end this level.

Approx. time of completion: 29-36 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 47

Method 7

Method 7 of 8:

World 8-3

1
Jump over obstacles normally executing a clean jump over the piranha plant.
2
The only way to clear the Hammer Brothers without slowing down is to perform a “ricochet jump” to kill the one on the bottom.
3
Next you must clear the gap/block stack/gap combination in a single jump.
4
At the next sighting of the Hammer Brothers, jump in between the two rows of bricks to safely run past them.
5
At the third sighting of these annoying reoccurring hammer brothers, jump the first hammer bro and as the next Hammer Brother is in the air jump so that you can kill him in mid jump.
6
When you land, immediately jump over the next tube with the plant.
7
At the final sighting of these persistent Hammer Brothers, you can simply jump the first and then immediately after, jump the second. Not a very challenging final attempt to stop you on their part!
8
As soon as you land from jumping the second Hammer Brother, jump upon the stack of two blocks and then jump on the 2nd block that is in mid-air.
9
Finally jump to the last two which is a platform, jump down and grab the flag!

Approx. time of completion: 30-37 seconds

Image titled Beat Super Mario Bros. on the NES Quickly Step 56

Method 8

Method 8 of 8:

Technical Terms

"Above the Danger"* - Be alert and stay on top of dangerous things.
Clean Jump" - Barely jumping over an object

ie. Jumping over the piranha plant barely in one jump.

Ricochet Jump" - Jumping while hitting your head on a brick and bouncing off to kill an enemy

Warnings

This guide is not intended for those who have not played Mario before. Please play the game a few times and familiarize yourself with the controls before attempting this guide.

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Rage can also occur out of frustration. If you feel like you are about to throw the controller across the room and say some “not-so-friendly” words about our good friend Mario, please take a break and resume playing later.

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Playing video games for extended lengths of time can be harmful to the eyes and hands. Be sure to take frequent breaks if you begin to feel any irritability in your eyes or hands.

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