Speedrunning has transformed gaming into something entirely unique—turning long, story-driven adventures or tough challenges into lightning-fast showcases of precision, skill, and creativity. What makes the wildest speedrunning scenes so captivating is how players bend the rules, discover glitches, and push games to their absolute limits. Here are the top games with communities that keep the thrill of speedrunning alive and ever-evolving.

1. Super Mario 64

Arguably the crown jewel of speedrunning, Super Mario 64 has been studied, optimized, and broken in every way imaginable. From classic 16-star runs to insane zero-star glitch showcases, the community has pushed this Nintendo classic to legendary status in speedrunning history.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Ocarina of Time speedrunning community is famous for its groundbreaking glitches. With tricks like “wrong warping” and complex memory manipulations, players skip huge chunks of the game, turning a 30-hour adventure into a matter of minutes.

3. Celeste

A modern platforming gem, Celeste shines in the speedrunning world thanks to its precision platforming and skill expression. Runs are a dazzling display of perfectly timed dashes and advanced movement tech, making it one of the most exciting modern speedrunning titles.

4. Dark Souls Series

Speedrunning Dark Souls isn’t just about fast movement—it’s about exploiting intricate mechanics, mastering enemy behavior, and pulling off skips that look impossible to the casual player. Categories range from no-hit runs to glitch-heavy chaos, keeping the scene unpredictable.

5. Minecraft

Though it might not seem like a typical speedrunning game, Minecraft’s “Any% Random Seed” runs have become wildly popular. Players rely on quick thinking, insane luck, and game knowledge to beat the Ender Dragon in record times. The randomness makes every run a thrill.

6. Portal & Portal 2

Valve’s puzzle classics are speedrunning playgrounds. Portal runs are filled with physics exploits, wall-clips, and bunny hops that turn a cerebral puzzle game into a high-speed thrill ride. The creativity of these runs keeps viewers glued to the screen.

7. Doom (1993 & Doom Eternal)

The original Doom practically birthed speedrunning with its time-tracking levels, and its community is still strong decades later. Meanwhile, Doom Eternal has carved out its own scene, with intense movement tech and enemy manipulation adding to the chaos.

8. Sonic the Hedgehog Series

Fittingly, Sonic games have thriving speedrunning communities. Mastery of momentum, glitches, and level skips make these runs as wild and fast-paced as the games’ tagline promises: gotta go fast.

9. Super Metroid

A legendary title in speedrunning history, Super Metroid pioneered categories like 100% and “any% glitchless.” Its intricate tech and precise movement have kept it at the heart of events like Games Done Quick for years.

10. Grand Theft Auto V

While most think of GTA V as a sprawling open-world sandbox, its speedrunning scene is incredibly chaotic. With driving skips, mission warps, and unpredictable AI, runs often feel like barely controlled madness, making them endlessly entertaining to watch.

Conclusion

These wild speedrunning scenes prove that no game is safe from being taken apart, studied, and mastered by dedicated communities. From the glitch-filled chaos of Ocarina of Time to the pixel-perfect movement of Celeste, each title offers a unique stage for players to push the limits of speed, creativity, and skill.