Like a 100-meter sprint, and also like chess: the charm of speedrunning games

What is e-sports? Is it the League of Legends World Championship, the Dota TI event, or the CS major? If I tell you that speedrunning can also be a form of e-sports, would you agree? When e-sports want to gain recognition from mainstream society, a voice will tell you that a balance patch or a rule adjustment may instantly change the pattern of the game, or even make the players’ efforts come to nothing. Game companies seem to be able to modify the rules at will to tilt the balance of victory to where they want. However, speedrunning is different. Its core rule is simple: don’t modify the game—just push the limits with skill and strategy. This naturally avoids outside interference.

Imagine that you are running a race, but running a race is more strategic. In the Any% rule, players can use any method to pass the level, including bugs (of course, they cannot modify the game). Once a route is found, players keep refining it, pushing the completion time to its absolute limit. However, every time a speedrunner refines a route, running it over and over to shave off every possible second, they push it to the limit—like a sprinter perfecting a 100-meter dash or a marathon runner mastering their pace. But then, another genius comes along and finds a completely new path. This new route doesn’t require flawless execution or extreme skill, yet it surpasses everything that came before.

Enter the wall to skip the flag lowering animation

A common question is that speed running will not be fun in the game, and this behavior is meaningless, etc. The author would like to cite the example of Super Mario Bros. You may have heard of or played this game released in 1996, whether you think it is simple or difficult for you. What I want to ask you is, do you know how fast Mario moves? It is 2.5 pixels per second, and it moves 2 pixels in the previous frame and 3 pixels in the next frame. Speedrunners use this subtle mechanic to optimize their game. At the same time, There is a “Frame Rule” inside the game, which determines that certain scenes (such as the animation at the end of the level) can only jump at a specific time point. For example, the timer checks every 21 frames whether it can enter the next scene. If the player’s optimization is less than 21 frames, the result will not change. These seemingly trivial details constitute the core of speedrunners’ challenge to the limit. This combination of theory and practice is enough to become a “game science”.

Games in Speedrun website

Speedrunning isn’t limited to a single game. From classic arcade titles to modern AAA masterpieces, any game with an endpoint can become a challenge. Players naturally share their experiences, refine their techniques, and compete to see who can finish the fastest. This friendly competition started in a small group and gradually evolved into a global competitive activity. For example, games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Dark Souls, and even puzzle games like Portal all have dedicated speedrunning communities. No matter the genre or complexity, as long as players have a passion for challenge, speedrunning can transform single-player games into a global relay race—where each runner leaves their mark in history. Speedrunning even crosses the boundary between games and technology. Many classic games have also made great progress in simulator technology, game research and program reverse engineering due to the promotion of speedrunning.

The charm of speedrunning lies not only in its demanding requirements on technology, but also in the human spirit it embodies. Speedrunning is a higher, faster and stronger practice. Under the seemingly simple rules of the game, the creativity, persistence and technology shown by speedrunners are a true reflection of the Olympic spirit. These players face not only the challenges of game levels, but also the challenges of themselves. They fail again and again, but they still enjoy it, because every second of optimization and every innovative method are their breakthroughs to limits. Speedrunning tells us that even in the virtual digital world, human wisdom, collaboration and passion can still shine brightly.

Pictures: screenshot of Niftski – Twitch, screenshot of speedrun website

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