70 Gamers Unite for Epic Super Mario 64 Speedrun Challenge

Collaborative challenges have always been central to the spirit of Games Done Quick, the biannual speedrunning charity event. However, during Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2026, KingJO444 pushed the boundaries by assembling a staggering 70 players for a collective feat: to acquire 70 stars in Super Mario 64 with each participant claiming one star. Remarkably, they accomplished this goal in under two hours.

The challenge's estimated time wasn't straightforward due to the diverse skill levels among the 70 players. Only about 15 to 20 had notable experience playing the game, while some hadn’t engaged with Super Mario 64 since their childhood, and others were complete newcomers.

In a post-run interview, KingJ remarked on the unpredictability of each participant's preparation, stating, "You never know how much someone's going to practice, or what's going to happen on stage." He initially projected the run could be completed in an hour and 40 minutes, which he believed was a reasonable estimate considering only slight variations based on the current world record.

"I thought that gave enough of a buffer, but also, I kind of underestimated how many people were going to go in for their first time ever playing the game," he noted. "And not only that, but we also had blindfolded runners, which added complexity to the run."

The lead-up to this monumental event involved extensive training across the week, with seasoned runners mentoring newcomers to ensure successful star collection. Among the supportive veterans was Ad129, who assisted KingJ since early planning stages.

"We spent most of the time in the practice room just having game setups, and people would come by and attempt their stars—either practicing or verifying their skills. It was incredible to see complete newcomers learning the game from scratch," Ad129 recounted.

Overall, the event ran smoothly, with participants adeptly transitioning in and out of their roles. Certain stars were easier to retrieve than others—some merely requiring a chat with Toad for simple gains. In an impressive display of team coordination, KingJ implemented backup Nintendo 64 consoles to address any potential technical hiccups, ensuring steady progress throughout the run.

KingJ mentioned that although a collaboration of this size won't return for at least a year and a half, he's already considering future endeavors. "Maybe not 70 people," he chuckled. "But something like Mario Kart would be a very fun one. I want to keep it mainstream, something that many people know, so typically Mario is a solid choice for our plans."

The speedrunning community's fundraising efforts continue to gain momentum, raising over $2.4 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation at this year’s AGDQ in Pittsburgh. They also look forward to Summer Games Done Quick this July in Minneapolis, where funds will be directed to Doctors Without Borders.