Best Games To Speedrun

There's no better way to wow gaming friends than by blasting through one of their favorite games at a record pace. Be it a complex RPG, frame-perfect platformer, or RNG-reliant rouge-lite, just about every game has at least one recorded speed run attempt. It's not surprising to see, as speedrunning brings a certain allure and satisfaction scarcely matched. It's a feeling of conquering a video game in an entirely new (and often exclusive) way. It's like a game within a game; just a very, very difficult one.

But which are the easiest to get into for starters? Professional speedrunners often say players should start out with a game they already love, but running through anything hundreds of times will doubtlessly get old. These titles, however, should serve as good starting points for those either looking to get into the speedrunning scene or simply hoping to impress a few buddies. So, what are the best speedrun games?

Updated on February 9, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Speedrunning is an art that many people have come to appreciate over time. Watching people dedicate their heart and soul to complete games in record time is a blast. The things that some of these gamers accomplish are nothing short of astounding. Some players think that speedrunning is an art that only a few select gamers can partake in, but that's not the case. New speedrunners should try their hands at some titles that are easy to complete quickly, letting them experience the highs that other speedrunners enjoy.

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26 Neon White

A Game That's Meant To Be Played As A Speedrun

Neon White is a unique game that lets players collect cards in a level. These cards double as both weapons and traversal options. This makes every level a dance where players must figure out the quickest way possible to get through.

It's a title that's meant to be speedrun, making it perfect for players who want to find a quick and enjoyable game to get into this art. The dopamine rush that players get from besting their time at every level makes Neon White a unique indie title that players should check out for themselves.

25 The King's Bird

Run, Fly, And Glide With Ease

This platformer from Serenity Forge may not be on the radar of many, but it nonetheless soars as an underrated pick for speedrunning. This is thanks to the fluid movement and accessible controls of this sidescroller, which feels akin to a slightly tamer version of Sonic.

Players will run, fly, and glide through a variety of lush, silhouetted locales, using a dash move as their main weapon and transport. The King's Bird is minimal in terms of hazards and baddies, making for a great entry-level speedrun option. Rather, the game emphasizes speed, momentum, and precision to traverse each area. While increasingly tough, this exhilarating ride has rapid-fire retries to ensure ample practice through trial and error.

24 Untitled Goose Game

Distract Humans, Solve Puzzles, And Look Cute

This zany romp by House House is known for its amusing "troll humans as a devious goose" premise and unique puzzle-stealth gameplay. While running around as a honking bird and clearing the end in minutes may not be the most exciting or interesting feat, it's certainly one of the easier games to any% speedrun.

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By  Jason Rochlin

The game allows for players to slip past certain barriers by simply holding a boot (and later fine china) in their beak, dropping it, and quickly nabbing it back up while trekking through certain objects to "clip" through them. If executed correctly, the goose can get its hands (or beak, rather) on the coveted bell and bring it back to its den in just a few minutes.

23 Super Mario 64

Pulling Off Impressive Jumps Looks Amazing Every Time

One of the most popular games to speedrun for pros and newcomers alike, Super Mario 64 was found to be a great option for the activity fairly early on in the advent of the practice. Many continue their attempts for this delightful 3D platformer, and in fact, a new record (no stars collected) was recently hit by YouTube user Kanno.

The element to be exploited for a great any% speedrun conveniently can be accessed right when the game begins by having Mario do a funky backward long-jump combo in Peach's Castle. Doing so in the right location will have the plumber glitch and clip through walls, practically slingshotting himself into the hall that leads to the first Bowser stage. Mario will then obtain a key and can complete just a few more stages.

However, what's handy about this one is that the star collection system allows for multiple "tiers" of speedrunning, each with its trials and difficulty so players can pick which route best suits them.

22 Celeste

Players Must Perfect Their Movement To Get Past Challenging Stages

Crafted in 2018 by Matt Makes Games, Celeste swiftly turned into a hit with its charming retro style and its wildly tough platforming trials. But while this punishing, hazard-laden trip will almost surely invoke rage, its heartfelt and somber storyline can spur its own emotional reaction; one that can bring tears.

The intensity of this vibrant, metaphoric game mirrors the anxious motifs represented by the downtrodden heroine, who must overcome her depression and anxiety by overcoming literal obstacles thrown at her relentlessly. While this highly difficult test of wits and emotion may have some speedrunners pulling their hair out, the frantic pacing and rapid-fire redoes make this one quick to learn and complete once someone is ready to prevail.

21 Pokemon Snap

Click Photos And Unlock Secret Routes

This one is highly unique, both as a speedrunning option and a game at large. Branded as a "first-person photography game", or perhaps more fitting, a passive rail shooter, Pokemon Snap lets players sit back and enjoy the ride as they examine and snap Oak-approved photos of them at their best

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This Pokemon-admiring trip is entirely (and literally) on rails, which adds a calming simplicity to one's speedrunning trial, as the game restricts going off the beaten path and thus faltering. However, the biggest factors are that hazards are very few and dying is impossible, mitigating the worry for do-overs. Just a few shortcuts and tricks here and there — like avoiding camera moves and maximizing photo points — will give even newcomers a chance to reach the end quickly.

20 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

A Legendary Metroidvania Made Even More Exciting

This fan-favorite rendition of the classic horror action game is great for any% speedrunning because its core content is actually fairly short, while the gameplay and mechanics are complex enough to be exploited. There are also a number of tricks players can utilize that are fairly easy to grasp.

These include spamming Alucard's Back Dash and canceling quickly with his shield to keep a high speed, and screen-skipping pause glitches. And it helps that the game's tight controls and physics make Symphony of the Night both reliable and fun to play for the long haul. As a result, this remains one of the best games to speedrun.

19 Streets Of Rage

Smash Through Waves Of Opponents Without Breaking A Sweat

Given the short length of this Genesis classic, and its (literal) straightforward nature, Streets of Rage makes for an enticing speedrunning game for beginners. While far from easy, the game is more forgiving than other entries in the series and also offers a limited set of moves that are fairly simple to pick up.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that this '91 romp is one of the most renowned beat 'em ups to this day, despite Streets of Rage 4 giving it a run for its money.

18 Undertale

Sparing Enemies In Record Time Is Unbearably Charming

While subtly packed with depth, this role-player is simultaneously minimal and simple in terms of art style and gameplay alike. The game runs with retro turn-based fighting reminiscent of EarthBound and old Dragon Quest, though developer Toby Fox brings novel concepts with timing-centric combat and unconventional mechanics.

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While the core campaign can run about seven hours, some speedrunners have burned through this colorful journey in under an hour. Since its 2015 release, Undertale's uniquely charming style and wild battle system have given it cult status among gamers.

17 Super Mario Odyssey

Mario's Movement Looks Slick When He's Platforming At A Breakneck Pace

Completionists are well aware that this epic Mario adventure is far from small, as it's loaded with dense places to explore and countless Power Moons to gather. However, much like 3D Mario romps that preceded it, making it through Odyssey's core campaign is a far quicker and easier feat.

Potent powerups, shortcuts, and the ability to buy a number of Power Moons allow players to breeze through the game in just a few hours or less. It also helps that the seamless open worlds allow players to rattle off several Moons at once, minimizing loading screens and overworld traversal. Those who know where to find some of the collectibles will be able to burn through the game relatively quickly. It's these traits that make Super Mario Odyssey an Any% favorite for many.