Luigi Wins By Doing Absolutely Nothing

2009Video series / gaming memeclassic

Published March 30, 2026

Also known as: Luigi Wins By Doing Nothing

Luigi Wins By Doing Absolutely Nothing is a YouTube video series format where Luigi wins Mario Party mini-games without the player touching any buttons, as the CPU opponents defeat themselves through poor AI decisions. The original video was uploaded by KlydeStorm on October 11, 2009, and the concept quickly spread across gaming communities, spawning hundreds of variations featuring other games and characters.

mario party memesgamingnintendo memesparticipatory video memes

Overview

The premise is dead simple: pick Luigi in a Mario Party mini-game, set all CPU opponents to easy difficulty, and don't press a single button. The comedy comes from watching Mario, Peach, and Wario fumble their way into losing while Luigi stands completely still. The CPU characters walk off edges, run into hazards, or simply fail to complete objectives, handing Luigi the win through sheer incompetence. The format works because Mario Party's easy-mode AI is genuinely terrible at self-preservation, especially in mini-games where standing still is a valid survival strategy4.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube
Creator
KlydeStorm
Date
2009

Mario Party 2 launched for the Nintendo 64 in North America on January 24, 20001. The game follows a board game structure where players move around themed boards collecting stars, with mini-games played at the end of each turn to earn coins1. These mini-games come in several formats: free-for-all, 2-vs-2, and 1-vs-3, and the CPU difficulty can be set to Easy, Medium, or Hard1.

On October 11, 2009, YouTube user KlydeStorm uploaded a video showcasing this quirk of the game's AI4. The video featured Luigi facing three CPU opponents (Mario, Peach, and Wario) all set to easy difficulty across multiple Mario Party 2 mini-games. Luigi never moves. The CPUs lose anyway. The joke landed perfectly because it exposed just how bad the easy-mode AI really was, turning Luigi into an accidental zen master who wins by doing absolutely nothing3.

How It Spread

KlydeStorm's original video picked up positive reception quickly and spread to sites like Memebase, Kotaku, and FunnyJunk4. The concept proved endlessly replicable. Other creators started making their own versions using different games from the Mario Party series, finding that the easy AI across multiple entries in the franchise had the same self-destructive tendencies4.

The format expanded beyond Mario Party. Creators applied the concept to Super Smash Bros. and other Nintendo titles featuring Luigi4. Eventually the meme broke free from Luigi entirely. On July 30, 2018, DismArchus uploaded a version using Persona 4 characters that pulled in over 469,000 views4. MarioZenium posted a Rosalina-focused version on July 8, 2019, which racked up more than 2 million views4. The format had proven it could work with virtually any game where idle characters could outlast active AI opponents.

The meme's longevity ties directly to the Mario Party series itself. With entries spanning from the Nintendo 64 through the Nintendo Switch, each new game gave creators fresh material to test2. Super Mario Party Jamboree, the most recent entry, includes 112 mini-games, providing plenty of potential scenarios for the format2.

How to Use This Meme

The format is straightforward:

1

Pick a game with CPU opponents (Mario Party works best)

2

Select your character (traditionally Luigi, but any character works)

3

Set all CPU opponents to easy difficulty

4

Start the mini-game and don't touch the controller

5

Record the results

Fun Facts

Mario Party 2's mini-game roster includes 65 total games, giving plenty of material for the "doing nothing" format1.

The original Mario Party (1998) was the first in the series but Mario Party 2 became the go-to for this meme, likely because its mini-game selection had more scenarios where standing still could work5.

The Mario Party franchise has sold over 84 million copies worldwide as of March 20252.

CPU difficulty settings have been a feature since the very first Mario Party, with Easy, Medium, and Hard options available for each computer-controlled character5.

Derivatives & Variations

Character swaps:

Rosalina, Yoshi, Peach, and other Mario characters replacing Luigi in the format. MarioZenium's Rosalina version hit over 2 million views[4].

Non-Nintendo versions:

Creators applied the concept to Persona 4, and other games with CPU opponents. DismArchus's Persona 4 version reached 469,000+ views[4].

Super Smash Bros. variants:

The format adapted to Smash Bros. games, where CPU fighters can self-destruct by walking off stages[4].

Speedrun-adjacent content:

Some creators turned the format into a challenge, finding which mini-games across the entire Mario Party series can be won without input.

Frequently Asked Questions