It’s been another lively week in the speedrunning community, with a mix of jaw-dropping world records, community debates, and growing anticipation for one of the biggest events of the year. Whether you’re here for the precision, the drama, or the sheer creativity of runners, there’s plenty to unpack.
🏁 A New Super Mario 64 Milestone
The headline of the week goes to GreenSuigi, who set a stunning new 120-star world record in Super Mario 64 with a time of 1:35:14. This category has long been one of the most prestigious and optimized in speedrunning, so any improvement—especially one this significant—turns heads.
Runs at this level are the result of years of incremental optimization, near-perfect execution, and relentless grinding. Watching the ceiling get pushed yet again is a reminder of just how far this game—and its runners—have come.
🔥 SGDQ 2026 Is Taking Shape
Excitement is building as the Summer Games Done Quick 2026 game list has officially been revealed. As always, the lineup features a diverse mix of classics, modern titles, and quirky picks that promise entertaining runs and creative showcases.
Adding to the hype, Games Done Quick will also be featured at Gamescom 2026 in Germany, signaling continued growth and mainstream recognition for the speedrunning scene. It’s clear that what started as a niche hobby has firmly established itself on the global stage.
🧠 Community Conversations & Controversy
This week wasn’t just about runs—it also sparked discussion.
One thread that gained traction asked: Which is the most popular speedrun game from each Smash Bros. franchise? It’s a fun thought experiment that highlights how different communities gravitate toward different types of games—from highly technical platformers to glitch-heavy RPGs.
On a more serious note, questions surfaced around SimpleFlips’ ban from Speedrun.com, with users trying to piece together what happened. While details remain unclear in the thread, it’s another example of how moderation and rule enforcement continue to be important (and sometimes contentious) aspects of the scene.
🏆 Records Everywhere You Look
Beyond SM64, it’s been a record-heavy week across a wide range of games:
- A runner claimed world records across all major PS1 Armored Core categories—an impressive multi-game achievement.
- A new Final Fantasy VII Any% No Slots WR clocked in at 6:30:58.
- Classic and niche titles alike saw improvements, from Star Wars Racer Revenge to TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, and even lesser-known games like Herdy Gerdy and Cynthia: Hidden in the MoonShadow.
Meanwhile, in the Super Mario Bros. scene, yelia64 delivered both a TAS tie and a near-identical personal best in the notoriously tight 8-4 individual level, showing just how precise top-level play has become.
🎮 Creativity Keeps Thriving
Speedrunning isn’t just about going fast—it’s also about rethinking games entirely.
A standout video this week explored how players speedrun Super Mario World backwards, flipping conventional routing on its head. It’s a perfect example of the creativity that keeps older games fresh and exciting.
Elsewhere, one developer even shared a speedrun of their own game, highlighting the unique perspective of designing—and then breaking—your own mechanics.
❓ What’s Going On with SM64’s 10K Bounty?
One interesting discussion revolved around the $10,000 bounty in Super Mario 64, with users questioning why the leaderboard hasn’t seen much movement recently.
Speculation ranges from burnout to shifting focus among top runners. Some big names appear less active, raising questions about whether the bounty is still driving competition—or if the category has simply reached a plateau (for now).
🧩 Help, Routes, and Getting Started
As always, the weekly help thread continues to be a welcoming space for newcomers. From route questions in Super Mario World to general advice on getting started, it’s a reminder that the community thrives not just on competition, but also on collaboration.
🚀 Final Thoughts
This week captures everything that makes speedrunning special:
- Elite players pushing games to their absolute limits
- A growing global presence through major events
- Ongoing discussions that shape the community
- And endless creativity in how games are approached
With SGDQ around the corner and records continuing to fall, there’s no sign of things slowing down anytime soon.
Whether you’re grinding your first PB or chasing a world record, it’s a great time to be part of the scene.
See you next week—keep resetting. 🎮
Source: reddit.com