The Rise of Speedrunning: How Gamers Beat Games in Record Time

Speedrunning has become a popular subculture within the gaming community, where players complete games as quickly as possible, often using specific strategies, glitches, or techniques to cut down time. But how did this phenomenon rise, and what makes it so appealing to players and viewers alike?

1. The Birth of Speedrunning

Speedrunning traces its origins back to the early 1990s, when players started timing themselves to finish games as quickly as possible. The first known speedrun dates back to Super Mario Bros., where players aimed to complete the game in under an hour. Since then, speedrunning has grown into a competitive and collaborative activity, with players racing against the clock and against each other.

2. Categories of Speedrunning

Speedruns typically fall into different categories, including:

• Any%: Completing the game as fast as possible with any available means, including glitches or skips.
• 100%: Completing the game fully, obtaining all collectibles or completing every mission.
• Glitchless: Completing the game as fast as possible without using glitches.

Each category has its own set of challenges and requires different techniques, making speedrunning a versatile and complex pursuit.

3. The Community and Competition

Speedrunning is driven by a passionate community. Players share their runs, strategies, and discoveries on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and dedicated forums. Events like Games Done Quick have brought speedrunning to the mainstream, raising money for charity while showcasing incredible feats of gaming.

This community-driven environment fosters constant innovation, with new techniques, tricks, and strategies being discovered all the time.

4. The Appeal of Speedrunning

Speedrunning appeals to gamers because it combines several key elements:

• Challenge: Beating a game in record time requires perfect execution, quick thinking, and mastery of the game’s mechanics.
• Competition: The speedrunning community thrives on competition. Records are constantly being broken, and the pursuit of the perfect run is a never-ending challenge.
• Creativity: Players often have to think outside the box, using unintended game mechanics, glitches, and exploits to achieve faster times.

Speedrunning offers a new way to experience games, transforming them from a one-time playthrough to a deeply engaging challenge.