A gamer’s New Year’s resolution: Speedrunning Super Mario 64

With the start of 2026, I found myself looking for a project. I thought about things I’ve been intending to try, and what rose to the top of that list was speedrunning. Giving it a go myself has been an aspiration for a while now, something I decided to use the new year to accomplish.

Speedrunning is a fascinating thing to watch, in much the same way as sports. The peak of human achievement in a certain field is put to the test, making the absolute most of what developers intend in their games, as well as taking advantage of things they didn’t. Of all games popular with speedrunners, though, none can compete with the classic Super Mario 64.

In its various categories, speedrun.com has over 51,500 listed runs for SM64. Having observed speedruns on YouTube for years now, I decided that this year I would join those hallowed halls.

Progress comes in fits and starts as roadblocks are met and overcome

With limited time available to me from day to day, I opted for something that shouldn’t take too long. The 16 star route for SM64 has a world record of 14m 35s and is very well documented, with tutorials and explanations aplenty thanks to its enduring popularity.

The game, when played traditionally, requires 64 stars to beat. Therefore, various tricks are needed to get through the barriers that force the player to follow the intended progression, all of which require learning and at least some amount of mastery.

Every day since January 6, I have been playing a little of the game with the aid of tutorials, especially that of YouTuber PoisonWoah.

Progress comes in fits and starts as roadblocks are met and overcome. Specifically, backwards long jumps (BLJs) have proven a significant obstacle. Like many of the tricks for this run, it requires timing jumps specifically and manipulating the positioning of both Mario and the camera that follows him. It can prove to be a struggle sometimes.

The feeling only gets stronger when I perform such tricks on my own, not even needing to follow my guide

Still, despite the challenges, I felt an immense satisfaction upon performing ‘Mips Clip’, using a rabbit to break through a door that ought to be locked until later in the game. It made me feel accomplished, as though I’m a real speedrunner, to be able to break the game like this. The feeling only gets stronger when I perform such tricks on my own, not even needing to follow my guide. My progress is plain to see – and that feels great.

Technically, this may not be a New Year’s resolution. I began, after all, not on January 1, but on January 6. Furthermore, this is not intended to last through the year.

No, I intend to reach a grand finale, hopefully submitting a time to the 16 star leaderboard, on March 10. What may seem like an insignificant date has been given greater importance by marking MAR10 Day, a celebration of the Italian-Japanese plumber who has “wahoo-ed” his way into becoming a video game icon. Starting on January 6 allows me to reach a conclusion after 64 days of practice, in a nod to the game itself.

The ever-present pressure to clear my backlog will once again come into conflict with the shiny new games I want to play

My process is being documented on YouTube, a stop-and-start affair as I refer to guides and fiddle with recording software (day 19 is mostly a black screen, I fear). I hope it serves as an archive of the start of this year and that I’ll be able to reflect on my progress, from struggling to long jump to shooting up stairways with an exploit.

As for resolutions after this chapter of my gaming journey has finished, my mind is open. The ever-present pressure to clear my backlog will once again come into conflict with the shiny new games I want to play, in the eternal struggle every gamer must face.

Finishing games has been something I’ve improved at over the last couple of years, but still presents a challenge. Will my love for JRPGs persist when I finish one outside the Persona series? Can I overcome the fear Resident Evil 2 Remake has inspired in me since I first came across a Licker? These are the questions I need to force myself to answer.

Have a good 2026. I hope that you can live up to all your resolutions, whether they be gaming related or not. Even if it amounts to nothing, I know that my resolution has already led to my growth – and what else is it all for?