Super Mario Maker 2’s toughest levels are also its kindest

I can’t stop playing Super Mario Maker 2. A combination of factors keep pulling me back. Having it on the Switch makes is easy to play anywhere, obviously. But the quality of the levels is also really high. Most importantly, however, is that community creators are putting a lot of effort into ensuring those levels make you feel great.

One of the most popular types of courses right now is something called “20s speedrun.” These are fast, challenging platforming levels that you need to finish in almost exactly 20 seconds. If a mistake delays you, you’ll run out of time. They seem like cruel gauntlets that only exist to torment unskilled players. But the truth is that many of them are soft and kind. These stages want to welcome everyone into the speedrunning club.