Only Up Speedruns: Pushing the Limits
Only Up speedruns are here, and they're faster than ever. The internet game phenomenon, which was named Game of the Year for 2023, has become the subject of countless speedrun records. What started as a meme has evolved into a competitive game with leaderboards and online competitions. Only Up speedrunning is here to stay.
What is Only Up Speedrunning?
If you're new to the scene, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Speedrunning is a hobby where players attempt to complete games as quickly as possible, relying solely on their skill and knowledge of the game mechanics. Only Up is no different. With its fast-paced gameplay and potential for optimization, it's the perfect platform for speedrunners to showcase their skills.
There are a variety of Only Up categories for speedrunners to aim for, with the most popular being the Any% Glitchless run. In this category, players aim to complete the game as quickly as possible without using any glitches or exploits. Instead, players have to rely on their skill and knowledge of the game to complete the level, collect the Yoyos, and reach the end of the game without any help.
This particular run requires an incredible amount of skill and precision, and the world record is a testament to that. The current world record for the Any% Glitchless category stands at an impressive time of just under 10 minutes, achieved by speedrunner Noorbox.
That's not to say the Any% Unrestricted category isn't impressive, because it certainly is. In this category, players have the freedom to use any glitches or exploits they can find to complete the game in record time. The Any% Unrestricted category allows for creative and unconventional strategies, and the world record is a perfect example of that.
Created by speedrunner Nightbarrow, the world record run for this category is an astounding 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Despite having the ability to use any glitch or exploit they can find, Nightbarrow's run is incredibly clean, with many sections of the game being completed without skipping a beat.
Only Up speedrunning leaderboards can be found here, with new records being set on a near-daily basis. Speedrunners are coming up with innovative ways to shave off seconds from their runs, and we're excited to see what the Only Up speedrunning scene has in store.
Check out our Only Up review for a more in-depth take on the game, or take a look at some of the other upcoming indie games we're looking forward to in 2024. You can also follow the latest news and updates from Valve, the game's publisher, via its Twitter account.
