Best Games for Speedrunning in 2023
Speedrunning has become a popular part of Gaming culture, where players attempt to complete games as quickly as possible. Some games have emerged as favorites among speedrunners, resulting in dedicated communities that continually push the limits of time and skill.
From action-adventure games to PC games, there are tons of genres and types of games that offer opportunities for exploration within their worlds. Here are a few of the best games to speedrun right now, including some surprising choices among heavy-hitting franchises:
Dark Souls
Known widely as one of the hardest video games ever, Dark Souls was designed to make players feel like they were always teetering on the precipice of death. With its intricate level design, puzzling enemies, and imposing bosses, speedrunning Dark Souls offers an intense experience.
If you think you can handle it, sit back and watch marqs_tf reach this shiva-like area at the start of Blightown – easily one of the best Dark Souls speedruns. Just make sure you have some paracetamol on standby.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight may be one of the best metroidvanias of this generation, but this little indie game has captured hearts for far more than its stunning visuals, haunting music, and immersive world. It's incredibly difficult, and death becomes part of the journey to the game's final boss.
Watch Chilled-Out casually parade around the Tutorial Zone like it's nothing. The Tutorial, or Hornet's Nest, as it's officially known, is a dastardly thing. A little shack at the base of the tree hosts three of the game's toughest bosses all in a row – Knight Captain Haergh, Quivermove, and Vengefly – and that's just the start. Thanks to the dedicated Hollow Knight community, there are fun and challenging runs aplenty to watch.
Portal 2
Valve has its fingers in a lot of pies. The first Portal was a critical darling, with its innovative portal gun mechanics solving inventive physics-based puzzles, and Portal 2 followed suit. Ditching the surprise factor, Portal 2 became a favorite among speedrunners – and understandably so. Not only does its magic still hold twelve years later, but the sheer volume of test chambers makes for high-level easy wins to manipulate.
The original Portal is one of the most influential games ever made, and Portal 2 raised the bar even further. Navigate through mind-bending test chambers, avoid the straightforward solutions the designers intended, and find ridiculous shortcuts that will leave you speechless – until you realize a professional gamer is controlling your movements.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all time, Ocarina of Time has a rich history in the speedrunning world. Featuring an expansive world to explore, challenging dungeons, and a deep storyline, this epic adventure game will put your patience to the test. Watch CelesteSander's Port Royal 100% run, which is not only super consistent and well-paced, but also a heartwarming tale of romance in the speedrunning community (they got married).
Celeste
Developed by the talented folks at Studio IRIS, Celeste is a critically acclaimed indie platformer, best known for its story, which follows the journey of a young girl named Madeline as she climbs a treacherous mountain. With a tight control scheme and a range of challenging levels, even the most casual players will find themselves reaching for the reset button time and time again – just like the pros.
