Welcome to this week’s speedrunning recap, where we cover the biggest news, milestones, and records from the speedrunning community. Let’s dive into the highlights!
Summoning Salt Hits 2 Million Subscribers 🎉
A huge congratulations to Summoning Salt, one of the most beloved content creators in the speedrunning scene, for reaching 2 million subscribers on YouTube! His in-depth speedrun history videos have introduced countless people to the world of speedrunning, breaking down world record progressions with exceptional storytelling and analysis. It’s a well-deserved milestone, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
Can a Human Ever Truly Tie a TAS? 🤖
A discussion this week explored whether any game allows a human to match a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) perfectly. While Super Mario Bros. has been inching closer, a true tie remains elusive. Games with deterministic movement and simple mechanics, like early arcade games, might come closest, but the conversation remains open—are there any games where humans can match a TAS from start to finish?
40 Hours of Zelda Speedruns 🏹
This past weekend, a massive Zelda marathon took place on Twitch, featuring back-to-back 100% glitchless runs of seven Zelda titles. While not an attempt at world records, the event was a celebration of The Legend of Zelda’s legacy and the endurance required for long-form speedrunning. Hats off to the runner for tackling such an ambitious challenge!
F-ZERO’s 10-Year-Old World Record 🏆
An incredible milestone was reached in F-ZERO history as the Mute City 1 world record, set a decade ago, remains unbroken. This achievement highlights how optimized and difficult this particular speedrun has become. Will someone eventually dethrone this record, or is it truly at its peak?
Mario Kart 8 Wii U – Another WR for the GOAT 🏎️
Alberto, a dominant force in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe time trials, secured yet another world record—this time in the Wii U version on SNES Donut Plains 3 with a time of 1:13.365. This further cements his reputation as one of the greatest time trial players in the game’s history.
Speed4 TLC Marathon for Trans Rights 🏳️⚧️
The upcoming Speed4 TLC marathon (Feb 28 – Mar 2) aims to raise funds for the Transgender Law Center. Runner and volunteer applications are currently open, so if you’re interested in supporting a great cause through speedrunning, now’s your chance to get involved!
Might & Magic VII Any% WR by Xenoras 🏹
Xenoras secured their first major world record in Might & Magic VII’s Any% No Major Glitches category, finishing in 39:04. This was achieved through an entirely new riskier route, shaving 29 seconds off the previous best time. Xenoras aims to push for a sub-38-minute run—best of luck!
Balatro Set Seed WR: Sub-1:20 Achieved! 🃏
A new milestone was reached in Balatro, with a Set Seed Plasma deck run clocking in at 1:19.699. This record may not last long if a better seed emerges, but for now, it’s a testament to skill, precision, and a bit of luck!
Are Games Designed for Speedrunning Missing the Point? 🤔
A thought-provoking discussion emerged about games explicitly made for speedrunning. Some feel these games remove the organic, unintended exploits that define the spirit of speedrunning, making them more akin to challenge runners. Others argue they offer a different but equally rewarding skill set. What do you think?
UKSG Red & Other Weekend Speedrunning Events 🎮
UKSG Red was another highlight this past weekend, raising funds for Crisis charity while showcasing incredible speedrunning talent. Meanwhile, the community also tuned into various other streams, including new PBs in Celeste, Super Monkey Ball records, and a Star Wars Battlefront 2 speedrun.
Looking Ahead ⏩
As February approaches, speedrunning continues to push boundaries. With upcoming marathons, record grinds, and milestone celebrations, there’s always something exciting happening. Keep an eye on new strategies, record attempts, and major events in the coming weeks!
That’s it for this week’s recap—see you next time!
Source: reddit.com