Our favorite Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 speedruns

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For the past seven days, the memory of Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been lingering on our minds. This incredible charity livestream event left us utterly amazed! For those who missed it, you can catch up with some of our top-pick speedruns right here.

New Super Mario Bros. (Wii) while playing piano by Wes

Throughout Mario’s illustrious journey, New Super Mario Bros. Wii often gets overlooked as a standout platformer. Imagine blending that timeless gameplay with a captivating piano performance – that’s what Wes accomplished by synchronizing the Wii Remote with himself, allowing him to play piano and explore the Mushroom Kingdom at the same time. It’s a unique gaming experience like no other and represents Games Done Quick’s thrilling new approach.

Crazy Taxi with Live Backing Band by chuckles825

At past GDQ events, the Crazy Taxi series didn’t receive much attention, but this year at Awesome Games Done Quick, runner chuckles825 made a significant impact by performing the game’s soundtrack live with a band on stage. The run maintained its fast pace, yet was largely devoid of commentary. The live performance from the band touched everyone in the audience, and social media exploded with videos of the first-ever mosh pit at Games Done Quick. With such inspiring musical performances, we can’t help but hope for more talented musicians to participate in future runs. After that incredible display, we eagerly await what’s next!

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom by Glubbers

At Games Done Quick, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom made its debut, as it had never been played there before. With generous donations during the previous week, the game’s run was secured, providing an exciting experience for Zelda enthusiasts, courtesy of Glubbers. This game is known for its numerous amusing glitches and tricks, and this was the first time many speedrun fans got to witness a world-class player hilariously manipulate the game. Echoes of Wisdom will undoubtedly be a memorable performance in the speedrunning community, and its debut at GDQ was a fantastic start.

Super Metroid by Andy, Oatsngoats, imyt and Eddie

For the last 15 years, the Super Metroid speedrun at Games Done Quick has been cherished as a time-honored tradition. But for Awesome Games Done Quick 2025, they mixed things up a bit. Instead of the usual run, they organized a four-player race that took place on a randomizer map, adding an exciting twist to what was already a smooth run. The event was further enhanced by the racers’ skillful gameplay interspersed with insightful commentary and lighthearted banter.

Doronko Wanko by Cubsrule21

At this year’s AGDQ 2025, Doronko Wanko was an unforgettable spectacle in the Awful Block! Unfortunately, the live performance happened at 5:00 AM ET, which might have been missed by some. However, don’t fret! The VOD is well worth watching. This speedrun took under 10 minutes, and the hilarious video game pup, Doronko Wanko, left quite a charming mess behind!

Elden Ring on Saxophone by Dr. Doot

At Awesome Games Done Quick 2025, Dr. Doot amazed the audience with a unique Elden Ring boss rush performance on the saxophone. This extraordinary event was just one of many musical highlights at AGDQ 2025, leaving us in awe and eager for more! Keep it up, Dr. Doot, for Shacknews!

Elden Ring by adef and CaptainDomo

At AGDQ 2025, it wasn’t just Dr. Doot running Elden Ring; another participant also took part in the game’s run, and their DLC lockout bingo presentation was equally enjoyable to watch.

Rocket League by ThundaSurge

At AGDQ 2025, ThundaSurge’s Rocket League performance demonstrated the thrilling platform puzzles developed by the game’s mod community throughout the years. A captivating 50-minute speedrun, it is a must-see for any Rocket League enthusiasts.

Kaizo Mario World 3 by lungfish3000

As a die-hard fan, I must say that extra-challenging Mario ROMhacks have become quite common, yet they never cease to amaze me. They serve as a testament to the incredible versatility of Super Mario World, a game that continues to astound us with its potential. It’s almost unbelievable how many classics emerge in this genre, given the frequent release of new ones, but Kaizo Mario World 3 remains a beloved gem in the Kaizo community. As I watch this incredible showcase, I find myself questioning if I could pull off any of these daring jumps.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by Bayesic

Bayesic isn’t only proficient at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; his performance was mesmerizing. Impeccable races, and ingenious strategies were showcased. If you missed it during last week’s charity fundraising livestream marathon, this VOD is definitely worth a watch.

Kevin Costner’s Waterworld by NPC

It seems that a fan-created version of the Waterworld video game was added to the AGDQ 2025 schedule, causing much amusement. Could Lee Carvalo’s Putting Challenge be coming up again in the future? Stay tuned for more updates!

You can download the game on itch.io.

Squirrel with a Gun by squirrelpascals

The game titled “Squirrel With A Gun” revolves around a squirrel wielding a firearm, and the antics of ‘squirrelpascals’ during play were quite entertaining considering the game’s ludicrous plotline and robust game mechanics. This particular playthrough was remarkably brief, lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Inspector Gadget: Gadget’s Crazy Maze by Starwin, Crak_atak

As a devoted fan, I must admit that not every run during Awesome Games Done Quick showcases a design masterpiece or a cherished classic game. Instead, the Awful Games Done Quick segment is all about highlighting gaming’s more quirky and imperfect side – the janky charm that makes this event so unique! Inspector Gadget: Gadget’s Crazy Maze was a perfect example of a near-underappreciated cult classic puzzle game, blending its charm with the awkwardness that makes the Awful block such an entertaining spectacle. Thanks to the home viewers achieving the All Cutscenes incentive, we all got to witness some truly eerie relics from the original PlayStation era!

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze by spikevegeta

When Nintendo launches Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, it’s natural to overlook that its sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, is generally considered the better game. It’s enjoyable to witness this game play smoothly in just 90 minutes. Additionally, it’s noteworthy that SpikeVegeta is in charge, as he’s a long-time staple at GDQ and consistently delivers excellence in gaming skills alongside captivating and informative commentary.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by Player5 and mikeysgone

At AGDQ 2025, collaborative speedrunning truly added a thrilling twist. Players Player5 and mikeysgone skillfully joined forces to conquer The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at an astonishing pace, all while incorporating mind-blowing glitches and tricks. Despite this game being eight years old, it was captivating to witness speedrunners discover innovative methods to highlight one of the finest video games ever created.

Astro Bot by KingJO444

At Gameplay Deals Quickfire (GDQ), Astro Bot made an impressive appearance. Although the speedrunning community is just starting to understand the intricacies of the game, watching KingJO444 finish it within nearly two hours was quite a spectacle.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom by cloud

In 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom garnered numerous Shacknews Awards, yet players continue to uncover innovative techniques for shaving minutes off speedruns. Witnessing a cloud dash through the game in less than three hours was an exhilarating spectacle.

Here are some noteworthy speedruns that caught the attention of Shacknews Staff during Awesome Games Done Quick 2025. To see all the videos, visit their YouTube channel. Kudos to the Games Done Quick team for collecting over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation!

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2025-01-19 20:27