Top 8 Video Games for Speedrunning Mastery

Speedrunning transforms video games into a race against time, where players aim to finish as fast as possible using skill, strategy, and sometimes glitches. It’s a thrilling way to experience games, blending precision with creativity.

Whether you’re new to speedrunning or a seasoned pro, certain games stand out for their engaging mechanics and active communities. Below, I explore eight titles perfect for mastering the art of speedrunning.

Super Meat Boy (2010)

This tough-as-nails platformer demands pinpoint accuracy and quick reflexes. Its short, brutal levels make it ideal for speedrunning, with leaderboards fueling fierce competition.

Players master tight jumps and wall-slides to shave seconds off their runs. The game’s simple controls and punishing design reward practice, making every improvement feel earned. World records hover around 17 minutes for any% runs.

Mirror’s Edge (2008)

‘Mirror’s Edge’ puts you in the shoes of Faith, a runner navigating a sleek, futuristic city. Its focus on fluid movement and parkour makes it a natural fit for speedrunning.

Runners exploit precise jumps and wall-runs to cut time, with top any% runs clocking in under 30 minutes. The game’s open-ended paths let players experiment, keeping the community vibrant and creative.

Celeste (2018)

This indie gem combines tight platforming with a heartfelt story. ‘Celeste’ offers precise controls and challenging levels, perfect for speedrunners seeking a balance of skill and strategy.

Players use advanced techniques like dash combos to blitz through stages. Any% runs sit around 27 minutes for elite runners, but the game’s forgiving mechanics make it approachable for beginners too.

Portal (2007)

‘Portal’ is a puzzle masterpiece with physics-based mechanics ripe for speedrunning. Its linear levels and portal gun allow creative shortcuts, like save glitching, to bypass entire sections.

Top runners finish in under 10 minutes, using tricks like Accelerated Back Hopping. The game’s clean design and exploitable mechanics make it a speedrunning classic with endless depth.

inFAMOUS First Light (2014)

This action-packed standalone expansion to ‘inFAMOUS Second Son’ stars Fetch, whose super-speed powers are tailor-made for speedrunning. Its compact story keeps runs short and intense.

Players zip through Seattle using neon dashes, with world records for any% around 40 minutes. The game’s fluid movement and active community make it a great pick for action fans.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

A cornerstone of speedrunning, ‘Ocarina of Time’ offers a sprawling world with countless glitches to exploit. Its large community ensures constant innovation in routes and techniques.

Runners use tricks like wrong-warping to skip huge chunks, with any% times under 17 minutes. Its complexity makes it a tough but rewarding game to master.

Minecraft (2011)

‘Minecraft’ speedrunning blends strategy, luck, and execution. Players race to defeat the Ender Dragon, often relying on randomized world seeds to optimize runs.

Top any% times dip below 10 minutes with perfect seeds and glitch-heavy routes. The game’s open-ended nature and massive community make it a unique speedrunning challenge.

Super Mario 64 (1996)

This iconic platformer is a speedrunning legend, with flexible star collection routes and glitches like backward long-jumps. Its depth keeps runners hooked decades later.

Elite players complete 16-star runs in about 15 minutes, while 70-star runs take around 45. Its vibrant community and varied categories make it a must-try for speedrunners.

Which game sparks your speedrunning passion, or did I miss a gem you love? Drop your thoughts in the comments!