There are so many reasons to enjoySpeedrunning. Whether you want to experience a game you could never imagine completing on your own, or you’ve completed dozens of runs, a speedrun gives you a fresh perspective on how to beat a game. Some runs focus on completely breaking the boundaries, whereas others stay mostly within the normal rules but exploit certain mechanics.
Some of the best speedruns are standalone experiences that willshowcase a side of your favorite game you never thought possible.Executing a speedrun to perfection takes hours of practice and dedication, so if you’d rather just get to the payoff and be amazed, these speedruns are must-watch entertainment.
There’s no better example of a game focused on speed than racing games, and Mario Kart is probably the most famous racing game of all time. Those of us who have spent countless hours on the couch with our friends, screaming as we crossed the finish line, will attest that there’s no greater thrill than winning in Mario Kart.
While all the entries in the series are entertaining, the original Mario Kart 64’s historic speedrunning tricks are forever immortalized in speedrunning lore. If you have to start with one, the original’s long history and collection of epic tricks will amaze you; look them up and see for yourself.
Much like Mario Kart, Pokemon games are surprisingly fun options for speedrunning, if you know what you’re doing. While there are runs that ignore the rules and glitch through walls to get straight to the end credits, most glitchless runs require you to go all-in on unusualPokemon you might never use in your normal team.
For example, Nidoking is one of the most popular speedrunning choices for the earliest Pokemon generation, as this Pokemon can carry you through the Elite Four with careful move choices and item usage. Plus, what can be funnier than watching a single Pokemon essentially solo the game?
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a great speedrunning game, both because it blends out-of-bounds glitches with clever movement and AI manipulation and because it’s way less scary than playing normally. If you’re as terrified of horror games as I am, then zooming through to the end as fast as possible sounds ideal.
Aside from the speed required to dash through this game, reducing the unpredictable, evil family to easy-to-manage robots feels good. Shooting at specific spots to bait enemies to move in certain ways makes them feel far less scary, and makes you feel way smarter.
Oblivion Remastered was one of the best surprises of 2025, as the game unexpectedly dropped immediately following its announcement. The return to a revitalized Cyrodiil was incredible, but confirming that the same speedrunning strategies from the original persisted in the facelifted version was the most beautiful sight.
If you love sinking dozens of hours into RPGs, watching Oblivion be reduced to just over an hour for (glitchless) All Main Quests, or under 20 minutes for Any Percent, is nothing short of shocking. While Cyrodiil’s vast world is worth exploring, it’s amazing to hone in on the game’s core story and see just how quickly it can be finished.
One word stands out when we think of the Wind Waker speedrun: ‘Pausa’. If you’re familiar with the run, you’ll know that the most important tech revolves around using a speed-storage trick to catapult yourself across the water at incredibly high velocity. To execute this trick, you have to repeatedly pause and unpause the game, building up speed for your eventual slingshot trip.
The Italian word ‘Pausa’ is so renowned due to the game typically being played in Italian, which allows the runner to get through the speech portions quicker than the English version would. It’s a difficult run to execute, but watching an expert pull off the speed-building tricks and dashing across the ocean is beyond hype.
No Super Mario game hits quite like Super Mario Sunshine, as this tropical vacation for Peach and Mario is one of the most beloved games in the series. While we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Mario kick, flip, and jump across worlds to collect stars, this 3D adventure adds a new element to the equation: Fludd (F.L.U.D.D).
Fludd is the hydraulic jetpack on Mario’s back, and this talking contraption will guide you through countless levels. What makes this speed run so fun to watch is the high-octane, frame-perfect tricks that the runner has to pull off to succeed. Unless you’re a platforming wizard, your jaw will drop watching this run.
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If you’re one of thethousands who gave up on Sekiroand never looked back, then this speed run is for you. While you might never have learned the timing for deflecting the quickfire attacks thrown at you throughout the game, speedrunners have mastered every last parry opportunity.
Getting stuck on Genichiro for hours is a core part of getting good at Sekiro, and there’s something unbelievably satisfying about watching bosses like this get dropped in a few minutes. They make it look so easy, you might convince yourself to go back and give it another try.
If you love the incredible platforming prowess needed for Super Mario but enjoy the out-of-bounds magic from games like RE7, then the Ratchet & Clank series might be perfect for you. Expect plenty of jumping and blind movement, so these games require some decent route memorization.
While the games are all entertaining, some of the most popular runners, like Xem, make this series feel like home, even if you’ve never played one yourself. Ultimately, speedrunning is about basking in the feeling of community as you enjoy a game with others, so any game or runner who makes you feel that is a great speed run to watch.
