How to Find Your Ideal Speedrun Game: A Beginner's Guide

11 December 2025

So you’ve watched a few crazy fast Mario runs on YouTube or caught some jaw-dropping speedruns during Games Done Quick, and now you’re thinking, “Hey, that looks awesome—I wanna do that.” First off, welcome to the club! Speedrunning is one of the most adrenaline-pumping, controller-gripping, mind-blowing ways to enjoy video games on a whole new level. But here comes the million-dollar question: how the heck do you find the right game to speedrun?

Choosing the perfect game is like finding the right pair of running shoes—you could wear something flashy, but if they don’t fit, you won’t get very far. So let me break it down step-by-step (with a few laughs along the way) and help you find your ideal speedrun game. Ready? Let’s burn some pixels!

🧠 First Things First: What Is Speedrunning, Really?

Before we start digging through your game library, let's make sure we're on the same page. Speedrunning is the art (yes, art!) of completing a video game—or a part of it—as fast as humanly or inhumanly possible. It’s about mastering every nook, cranny, glitch, and button press to shave off seconds, milliseconds, or even frames from your run. It’s not just playing; it’s breaking the game in the most beautiful ways imaginable.

Think of it like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded... while riding a unicycle… on a trampoline. Yeah, it’s that kind of wild.

🎯 Why Picking the Right Game Matters (A LOT)

Speedrunning isn’t just about going fast; it’s about love, obsession, frustration, and eventually triumph. I won’t sugarcoat it—speedrunning a game isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. So if you're not vibing with the game, guess what? You’ll probably burn out faster than a noob in Dark Souls.

That’s why choosing the right game is the make-or-break move. Your ideal game should match your skill level, your patience, and the stuff you find fun (or tolerable in the long haul). So how do you find that gem? Keep scrolling.

🛠️ Step 1: Know Your Gaming Style

Are you a perfectionist who thrives on precision and timing? Do you love glitchy chaos? Or maybe you’re in it for nostalgia?

Here’s a breakdown of styles most speedrunners lean toward. Figure out which speaks to your soul:

- Execution-focused runs – Think Super Meat Boy or Celeste. These demand tight controls and frame-perfect movement.
- Puzzle- or route-heavy runs – Like Zelda or Metroidvania games. You'll spend time planning and optimizing.
- Glitch fests – Love breaking games? Titles like Pokémon Red/Blue or Ocarina of Time are loaded with bugs ripe for exploiting.
- Short and sweet – Want quick wins? Try indie platformers or arcade titles.
- Long haul runs – Into endurance marathons? RPGs like Final Fantasy or JRPGs may be your jam.

Know who you are. If 3-hour grinds make you cry, stay clear of RPGs. If pixel-perfect jumps give you goosebumps, welcome to platformers.

🎮 Step 2: Raid Your Game Library

Before you buy anything, take a hard look at the games you already own. That dusty PS3 collection? Your 300+ titles on Steam from last decade’s sales? Those are gold mines waiting to be tapped.

Here are five questions you should ask yourself right now:

1. Which games do I already know inside-out? Familiarity gives you a head start.
2. What games can I beat without Google? If you know the mechanics like the back of your hand, you’re more likely to succeed.
3. Are there games I never get tired of? That’s a huge win.
4. Which games have active speedrun communities? (More on this later.)
5. Can I tolerate watching and playing this game 100+ times? If not, move on!

Tip: If a game you love is also short, has skip potential, or is mechanically deep, you might’ve just found your golden goose.

🔍 Step 3: Lurk in the Shadows (a.k.a. Research)

Okay, so you’ve got a couple candidates. Now it’s time to stalk the community (in a friendly way, obviously).

Here’s what you’re looking for:

- Visit Speedrun.com – It’s the holy grail for finding communities, leaderboard stats, popular strategies, and tutorials.
- Check out Twitch and YouTube – Watch top runners. See what runs look like. Do they seem too complicated? Too long? Or just right?
- Join Discord servers – Most games with active speedrun scenes have a dedicated Discord. Ask questions, share clips, and soak up the vibes.

See if there’s detailed documentation, beginner-friendly routes, guides, or even training tools. A vibrant community doesn’t just help you improve—it keeps you motivated.

🧪 Step 4: Test Drive Like a Pro

You don't choose a car without a test drive, right? Same goes here.

Start by doing what we call "casual speedruns." That doesn’t mean you half-ass it—it means you play the game as fast as you can, with no tricks or glitches, just pure muscle memory. Basically, try beating the game quickly without stressing about perfection.

Now ask yourself:

- Am I having fun?
- Do I want to try again and beat my time?
- Does the game feel rewarding or just frustrating?

If the answer is “YES” to most of those, congrats! You might've found your speedrun soul mate.

But if you’re already rage-pressing Alt+F4 within 30 minutes... yeah, that’s not it, chief.

🧭 Step 5: Choose a Category That Fits

Speedruns come in all shapes and sizes. If the full-game run seems intimidating, remember: you don't have to commit to the full thing.

Here are some common categories you’ll see:

- Any% – Finish the game by any means necessary. Glitches galore!
- 100% – Collect everything. Completionists welcome.
- Low% – Beat the game with minimal items or upgrades.
- Glitchless – Play it straight, no exploits allowed.
- Level/Stage runs – Great for platformers. Beat an individual stage as fast as possible.

Starting small, like with individual levels, is a smart move. It helps you build rhythm and confidence without grinding a full playthrough.

⏱️ Step 6: Don’t Be Afraid To Be “Bad”

Let’s get something straight: Your first speedrun will suck.

No, seriously. You’ll probably mess up. A lot. You’ll forget routes, botch skips, and slap your own forehead when you miss a jump for the 6th time. But guess what?

Everyone starts there. The only difference between a beginner and a top-tier runner is persistence.

So don’t chase world records right away. Instead, aim to beat yourself. Your last time. Your last mistake. Every second you shave off is a win.

🌎 Bonus Tip: Go Where the Hype Is

Here's the thing—sometimes you find your ideal game not by looking inward, but by looking around.

Big events like:
- Games Done Quick (GDQ)
- ESA Marathon
- Speedrun Saturdays on Twitch

…can spark inspiration. Watch what games are popping off. See what gets the crowd cheering. You might find yourself saying, “Wait—I could do that!”

Bonus: games with active events and visibility tend to have more support, better guides, and stronger communities. All factors that make your journey a whole lot smoother.

✅ Speedrun Game Checklist: The Self-Test

Still stuck? Use this quick checklist. If a game scores 4 or more ✅'s, you’re in good shape!

- ✅ I already love this game.
- ✅ It’s not too long or frustrating.
- ✅ There’s an active speedrun community.
- ✅ There are beginner guides or tutorials.
- ✅ The controls and mechanics feel tight.
- ✅ I can see myself getting better at it.
- ✅ It gives me that “just one more run” feeling.

🧗 What Comes Next?

Once you find your game, the real fun begins.

Start small. Learn segments. Time yourself with tools like LiveSplit. Hang out with the community. Watch your idols. Ask dumb questions (seriously, we all did).

Before long, you’ll develop your own route, your own rhythm, and who knows—maybe even your own signature trick.

There’s magic in the grind—and it all starts with that one game.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Speedrunning is a rush like no other. It can be brutally challenging, but it’s also crazy rewarding. The moment you nail that one skip you’ve been practicing for days? That’s the good stuff.

So take your time choosing a game. Experiment. Fail a little. And when you find that perfect candidate—the game that makes hours feel like minutes—grab it with both hands.

Because once you start running, trust me… you won’t want to stop.