An ever increasing sequence

The following sequence contains numbers that are ever increasing.

1, 8, 81, 1024, ...


What comes next?

• I think the issue is probably that it's too easy and is already posted elsewhere on the web. If you Google these numbers, you'll quickly find the same puzzle. Going for something unique/original will likely get upvoted. – Dan Russell Aug 23 '16 at 14:14
• I suspect the downvotes are also because denizens of this site have come to expect creative, original, clever puzzles. This one doesn't really match any of those criteria. It's rather boring and unimaginative. – GentlePurpleRain Aug 23 '16 at 14:21
• I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it isn't very difficult – JMP Aug 23 '16 at 17:21
• @JonMarkPerry Can you point me to the place that says that easy puzzles are off-topic for this site? – GentlePurpleRain Aug 23 '16 at 18:40
• I never said it was off-topic. I just said it wasn't a great puzzle. The downvotes have demonstrated that. We only close questions if they don't actually meet the criteria for posting, which this one does. – GentlePurpleRain Aug 23 '16 at 18:44

The sequence follows:

$n^{n+1}$

So the next value is:

$5^6 = 15625$

• Figured it wouldn't take long – TheLethalCipher Aug 23 '16 at 14:03
• I'm confused how 1 gets to 8 with this formula? – Jason_ Aug 23 '16 at 20:44
• @Jason_ look at the below answer by Sconibulus – Adit Kirtani Aug 24 '16 at 4:21

$15625$. The formula is $x^{x+1}$
$1=1^2$, $8=2^3$, $81=3^4$, $1024=4^5$