Speedrunning—the art of completing video games as quickly as possible—has evolved from a niche hobby practiced by dedicated enthusiasts into a mainstream phenomenon attracting millions of viewers and participants worldwide. What began as informal competition among friends has transformed into a sophisticated subculture with detailed documentation, specialized techniques, and charitable events raising millions of dollars. Retro games remain at speedrunning's heart, with classic titles offering perfect testing grounds for skill, strategy, and creativity.
The Origins of Speedrunning
Speedrunning's roots trace back to gaming's earliest days, when players naturally competed to complete games faster than their friends. The 1993 first-person shooter DOOM catalyzed organized speedrunning when players began recording demos and sharing completion times online. These early DOOM speedrunners established conventions still used today—category definitions, timing methods, and documentation standards that legitimized speedrunning as competitive pursuit rather than casual bragging.
Classic console games soon followed DOOM's example. Super Mario Bros. became one of speedrunning's most popular titles, with runners constantly discovering new techniques and optimizations. The Legend of Zelda series, Metroid games, and Mega Man titles attracted dedicated speedrunning communities. These games' tight controls, skill-based challenges, and routing possibilities made them ideal for speedrunning. As internet connectivity improved through the late 1990s and early 2000s, speedrunning communities grew, sharing strategies, videos, and competing for world records across increasing numbers of games.
Categories and Rules
Speedrunning's complexity lies in its diverse categories catering to different playstyles and interests. "Any%" runs focus purely on reaching the game's end as quickly as possible, using any means available including glitches and exploits. "100%" runs require completing all objectives—collecting all items, defeating all bosses, exploring all areas—before finishing. "Glitchless" categories restrict exploit use, emphasizing intended gameplay mechanics and skill execution.
More specialized categories emerged as communities matured. "Low%" runs minimize collection and completion, finishing with fewest possible items or upgrades. "No major glitches" allows minor exploits while banning game-breaking skips. Some games feature bizarre categories like "reverse boss order" or "blindfolded" runs, showcasing community creativity. Category proliferation ensures speedrunning remains accessible—newcomers can attempt glitchless runs while veterans push boundaries with exploit-heavy any% attempts. This diversity keeps communities vibrant and welcoming to various skill levels and interests.
Technical Mastery and Optimization
Modern speedrunning requires deep technical understanding of game mechanics, often exceeding developer intentions. Runners study frame data, hitboxes, randomness algorithms, and memory addresses to optimize every action. Super Mario Bros. speedrunners save frames through precise jumps that maintain maximum horizontal velocity. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time runners manipulate memory through precise item combinations, warping across the game world.
Tool-assisted speedruns (TAS) push optimization to theoretical limits using emulators allowing frame-by-frame input and unlimited rerecording. TAS creators craft superhuman performances impossible for real-time players, revealing games' absolute speed potential. These runs inspire real-time runners, demonstrating what's theoretically possible even if practically unachievable. Techniques pioneered in TAS often eventually migrate to real-time play as runners develop consistency through practice. This symbiotic relationship between TAS and real-time running drives continuous innovation and record improvement.
Glitch Discovery and Exploitation
Glitch discovery represents speedrunning's most creative aspect. Runners systematically experiment with game mechanics, searching for unintended behaviors enabling time saves. Some glitches result from simple oversights—walking through walls at specific angles, clipping through collision boundaries. Others require complex setup sequences manipulating game memory in precise ways.
Famous glitches have revolutionized speedruns. Super Mario World's "credits warp" allows runners to trigger the ending sequence minutes into the game by manipulating memory through precise shell interactions. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's "wrong warp" skips massive game portions by confusing the game about Link's location. These discoveries transform speedrun routes, invalidating previous strategies and requiring complete reoptimization. The hunt for new glitches never ends, with communities continuously testing boundaries and uncovering new exploits years or decades after games' releases.
The Role of RNG and Consistency
Random number generation (RNG) affects many speedruns, introducing uncertainty that separates good runs from great ones. Enemy spawn locations, item drops, attack patterns—these random elements can significantly impact completion times. Skilled runners learn to manipulate RNG when possible, performing specific actions that influence randomness algorithms. When manipulation isn't possible, runners must adapt quickly, adjusting strategies based on circumstances.
