How Speedrunning Has Changed the Way We Play Action Games

11 January 2025

Alright, brace yourself, because we’re about to dive into the chaotic, heart-pounding, totally insane world of speedrunning and how it's turned action gaming on its head. Imagine this: you’ve spent months grinding through an action game, savoring every cutscene, collecting every hidden trinket, and proudly taking down every boss. And then, along comes some speedrunner who laughs in the face of your achievement and finishes the game in, like, 12 minutes. Yes, it’s both soul-crushing and awe-inspiring. But hey, that’s speedrunning for you—an exhilarating cocktail of skill, dedication, and a dash (or a glitch) of madness.

Speedrunning isn’t just a trend; it’s a full-blown culture. And believe it or not, it’s shaped the way we play and even think about action games. Let’s break it down, one sarcastic observation at a time.

What Even IS Speedrunning? (For the Three People Who Don’t Know)

Oh, you sweet summer child. Speedrunning is exactly what it sounds like: playing a game as fast as humanly (or superhumanly) possible. But it’s not just about sprinting to the finish line like you’re Sonic on a caffeine binge. No, these players memorize every enemy spawn, every platform jump, and every possible glitch like they’re studying for a PhD in "How to Break a Game 101."

Speedrunners don’t just play a game; they dominate it. They laugh in the face of conventional gameplay and treat developers’ carefully crafted levels as mere suggestions. Water intended for swimming? Nah, let’s levitate over it using some broken collision detection. That two-hour-long dungeon? Let’s clip through the wall and skip it entirely in 30 seconds. Honestly, it’s a little disrespectful—but also kind of genius.

How Speedrunning Became a Thing (Spoiler: It’s the Internet)

Speedrunning isn’t new. People have been trying to beat their older siblings' Mario Bros. times since the ’80s. But what really turned it into a worldwide spectacle? The internet. Specifically, platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Combine a global audience with a shared love of chaos, and bam, you’ve got yourself a speedrunning revolution.

Communities like SpeedRunsLive and forums on Reddit became virtual war rooms where players could share strategies, discover glitches, and cry together when they messed up that one jump for the millionth time. And let’s not forget Games Done Quick—the holy grail of speedrunning events that turns breaking games into an art form and raises money for charity. You know, because if you’re gonna skip 90% of a game, you might as well do it for a good cause.

Speedrunning Has Redefined Action Gaming (And Made Us All Feel Slow)

Now that we know what speedrunning is, let’s talk about how it’s totally redefined action games. Spoiler alert: it’s not all bad. (Unless you’re a game developer who now has to watch in horror as players destroy your life’s work in record time.)

1. Players Have Become More Creative (Or Just Plain Ruthless)

Speedrunning is basically the art of finding loopholes that even the developers didn’t know existed. It’s like becoming a digital lawyer, exploiting every bug, glitch, and odd mechanic to shave off precious seconds. Action games, with their fast-paced gameplay and intricate level designs, are particularly ripe for this kind of creative chaos.

Remember back in the day when beating a tough boss felt like an accomplishment? Now, speedrunners just zip through the floor and skip the fight entirely. Is it fair? No. Is it hilarious? Absolutely.

2. Developers Are (Kind of) Joining the Party

Here’s the crazy part: some devs have started designing their games with speedrunners in mind. Shocking, right? Instead of shaking their fists at players who bypass entire levels, they’re like, “You know what? Let’s lean into it.” Games like Celeste and Doom Eternal include speedrun-friendly mechanics, secret paths, and time trackers to encourage that high-speed mayhem.

It’s a win-win: speedrunners get their fix, and casual players (like me and maybe you?) get to experience the thrill of “Wow, look at how fast the pros can do it!” while we struggle with basic platforming.

3. The Rise of the “Viewer Sport”

Speedrunning isn’t just about playing games; it’s about watching them. Millions of people flock to Twitch streams and YouTube videos to watch speedrunners do their thing. Why? Because it’s mesmerizing. Speedrunning is like the Olympics of gaming—only instead of athletes, you’ve got gamers shaving milliseconds off their times and yelling at RNG (random number generation) for ruining their run.

And let’s be real: part of the appeal is Schadenfreude. Watching someone reset their run for the 200th time because they missed a frame-perfect jump? Peak entertainment.

The Dark Side of Speedrunning (Yep, There’s Drama)

Of course, every subculture has its downsides, and speedrunning is no exception. Here are a few of the darker corners of the scene:

1. Toxic Competition (AKA the Time Wars)

Speedrunning can get intense. When you’re battling for the world record, friendships can turn into rivalries faster than you can say “frame skip.” Accusations of cheating, spliced runs, or using mods can spark wars that make Game of Thrones rivalries look tame.

2. Burnout Is Real

Imagine repeating the same level thousands of times just to save 0.3 seconds. (Yeah, no thanks.) Speedrunning demands an almost unhealthy level of dedication. Many speedrunners end up burning out, leaving the scene entirely. Honestly, can you blame them? I get tired just watching them.

How Speedrunning Has Affected Casual Gamers (Hi, That's Us)

So, you’re not a speedrunner. You’re just here for a good time, not a fast time. How has speedrunning impacted your gaming life? Oh, in more ways than you’d think.

1. New Ways to Play

Speedrunning has inspired casual gamers to try their hand at different challenges, like low-percent runs, no-damage runs, or, my personal favorite, playing with ridiculous self-imposed rules. (Ever tried beating a game using only your feet? Speedrunners have. And they’ve probably done it faster than you could with your hands.)

2. Glitch Appreciation

Thanks to speedrunners, even casual players now know about glitches and exploits they can use to make their lives easier—or just more entertaining. Who doesn’t want to skip a frustrating boss fight by walking through a wall? Iconic.

3. Bragging Rights Ruined Forever

Remember when you proudly told your friends you beat Dark Souls? Yeah, that’s cool and all, but speedrunners are over here beating it blindfolded. In 30 minutes. While narrating their run. Sorry, but your thunder’s been stolen.

The Future of Speedrunning (Or: What’s Next For These Digital Daredevils?)

So, where does speedrunning go from here? Honestly, the sky’s the limit. As action games get more complex and technology evolves, you can bet speedrunners will find new ways to break them faster than ever before. Maybe they’ll start incorporating AI or neural networks to perfect their runs. Or maybe they’ll just keep finding new, hilarious ways to exploit game engines. Either way, we’ll be here watching them in awe—and definitely not trying it ourselves (because let’s face it, most of us don’t have the patience).

Final Thoughts (TL;DR)

Speedrunning has completely changed the way we see and play action games. It’s turned gaming into a spectacle, pushed players to become insanely creative, and even forced developers to rethink how they design their worlds. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying the skill and dedication it takes to speedrun.

So, the next time you’re struggling to beat an action game, remember this: somewhere out there, a speedrunner is finishing it faster than you can microwave a burrito. And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful.