New game any% is a category of ULTRAKILL that is not ran by many. With it being a category extension, its existence is either unknown or overshadowed by more popular categories. This event aims to bring attention to the category with this event, including a cash prize for the top three runs by the end of June starting the 7th of the same month!

The rules for this event are as follows:

- Players must run the game on the most up to date version of ULTRAKILL (patch 16d)
- Standard NG rules apply. This includes things such as the run being timed in RTA and must have a livesplit timer.

The Cash rewards will be given out at the end of June based on the top 3 runs. The only requirement is a valid Paypal account.

- 1st place will receive $60
- 2nd place will receive $25
- 3rd place will receive $15

Only runs submitted after June 7th will be accounted for when determining placement.

# Why should I run this?

A good question! NGany% is not ran by many top level runners in the ULTRAKILL speedrunning scene. Due to many qualities that the NG category has specific to it, such as its length, many established runners write off the category. The run is scarcely done and as such there's much room to improve and break the time down!

NGany% also keeps many things in mind when running that other categories dont. Such as style management, Consistency, and overall cost vs benefit when running. There are many points where taking an early timeloss can save you time later on, and as such makes the run unique in the ULTRAKILL scene!

As an ULTRAKILL runner myself, I hope you check this category out! Its a unique twist from other categories, still getting off its feet, and overall pretty fun! hope to see you there!

Starting on June 7th; this event is made to bring attention to under-ran categories in the ULTRAKILL speedrunning scene. This friendly challenge aims to not only bring attention, but reward the most fierce!

ULTRAKILL Speedrun Challenge! 

**Hell of an Office** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1640890/Hell_of_an_Office/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1640890/Hell_of_an_Office/)

*The game is currently on sale until the end of February 23rd.*

### **Event Schedule**

📅 **Starts:** February 16th @ 12:00 PM EST📅 **Ends:** March 17th @ 12:00 AM EST

### **Payout Information**

The **payout date is not the same as the event end date**. Please allow us time to verify all runs. Once the verification process is complete, we will communicate the payment details and distribute payouts accordingly.

### **Important Notes**

- **Runs must be submitted to** [https://www.speedrun.com/Hell_of_an_Office](https://www.speedrun.com/Hell_of_an_Office) **in order to be eligible.** 
- **Rules are subject to change by the organizers. Join the RapidRuns4Fun Discord to be updated on any potential rule changes throughout the Event.** [https://discord.gg/MVYRjgYAHW](https://discord.gg/MVYRjgYAHW)
- The **top 10 RTA times will be re-timed at the end of the event**, and **load times will be manually removed** for accuracy to ensure fairness.
- **Hell rush runs must be live-streamed.** This is used as an additional layer of security to prevent cheating.
    - If you have a local recording and prefer to upload it as a YouTube video instead, you’re welcome to do so. However, please provide the VOD or a highlight of the stream so we can verify that it hasn’t been tampered with.
- **Individual level runs do not need to be live-streamed** but can be locally recorded.
- **At the end of the event, please check Speedrun.com**, as I will message you there after the event.
    - Please ensure that your privacy settings on Speedrun.com allow private messages. To do this, go to your **account settings, privacy, and make sure the option 'Don't allow other users to send me private messages' is turned off.** This will enable me and the other moderators to contact you directly!
- **In the event of a tie,** the award will be given to the player who achieved the time first

### **Category: Hell Rush**

🏆 **Goal:** Complete the game starting from **Level 1-Elevator Pitch** through **Level 100–Pandemonium Showdown and defeating Mr.Stan Morningstar.**

**Estimated Length of Run:** 00:25:00 - 00:30:00 **(hh:mm:ss) Current leaderboard times do not count toward this event**—only submitted runs during this event are considered

### **Timing**

- **Start:** After Loading into Level 1-Elevator Pitch from the Level Select screen.
- **End:** ‘Level Completed’ screen appears after completing Level 100–Pandemonium Showdown.

**Timing Method:** Real-Time Attack (RTA) – No auto-splitter or Load Removal is currently available.

****If you are capable of making an Auto-splitter or Load Remover for the game please contact any of the moderators for Hell of an Office through Speedrun.com**

****Main Rules – Hell Rush ($1,750)**

- **Speedometer and Lava must be enabled.**
- **Video footage must include all game audio and FPS.**
- For re-timing purposes, **please include at least 1–2 seconds of footage before and after your run.**
- Runs must be performed on an **unmodified version of the game.**
- For verification, the **Speedometer must be enabled in the game settings** to help detect macro usage.
- **No overlays or elements should cover key gameplay components** (e.g., stapler animations, timer, speedometer).
- **Macros, autoclickers, and third-party applications are not allowed.**
- **A LiveSplit timer is recommended** (not used for official timing but helpful for tracking RTA).

### **Prizes**

🥇 **1st Place:** $1,000🥈 **2nd Place:** $500🥉 **3rd Place:** $250

### **Individual Level Runs ($500)**

- **Speedometer and Lava must be enabled.**
- **Video footage must include all game audio and show FPS. (At a minimum of 30FPS)**
- If applicable, **include 1–2 seconds of footage from your previous attempt**, level select screen, or previous level.
- Runs must be performed on an **unmodified version of the game.**
- **No overlays should cover key gameplay elements** (e.g., stapler animations, timer, speedometer).
- **Macros, autoclickers, or external tools are not allowed.**
- **LiveSplit is NOT required** for Individual Level runs.
- At the end of your run, **show the leaderboard along with your time** before moving to the next level. Skipping this step may nullify your run.

### **Individual Level WR Incentive** 

🏆 **$5 per World Record** at the end of the event!

- With **100 levels available**, you can earn up to **$500 total**.
- **In-game leaderboard times do not count** toward this event—only submitted runs are considered. 
- Players on the Ineligble player list may still submit their times to the leaderboard, but their results will not be included in the final standings. For example, if ChewbaccaChills holds the world record and you place second, you will receive the award as if you had placed first.

**RapidRuns4Fun Discord:** [https://discord.gg/MVYRjgYAHW](https://discord.gg/MVYRjgYAHW)

RapidRuns4Fun is a **community-driven** speedrunning hub that brings together runners of all skill levels to celebrate the thrill of speedrunning! Whether you're chasing world records, supporting charity, or just looking for some fun competition, we've got something for you.

### **What We Do:**

🚀 **Marathons for Charity** – We host speedrun marathons where runners can showcase their favorite games, with all proceeds going to a **charity of choice**.

🏆 **Speedrun Bounties** – Want to put your skills to the test? We organize **bounties with prizes**, both for community-funded challenges and our own exclusive bounties!

⚔️ **Head-to-Head Challenges** – Compete in exciting **speedrunner vs. speedrunner** matchups, with some events featuring **cash prizes** for the winners!

🎥 **Content Creation & Showcasing** – We create **YouTube content** and **feature community speedrunners on our official Twitch channel**.

🎉 **And Much More!** – From unique challenge events to surprise competitions, there's always something happening at **RapidRuns4Fun**. Stick around and be part of the action!

**Hell of an Office Discord:** [https://discord.com/invite/aPCh5SNsQR](https://discord.com/invite/aPCh5SNsQR)

Hell of an Office is a 3D precision platformer in first-person view that combines action and speedrunning as you try to escape HellO, the most infernal office in the (under)world! Be quick, use your stapler to rocket jump and dash. Can you escape before the lava catches up to you?

# **Ineligible Player List**

To keep this speedrun bounty fair and competitive for all participants, some players will not be eligible to compete due to their extensive experience with the game. This is **not** for any kind of **wrongdoing**, but rather a **recognition** of their **skill and dedication**, as they have already set a high bar for speedrunning in this community. For more details, visit the [RapidRuns4Fun Discord!](https://discord.gg/MVYRjgYAHW)

To the effected players, we appreciate your contributions and the high standards you’ve set. Thank you to these top-tier runners for being a crucial part of the speedrunning community! This decision allows more players to have a chance at competing while ensuring a balanced playing field. 

A **huge thank you** to our community member, **SpeedrunsSin** ([@SpeedrunsSin on Speedrun.com](https://www.speedrun.com/users/SpeedrunsSin)). Their **generous support** made this event possible, allowing us to bring this exciting competition to the community. We truly appreciate their contribution and dedication to the speedrunning scene! 🚀🎉

RapidRuns4Fun brings to you an exciting new speedrun bounty for the game Hell of an Office!
🥇 1st Place: $1,000🥈 2nd Place: $500🥉 3rd Place: $250
Including IL prizes up to an additional $500!

Hell of a Speedrun: $2,250 Up For Grabs!

*Indie Horror Speedruns Presents…*

# **IHS Summer Marathon 2024**

Many of you know Indie Horror Speedruns for our yearly winter marathons centered around indie horror games as well as our preservation of indie horror speedrunning. We’re proud to present our first summer marathon along with the opening of submissions for IHS Summer Marathon 2024. Taking place live on June 15th 2024 at 1PM eastern standard time and running for roughly about 8 hours. All horror centered and horror-adjacent games are eligible to be submitted but indie horror games will always be prioritized. Official guidelines and rules can be found below and if you have any more questions feel free to contact us at [@IndieHorrorSR](https://linktr.ee/indiehorrorspeedruns) or join our [Discord.](https://discord.gg/Kxm6mHnZv3)

# **Submission Guidelines**

-Submit Here: [https://oengus.io/marathon/IHSSM24](https://oengus.io/marathon/IHSSM24)

-All participants are limited to 5 game submissions for any category of each game.

-Submissions are required to be at least horror-genre centered or contain horror elements. Indie games are preferred but not required. Final exceptions will be decided by the IHS staff team.

-All submissions must be sent in to our Oengus forum by June 1st 2024 12:00am eastern standard time.

-All runners are required to be available the day of the marathon and there will be no exceptions in regards to schedule changes.

# **Scheduling**

IHS Summer Marathon will be taking place live June 15th 2024 on [Twitch.tv/IndieHorrorSpeedruns](https://www.twitch.tv/IndieHorrorSpeedruns) at 1PM eastern standard time.

-Submissions CLOSE 12:00AM eastern standard time on June 1st 2024.

-Official schedule announcement on June 7th 2024.

-No exceptions to schedule changes unless at IHS Staff discretion.

-Live event on June 15th 2024 1PM eastern standard time.

We hope to see our whole community attend along with new faces interested in indie horror speedrunning. We’ve hosted the premiere event for indie horror speedrunning since 2022 and we’re excited to bring this event to the summer.

See you there.

Many of you know Indie Horror Speedruns for our yearly winter marathons centered around indie horror games as well as our preservation of indie horror speedrunning...

Indie Horror Speedruns Presents... IHS Summer Marathon 2024

To promote the 10 Chambers/10 Chambers Collective (10C/10CC) developer stream to complete the game in one full sitting, the developers will be holding a speedrunning tournament.

## Game

GTFO is a hardcore cooperative horror shooter that throws you from gripping suspense to explosive action in a heartbeat. Stealth, strategy, and teamwork are necessary to survive in your deadly, underground prison. Work together or die together.

### Prizes:

Consists of a partially paid expense to the 10C office in Stockholm, Sweden. Travel and Hotel costs are covered in this expense, so food and other expenses will be covered by the winning team. The winning team will also participate in helping the developers during their 96-hour livestream during **June 10th to June 14th**.

# **Contest Details**

To participate, submit a speedrun of the expedition **ALT://Rundown 6 C1** (also known as ALT://R6C1). You'll need to complete a run in this category with a team of 4 players to qualify. Make sure to record your run on YouTube or on Twitch. Once completed, upload the video or link the video(s) of your run and post the URL on speedrun.com for verification. **All runs will need to abide by the SRC rules and game rules.**

## Duration/Competition Format

The group with the fastest completion time will be crowned the winner. The competition starts on **April 30th and ends on May 8th**.

Timing is in CEST. All runs must be submitted by 11:59 PM CEST on May 8th.

## Eligibility

Anyone is free to submit a run with any team of 4. To find other event participants, please join the [GTFO Discord Server](https://discord.gg/XYJzSnncTx) or the [GTFO Speedrunning Discord](https://discord.gg/Nb5SN8PMNQ) to find others to run with.

Compete in the heart-pounding GTFO speedrunning tournament, where teams race against the clock to navigate through eerie environments, fend off terrifying monsters, and complete challenging objectives for an exclusive prize.

GTFO Speedrunning Tournament

# Introduction:



We are a racing marathon that specializes in games that mainly involve 4 wheels and a steering wheel, we are determined to show off some of the best racing game speedruns the communities have to offer whilst raising money for charity at the same time.

So are you feeling fast? Well dust off those racing gloves and get submitting! 😄



# **Key Dates and Information for our event:**


- **Game Submissions + Volunteer Applications Open**: January 29th 2024 (00:00 AM GMT+0)



- **Game Submissions + Volunteer Applications Close**: March 31st 2024 (23:59 PM GMT +0)



- **Schedule Reveal**: April 5th 2024



- **Event Dates**: April 13th/14th 2024



Run Times for each day:



- **12 Noon - 11PM (Saturday)**
- **12 Noon - 9PM (Sunday)**



**Run times are in GMT +0 (UK Time Zone)**



McRaeathon is happy to work alongside Benelux Speedrunners Gathering (BSG) who is allowing us to raise money for a great charity called MIND.



# Games List:



- Racing games such as Gran Turismo, Forza, Colin McRae Rally/DiRT, Need for Speed etc. (**✓**)
- Driving games such as Driver, Flatout etc. (**✓**)
- Kart Racers such as Mario Kart, Sonic All Stars Racing, Crash Team Racing etc. (**X**)
- Ship Racers such as F-Zero etc. (**X**)
- Character Racing such as Sonic R, Gensou Skydrift etc. (**X**)

If your game doesn't fall into this list (Driving segments in Call of Duty or Halo for example) then chances are it won't be accepted. Any questions regarding your run if they don't fit anything on this list then feel free to ask us in the Discord server here: https://discord.gg/unVDNJSz4w



# All runs must have English commentary provided by either yourself or a co-commentator.

We hope to see you there for McRaeathon 2024! :)


Submissions for one of the best racing game marathons on the planet is now open and waiting for you to sign up! :D

McRaeathon 2024 submissions are now LIVE!

Attention all future Ghostrunners! We are extremely excited to announce our $10,000 Ghostrunner 2 Speedrunning Challenge in collaboration with 505Games and One More Level! Prepare yourselves to dash through Ghostrunner 2’s epic post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world.

**Starting Date:** October 26th, 2023

**Duration:** Two weeks, until 11:59PM UTC November 9th, 2023

This challenge will put both new and experienced Ghostrunners to the test. With an incredible $10,000 total available in cash prizes, competition is sure to be fierce. Here’s what you need to know:

## Eligibility:

Must own a legitimate copy of Ghostrunner 2.

Open to players aged 18 and above worldwide, with the following exceptions: North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, and Venezuela.

## Category:

The featured category in this challenge will be Any%. For you new speedrunners, this essentially means beat the game as fast as you possibly can within the limits of the game. This includes glitches and exploits - if you would like further clarification please refer to the category rules on the challenge leaderboard. Some updates may have to be made to the ruleset depending on the development of the route over the coming weeks - but the spirit of the category will remain the same. Any updates to the ruleset will be communicated to participants as they are made

## Submission:

Record your speedrun and submit it via [our Challenge leaderboard here on Speedrun.com](/challenges/42ymr396-Ghostrunner_2-blood-will-run-10-000-challenge)

Follow the guidelines provided for video formatting and submission requirements, found in the rules section.

## Rules and Regulations:

All speedruns must adhere to the official rules, available on the Speedrun.com Challenge leaderboard.

[Contest Rules](/challenges/42ymr396-Ghostrunner_2-blood-will-run-10-000-challenge/rules?view=contest)

[Category Rules](/challenges/42ymr396-Ghostrunner_2-blood-will-run-10-000-challenge/rules?view=challenge)

## Prize Distribution:

The $10,000 prize pool will be distributed among the top performers for fastest completion time in the Any% category. The distribution is as follows:

1st place - $5,000

2nd place - $3,000

3rd place - $1,000

4th place - $250

5th place - $200

6th place - $150

7th place to 10th place - $100

If you want to hop in and start learning the movement, you can download the demo on all platforms right now!

[View the Ghostrunner 2 Demo leaderboard](https://www.speedrun.com/Ghostrunner_2_Demo)

## Challenges

Challenges themselves are nothing new to the speedrunning scene - but our developers have been hard at work recently building out a feature to officially support Challenges on Speedrun.com! Currently, these challenges are created internally, but our long-term aim is to enable Speedrun.com users to create their challenges, with or without prize pools. A Challenge leaderboard functions similarly to the regular leaderboards you're already familiar with. However, we've made a few layout adjustments to cater to the time-sensitive nature of challenges and the inclusion of prize pools.

We are aiming to avoid any undue pressure on the Ghostrunner 2 moderation team - so to ensure a smooth process, all runs submitted to the challenge leaderboard will be screened and verified by either SRC staff or Ghostrunner 2 moderation team members *volunteering for the challenge specifically*. After the challenge concludes, SRC staff will collaborate with the Ghostrunner 2 moderation team to discuss the potential merging of challenge runs into the regular leaderboard once the moratorium period expires, respecting the mod team's preferences

## Preparation Suggestions

To follow the challenge and find tips & tricks for the speedrun, visit [the Ghostrunner 2 Challenge leaderboard right here on Speedrun.com](/challenges/42ymr396-Ghostrunner_2-blood-will-run-10-000-challenge) and the [GRSR Discord server](https://discord.com/invite/gYGgtzC5s2)

## Some Advice

The challenge lasts for two weeks, which may sound short, but it's ample time. I recommend taking your time for your first playthrough, focusing on learning the game's movement and practicing sections before diving into full runs. The fiercest competition for the top three spots typically emerges in the final week or even the last few days of the challenge, so there's really no need to rush through your initial playthrough.

Good luck, and have fun Ghostrunners!️

Speedrun is excited to host our first challenge featuring Ghostrunner 2 Any% with $10,000 in prize money on the line. Do you have what it takes to save Dharma in record setting time?

Ghostrunner 2 $10,000 Speedrun Challenge

The games list for Awesome Games Done Quick 2024 has been released!

Speedrunners who submitted their runs have been patiently waiting with anticipation these last few days. Now that the list has been released, Discord and Twitter are absolutely chock full of people celebrating or congratulating others.

[https://twitter.com/starsmileyx/status/1712991662778065000](https://twitter.com/starsmileyx/status/1712991662778065000)

![](/static/blob/1n511ve3.png)

[https://x.com/Maxylobes/status/1712997224035324002?s=20](https://x.com/Maxylobes/status/1712997224035324002?s=20)
[https://x.com/bryonato/status/1712996089341882507?s=20](https://x.com/bryonato/status/1712996089341882507?s=20)
[https://x.com/MrGymnast86/status/1713002448586223805?s=20](https://x.com/MrGymnast86/status/1713002448586223805?s=20)
[https://x.com/FroobMcGuffin/status/1713006776285548700?s=20](https://x.com/FroobMcGuffin/status/1713006776285548700?s=20)

![](/static/blob/wzx88dnr.png)

Here are some of my personal favourites that were accepted:
(Screenshots taken from respective runners PB's in associated categories, order is alphabetical by game)

[Batman Arkham City Any%](https://www.speedrun.com/arkhamcity/runs/zn7nd97m) by @ShikenNuggets

![](/static/blob/rnqddmej.png)

[Dead Space Remake Any% Unrestricted](https://www.speedrun.com/dead_space_2023/runs/y2k5757y) by @sharkhat

![](/static/blob/7e9225z1.png)

[DOOM (2016) 100% Nightmare](https://www.speedrun.com/d2016/runs/zq9podxy) by @Raitro

![](/static/blob/3nvdd8nm.png)

[SPRAWL Any%](https://www.speedrun.com/sprawl/runs/m3k9g76y) by @BloodThunder

![](/static/blob/4zjpplzk.png)

...and many more! What runs are you looking forward to?

If you'd like to look through the games list yourself, [you can find it here!](https://gamesdonequick.com/submission/games-list) After that, we can all look forward to seeing the schedule when it's released October 20th.

Speedrunning marathon event Games Done Quick just released the games list!

The AGDQ 2024 Games List!

# Is Atari Making a Comeback

# Short Answer: Yes! 

Atari has been a cornerstone of SRC for many years. The Atari speedrunning scene has been growing exponentially over the recent months after user @VyPr announced the community-based speedrunning tournament Project Retro Season #1 in the Farmington Discord server. Project Retro Season #1 was announced to be 4 weeks long consisting of multiple games being speedrun on the Atari 2600. Dozens of speedrunners flocked to Speedrun.com to solidify their places on the Project Retro Leaderboards. Runners like @Captninja6, @DoritoBreath, and @Zir0nic crushed the competition.

# Community

Atari speedrunning history on SRC begins in 2015 with the game, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

# [E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial](https://www.speedrun.com/et)

![](/static/blob/7n6652nq.jpg)

After Atari made its SRC debut many other Atari games began to appear all over Speedrun.com, some games like [Dragster](https://www.speedrun.com/dragster) and [Adventure](https://www.speedrun.com/advt) blew up with hundreds of runs in those 2 games alone. Some Atari runs can be dated back to 2006 even predating Speedrun.com itself.

Example: Adventure Difficulty 1 in 33.60 by @SadisticMystic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE6MSXqouSk

More games continued to appear on SRC over the course of the following years and the community came to life.

In 2017 the SRC Atari community was left abandoned and deemed obsolete compared to the newer games like [Super Mario Odyssey](https://www.speedrun.com/smo) at the time.

# Project Retro 

Project Retro was announced in August of 2023 by user @VyPr. Project Retro consisted of 4 weeks of gameplay, containing the following titles.

## Project Retro Game List & Highlights

### Week 1

- [Dragster](https://www.speedrun.com/dragster)
- [Tron: Deadly Discs](https://www.speedrun.com/trondeadlydiscs)
- [Enduro](https://www.speedrun.com/enduro)
- [Halo 2600](https://www.speedrun.com/halo_2600)
- [Tennis (Atari 2600)](https://www.speedrun.com/tennis_atari2600)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t9M9OXaxew

### Week 2

- [Grand Prix](https://www.speedrun.com/grand_prix)
- [Juno First](https://www.speedrun.com/juno_first)
- [Sky Jinks](https://www.speedrun.com/sky_jinks)
- [Q*bert](https://www.speedrun.com/qbert_atari_2600)
- [Commando](https://www.speedrun.com/commando_)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_upNRtIvH8?t=3

### Week 3

- [Defender II](https://www.speedrun.com/Defender_II_Atari_2600)
- [Centipede](https://www.speedrun.com/ctp)
- [Donkey Kong](https://www.speedrun.com/donkey_kong_atari)
- [RealSports Boxing](https://www.speedrun.com/RealSports_Boxing)
- [Midnight Magic](https://www.speedrun.com/midnight_magic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG_rQL2W9Qs?t=1

### Week 4 (Final Week)

- [Mario Bros. Arcade](https://www.speedrun.com/mario_bros_arcade)
- [Joust (Atari)](https://www.speedrun.com/Joust_Atari_2600)
- [Pressure Cooker](https://www.speedrun.com/Pressure_Cooker)
- [Pole Position](https://www.speedrun.com/pole_position)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULnVLC7ywd8

# What's next?

After the end of Project Retro Season #1, the SRC Atari community has continued to regrow - a new chapter of Atari speedrunning has begun and the Atari community is asking for you to help us grow and thrive. Help us rewrite the history of Atari speedrunning and become a part of something bigger than we had ever thought possible.

Special Thanks To @VyPr,  @Captninja6, @DoritoBreath, @Act_, @Akuretaki and so many more for reviving this AWESOME community!

Congratulations to @Zir0nic the champion of Project Retro Season #1

[Atari Speedrunners Discord](https://discord.gg/3NJAx2yyjK)

[Official Project Retro Leaderboard](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AMp8UcrIEn84kSPVJsenT31HBaZUyZB05sgZovGZ-Dg/edit#gid=0)

After years of dormancy, the Atari community Is back and all is looking good!

Atari Community Celebrates Successful Event - Project Retro Season 1

With so many demos to explore, it can feel like searching for hidden treasures in a sea of options. But fear not - I've taken on the challenge and handpicked seven games from Next Fest that I believe have speedrunning potential.

So, without further delay (and in no particular order) let's dive into Next Fest and check out these promising speedgames.

(Also quick note, we aren’t sponsored by or currently in partnerships with any of these games as of the writing of this article)

***Viewfinder***

**Surreal Puzzle Platformer**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1382070/Viewfinder/)*

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/vQfvMGWc3Uzt-SXUdTmpoqQ4Tc5V_x0BS30_1HnvL-gXkHkdIr6vpoyBNP99NQIgzqxX59_U6x1Ry_bDI9Z2jJ69Zmk_1bnYQvf_we-q10rAn2NwGbe3KElh4HRghjrcqYXJeHJhikP2HQ0GVHHqvTI)

I must admit, I'm fashionably late to the party on this one, as there’s already a speedrunning community that has popped up around this game! Picture this: a mind-bending journey through trippy puzzle designs reminiscent of Superliminal, wrapped in an atmosphere that balances relaxation and intrigue. The strategies and optimization that emerge in a speedrun when you know all the solutions to a puzzle game are always interesting. For instance, in the first level, you’re meant to fall when a bridge breaks at which point the game teaches you the rewind mechanic - but speedrunners discovered you can skip the tutorial by jumping over the bridge *before* it breaks. There’s lots of other cool stuff too, so I recommend you go [check out a run!]([https://www.speedrun.com/viewfinder](https://www.speedrun.com/viewfinder))

![](https://next.speedrun.com/static/blob/r1n8wnq4.gif)Whether you're a puzzle aficionado seeking a mind-bending experience or simply looking for a comfy game to kill a few hours, Viewfinder is an absolute must-play.

***En Garde***

**Cartoony Spectacle Fighter**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1654660/En_Garde/)*
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OuSWsMKgbT2cg6Kp88CTJdKYWnFVnxg8tThjmGRQGNgETSLKuZ9ckB7CN2qbxL8JPCm-kejOmLb5-Z6rp5D3HubtURAukvJqjxxivALORmgk4gKMqQyJqwf0zs6JhqpG_sPeh0l7lpeBiVaA11MgD6o)
“En Garde!” is a charming Spectacle Fighter/Action game focused on sword combat. The combat mechanics are super satisfying, allowing for fluid and precise swordplay that keeps you engaged and on your toes. Additionally, the platforming elements sprinkled throughout the demo added a layer of variety, although I personally hope the developers will increase the frequency of these sections in the full release.

[VIDEO LOST]

As soon as I’m wrapped up with this article, this is definitely a speedgame I want to throw a few run attempts at.

***Echo Point Nova***

**Movement Shooter**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1836730/Echo_Point_Nova/)*
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gGkyZWr6H38pQwnknZC2U3iZ2cfembPSkGaPUBEijOcdT_rAn0jIfIcKEiezNVJRBpRCQqiW7rsCYJw8lpPQ-JIGvINHyqCVXK4zmiud9Ne0WEYlo2yqwhwIMG_VjYXu2ZMlLqICstD99Lg9SepqrH0)

Echo Point Nova’s demo feels like an open-world sandbox to explore the extremely satisfying movement and gunplay mechanics, which is by no means a bad thing. The movement starts off slow, introducing you first to the Double Jump Boots, then the Grappling Hook, and finally the *pièce de résistance* - the Hoverboard. The routes you can pull off by stringing these three systems together are gratifying as hell. The gunplay also feels like a massive improvement over developer MattWLA’s last title, Severed Steel with punchier effects and visuals.

[VIDEO LOST]

It's worth noting Matt’s dedication to engaging with the community and actively seeking feedback, which further enhances the overall experience, fostering a collaborative environment where players' (including speedrunners) voices are valued and acknowledged.

***Valley Peaks***

**Amphibian 3D Platformer**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2107550/Valley_Peaks/)*

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9OAHNHffsc2uvT6lFawjfUrfOWO22DjgaZqT8c6vpkujft-yzv7kmdsQXh39wTgz9eEHajHadmnCt2FH6dgF8tSPe1oeNQeyX9z4esY-PVnyuEoU7B3ObQ4ul8hJDT9F2eAGXwiD_mk45nXOTZxlWpM)

You play as a frog and you climb tall things (optionally very fast) - need I say more? Valley Peaks has a gorgeous art style and great controls for climbing - simply left-click to climb with your left hand and the opposite for the right. Some sections will still challenge you though, and I’m excited to see the possibilities in a speedrun route. In trying to go fast myself during the demo, I noticed that it’s incredibly satisfying trying to scale large things fast - but one mistake and you fall to the bottom.

[VIDEO LOST]

I can’t wait to see some high-risk strats in runs or especially in a live setting like a marathon, I’ll be on the edge of my seat.

***Skator Gator 3D***

**Reptile 3D Platformer**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1996470/Skator_Gator_3D/)*

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b0WLNBW2jMc726y6Gg9efIq6x9NiwYeFFF_YXKIaWYTuPFmmV7ND8kTmCbCT-4tmnVr0OWOEydfK7Mza17jieHEq3ElZDMICID40O9SGTGy8K3fi7eHxH1vaBop28XmkVWHPAbX7MQrXdJRPNMyOins)

On the topic of cute animal 3D platformers - Skator Gator 3D! First of all, thanks @shovelclaws for sponsoring the gameplay for this one as I was having some controller issues - and its gameplay is far superior to mine anyway! SG3D has some speedtech in which you jump after a dash with a certain rhythm - this is called a Super Jump and was actually put in place on purpose by the developer! You can see it in use at the start of @Shovelclaws gameplay below.

[VIDEO LOST]

The developers have also gone through the game and listed baseline speedrun times on each level, as well as engaging with the speedrunning community by reacting to runs!

***Lies of P***

**Souls-Like**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1627720/Lies_of_P/)*

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JsXWpYkDgHxN8hPOqLFvRLuYqLFak7vonfM1L5n05pCyPFSdpdTlOwiSGzssFJOyYqGNT_MwDk5h5uRFy_yfIyH4-n7afzQvjl-dW0oBqB7sc6qDFy8LUVsJ6w-C2doZnDwB_vXmS4qbuewnKPssT1w)

In this Bloodborne-esque Souls-Like, you play as Pinnochio (yes, **that** Pinnochio) on a quest to become a real boy - a quest in which you slay thousands of gruesome (and very aggressive) puppets. Lies of P introduces some unique mechanics, including a weapon crafting system where you can take parts from different weapons and combine them together to create something completely new.

[VIDEO LOST]

The demo for a lowly casual such as myself took several hours (of dying over and over), meanwhile legendary speedrunner @mitchriz [managed to pull off a run in a blazing 16:38]([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGASDuEz3Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGASDuEz3Y))

***ALMOST***

**IL-Rush Platformer**

*[Link to game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2280150/ALMOST/)*

Neon White gamers, get ready to grind once again. ALMOST is a fast-paced IL-Rush with a unique Dimension Switch mechanic in which you can go between two different dimensions which each contain its own platforms that aren’t in the other dimension. This mechanic adds another layer that will give speedrunners lots to chew on during the routing process! This is definitely the gameplay that took me the longest to record because the skill ceiling is **ridiculously** high in this game.

[VIDEO LOST]

For context, this clip took me about an hour to get, and I just barely scratched the top ten on the leaderboard, with the world record being a whole 9 seconds faster than my run.

And that’s a wrap! Although I played a TON of demos over the past few days, I barely scratched the surface of the vast array of those released there are hundreds more waiting to be explored. Have you stumbled upon a demo that holds great potential for speedrunning but wasn't mentioned in this roundup? Join me in the forum thread I've created so we can discuss!![](https://next.speedrun.com/static/blob/p4zjlnko.gif)

Steam Next Fest June '23 is here! It's that time of the year when game developers shower us with demos of their upcoming releases. It's like a buffet of gaming goodness. 

7 Potential Speedgames From Steam Next Fest June '23

ULTRAKILL - Category Extensions

GTFO

Ghostrunner 2

Hell of an Office

ViperUK

xo7qoy9l

Ultra64

nzy2zyq3

VexGamingTV

Zomb_Slays

Voidspace

booshican

xwpw4y0l

The leaderboards will be opening at 8pm UK time on June 26th 2025. Happy Karting!

Mario Kart World

Join the Discord server while you wait! https://discord.gg/VD8dEWSz

PEAK

Welcome to the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Speedrun Page!

Unfortuntely due to a recent patch, a debate around downpatching has appeared causing ongoing conversation around whether to allow it or not.

So I ask for a few more days for the boards to go live 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Leaderboard embargo to allow us to all enjoy the game and discuss rulesets for said categories! 

Cant wait to see everyones runs!! 