Consistency separates casual speedrunners from elite competitors. Executing difficult tricks once is impressive; performing them reliably across hundreds of attempts demonstrates true mastery. Top runners spend countless hours practicing specific segments until execution becomes muscle memory. This dedication to consistency explains why world records often improve by seconds rather than minutes—at the highest level, every frame matters, and perfection across entire runs determines success.
Community and Collaboration
Speedrunning thrives on community collaboration despite its competitive nature. Runners freely share strategies, route optimizations, and discovered glitches. Game-specific Discord servers, forums, and wikis document techniques and maintain leaderboards. This openness accelerates innovation—a breakthrough discovered by one runner quickly spreads throughout the community, raising overall performance levels.
Mentorship plays crucial roles in community health. Experienced runners guide newcomers, explaining techniques and providing encouragement. This welcoming attitude ensures continuous growth, with new blood bringing fresh perspectives that sometimes yield breakthrough discoveries. The collaborative spirit extends to record verification—community members review submitted runs, ensuring legitimacy and maintaining leaderboard integrity. This self-policing maintains trust and respect within communities.
Games Done Quick and Charity Events
Games Done Quick events transformed speedrunning from niche hobby to mainstream phenomenon. These week-long charity marathons feature dozens of speedrunners completing games while thousands watch via livestream and donate to charities. Started in 2010, Games Done Quick has raised over $40 million for charities including Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
These events showcase speedrunning's entertainment value beyond pure competition. Charismatic runners provide commentary explaining techniques and telling stories while playing. Donation incentives encourage viewer participation—bidding on runner challenges, naming characters, or choosing between run categories. The combination of impressive gameplay, engaging personalities, and charitable purpose attracts mainstream audiences who might never otherwise encounter speedrunning. Games Done Quick's success has inspired regional and specialized marathon events, expanding speedrunning's reach and charitable impact.
The Streaming Revolution
Livestreaming platforms like Twitch revolutionized speedrunning by enabling real-time audience interaction. Runners stream practice sessions, world record attempts, and casual playthroughs, building audiences invested in their success. Chat interaction creates community atmosphere, with viewers offering encouragement, asking questions, and celebrating achievements. This accessibility demystifies speedrunning, showing the practice, failure, and perseverance behind record attempts.
Streaming has enabled some runners to pursue speedrunning professionally, earning income through subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships. This professionalization raises overall skill levels as runners dedicate more time to practice and optimization. However, it also introduces pressure—maintaining audience interest while grinding practice sessions requires personality and entertainment skills beyond pure gaming ability. The most successful speedrun streamers balance skill demonstration with engaging commentary and community interaction.
Retro Games in Modern Speedrunning
Despite gaming's technological advances, retro titles remain speedrunning staples. Classic games' shorter lengths suit streaming—complete runs fit within reasonable timeframes unlike modern 100+ hour RPGs. Retro games' simpler mechanics are easier to master completely, allowing deeper optimization. Their established communities provide extensive documentation and support for new runners.
Modern rereleases and compilations introduce classic games to new audiences, feeding speedrunning communities with fresh participants. Nintendo Switch Online's classic game library, for example, has sparked renewed interest in NES and SNES speedrunning. Randomizer communities add new life to classic games by shuffling item locations, creating novel challenges requiring different strategies. These innovations ensure retro games remain vital to speedrunning culture rather than becoming historical curiosities.
Conclusion: More Than Just Speed
Speedrunning transcends simple competition, embodying gaming's creative potential. It transforms familiar games into new challenges, revealing depths invisible during casual play. The combination of technical mastery, strategic optimization, and community collaboration creates rich subculture celebrating gaming excellence. As speedrunning continues growing, attracting mainstream attention and charitable support, it demonstrates how gaming communities can positively impact broader society while pursuing their passions.
For retro gaming enthusiasts, speedrunning offers fresh perspectives on beloved classics. Watching skilled runners dissect games reveals mechanical intricacies and design brilliance easy to overlook during normal play. Whether participating competitively, attempting casual runs, or simply watching others' attempts, speedrunning enriches appreciation for gaming's golden age. The culture's welcoming nature means anyone can participate, contributing to vibrant communities keeping classic games alive and relevant for new generations.