Most players try to enjoy a game. Speedrunners? They try to destroy it—as fast as possible.
Speedrunning is one of gaming’s most thrilling subcultures. It’s part competition, part science, part art. And it’s exploded into mainstream recognition thanks to events like Games Done Quick, Twitch streams, and dedicated online communities.
But what makes someone play a 40-hour game in 12 minutes? And how?
What Is Speedrunning?
Speedrunning is the act of completing a video game (or specific objective within one) as quickly as possible—often using advanced techniques, glitches, or near-perfect execution.
Types of speedruns:
- Any% – beat the game by any means necessary
- 100% – complete every collectible or task
- Low% – beat the game using minimal items or actions
- Glitchless – finish without exploiting bugs
- Tool-Assisted (TAS) – programmed frame-perfect runs, not human-played
Speedrunning transforms games into something entirely new: a competitive time trial.
The Appeal: Why Gamers Speedrun
Speedrunners are motivated by:
- Mastery – learning a game inside out
- Challenge – pushing human limits
- Discovery – uncovering hidden mechanics
- Community – sharing strategies and celebrating wins
- Innovation – inventing new routes and tricks
What begins as nostalgia or curiosity often evolves into a lifelong obsession.
The Science of the Perfect Run
Speedrunning is more than button-mashing. It’s:
- Route optimization – what’s the most efficient path?
- Frame-perfect input – timing down to 1/60th of a second
- Glitch exploitation – wrong warps, clipping, memory corruption
- RNG manipulation – controlling randomness through movement or timing
- Muscle memory and focus – often practiced for hundreds of hours
Some runners spend years shaving seconds off their time.
Famous Speedrun-Friendly Games
Super Mario 64
Still one of the most run games ever. From 0-star glitch runs to 120-star perfection.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Legendary for its game-breaking glitches. Beaten in under 10 minutes with wrong warps.
Celeste
A precision platformer where every movement matters. Also a showcase of clean, glitchless runs.
Minecraft
Random seeds, routing, and RNG manipulation make it one of the most complex runs in modern gaming.
Elden Ring
Recent speedruns use memory manipulation and warp exploits to finish it in under 7 minutes.
Games Done Quick: Charity Meets Mastery
Twice a year, speedrunning takes center stage at Games Done Quick (GDQ):
- 24/7 streamed event
- Raises millions for charities like Doctors Without Borders
- Features runners from around the world
- Live commentary breaks down tricks and strategies
It’s one of the best ways to watch and learn the art of the speedrun.
Community and Collaboration
Speedrunning isn’t just competition—it’s collaborative science.
Players share:
- Route guides
- Glitch tutorials
- Personal best videos
- Leaderboards and forums (e.g., Speedrun.com)
New discoveries are often community achievements, not solo efforts.
Speedrun Culture and Language
If you’re new, here are some terms you’ll hear:
- PB – personal best
- WR – world record
- RNG – random number generation
- Frame window – timing tolerance
- Reset hell – constantly restarting runs for better openings
- No-hit – finishing a run without taking damage
Like any sport, speedrunning has its own vocabulary—and legends.
The Mental Game
Speedrunning isn’t just mechanical—it’s mental endurance:
- Focus – one mistake can ruin a run
- Frustration tolerance – especially in games with bad RNG
- Zen state – peak performance comes from flow, not stress
- Community support – even in competition, runners cheer each other on
The top players don’t just play better—they think differently.
Getting Started as a Speedrunner
Tips:
- Pick a game you love
- Watch top runs on YouTube or Twitch
- Learn basic routes and techniques
- Record your times, even bad ones
- Join Discord servers or Reddit groups for that game
- Don’t compare—improve your own PB first
Speedrunning is about progress, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
Speedrunning turns games into puzzles, races, and performance art.
It’s an ever-evolving showcase of human creativity, technical knowledge, and passion. For many, it’s the purest form of gaming—not about beating others, but beating the game itself.
Whether you watch or run, you’ll never see your favorite game the same way again.
