Every year, the Games Done Quick team puts on two week-long speed running marathons.  These events are streamed live on Twitch for the world to watch.  Year after year, gamers come together to watch the coolest speed runs around and donate to charity.  The summer event, Summer Games Done Quick, raised over $1.7 million for Doctors Without Borders, a charity focused on bringing medical aid to those in need.  The full schedule for the winter event, Awesome Games Done Quick, is full of exciting speed runs and plenty of games both modern and retro.  Starting January 7th and ending on January 14th, we’ll watch top speed runners demolish their favorite games and raise money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.  With so many hours of programming to watch, it’ll be hard to choose what to check out.  Fret not, as we’ve compiled a list of the best runs to watch at AGDQ 2018!

The Best Runs of AGDQ 2018

This is by no means a definitive list.  Like any other list on the internet, these selections are based on my personal tastes.  Thankfully, the world of video games is full of different genres and gaming experiences, so you may enjoy watching an RPG over an FPS, or vice versa.  I urge you to check out the full schedule HERE, and look over the complete offerings for the week.  However, after watching Games Done Quick events for over five years, you can at least bet on these runs being exceptionally interesting or wacky, or performed by highly entertaining runners.  Also, please don’t try and stay up and watch this entire list (or the event, for that matter), you’ll only deprive yourself of much needed sleep.  You’ll always be able to watch the runs on demand later, in case you miss out.

All of these times are listed in EST, and are subject to change.  If you’re viewing this list after the marathon has started, double check the schedule as most times are adjusted.  Here’s my guide on what to watch at AGDQ 2018.

Sunday, January 7th

1:23 PM: Ratchet & Clank – 30 minutes

2:03 PM: Splatoon 2 – 1 hour and 40 minutes

5:28 PM: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Main Quest Only) – 50 minutes

7:18 PM: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X (All Golds and Goals) – 35 minutes

9:33 PM: Yooka-Laylee (No Flight Skip) – 35 minutes

Monday, January 8th

4:20 AM: BattleBlock Theater – 1 hour and 23 minutes

8:26 AM: Contra (Co-op) – 13 minutes

10:40 AM: Disney’s Aladdin (100%) – 20 minutes

12:22 PM: Donkey Kong Country 2 – 55 minutes

4:54 PM: Sonic Mania – 1 hour

8:04 PM: Mega Man X (4 person race) – 36 minutes

8:50 PM: Metal Gear Solid (Extreme) – 50 minutes

11:25 PM: Halo 5: Guardians (Solo Legendary) – 1 hour and 45 minutes

Tuesday, January 9th

1:20 AM: 007 Agent Under Fire – 45 minutes

7:53 AM: Lovely Planet (2 person race) – 13 minutes

1:05 PM: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (No Bosses) – 35 minutes

3:25 PM: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption – 2 hours and 35 minutes

6:10 PM: Super Mario 3D World – 2 hours and 5 minutes

10:00 PM: Left 4 Dead 2 (All Main Campaigns, 4 Player Co-op) – 58 minutes

11:08 PM: Dying Light (Co-op) – 1 hour and 45 minutes

Wednesday, January 10th

1:03 AM: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Madhouse difficulty) – 1 hour and 50 minutes

4:13 AM: Silent Hill – 50 minutes

10:58 AM: Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (3 person race) – 12 minutes

1:26 PM: Battletoads Arcade – 45 minutes

2:21 PM: Battletoads – 30 minutes

8:22 PM: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (4 person race) – 2 hours

10:32 PM: Super Mario Sunshine (120 Shines) – 3 hours and 15 minutes

Thursday, January 11th

8:00 AM: The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants – 20 minutes

9:05 AM: Titenic – 10 minutes

3:00 PM: The Legend of the Mystical Ninja – 40 minutes

4:15 PM: Star Fox 2 – 45 minutes

7:15 PM: Prey (2017) – 10 minutes

7:40 PM: Duke Nukem 3D – 35 minutes

9:20 PM: I wanna Run the Marathon – 40 minutes

Friday, January 12th

12:25 AM: Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition (4 person race) – 40 minutes

2:20 AM: Quantum Conundrum – 50 minutes

4:05 AM: Spelunky (HD) (All Shortcuts + Olmec) – 30 minutes

5:21 AM: Octodad – 8 minutes

12:27 PM: Super Mario Galaxy – 2 hours and 45 minutes

4:18 PM: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix HD – 1 hour

9:18 PM: Mega Man 1 – 3 (12 person team-based race) – 1 hour and 3o minutes

11:45 PM: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (100%) – 4 hours and 40 minutes

Saturday, January 13th

4:33 AM: Kirby: Canvas Curse – 1 hour and 15 minutes

7:07 AM: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (No Glitches) – 30 minutes

10:26 AM: The Legend of Zelda (100%, 3 person race, no using Up+A) – 45 minutes

11:21 AM: Mass Effect – 1 hour and 50 minutes

2:23 PM: Diablo (1996) – 35 minutes

3:08 PM: Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition – 24 minutes

5:02 PM: Bloodborne (All Bosses) – 1 hour and 35 minutes

6:47 PM: Final Fantasy IV – 2 hours and 23 minutes

9:25 PM: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Randomiser, No Glitches, Open Mode) – 2 hours

11:45 PM: Super Mario World (No Cape, No Star World, 4 person race) – 40 minutes

Sunday, January 14th

1:55 AM: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (No Amiibos, All Main Quests) – 3 hours and 57 minutes

That’s it!  As you can see, there’s a huge amount of awesome games to check out, and some downright awesome variety events too (I’m looking at you, 12 person Mega Man 1-3 race).  As a little reminder, the list above is NOT the schedule.   My guide barely covers the massive list of games being played over the week, and I probably missed a few of your personal favorites.

What are you looking forward to watching when AGDQ 2018 starts?  Have you ever tried to speed run before?  Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to check back in when the event starts.  We’ll be covering the event again this year, so keep your eyes peeled for hot takes on fast gaming right here on A90sKid.