Awesome Games Done Quick 2023 has officially begun, and with the first day in the books, this week-long speedrunning marathon is already off to a great start. Featuring some of the best speedrunners from around the world, this excellent event raises millions of dollars for charities annually. Impressing us endlessly with ultra-fast gameplay, here are some of the best speedruns from AGDQ 2023 day 1!
To watch any of the speedruns mentioned here, check out the official Games Done Quick YouTube channel or Twitch channel. As always, we weren’t able to catch every speedrun of the day, so be sure to check out other fantastic speedruns from the AGDQ 2023 schedule!
The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2023 Day 1
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Any%) by Player 5
This glitch-heavy Any% run of the hugely popular Nintendo Switch was one of the first speedruns during AGDQ 2023 day 1, keeping the momentum going in the afternoon. Breath of the Wild might be a massive game, but this run skips a huge portion of the content using impressive movement tricks and glitches. Left vulnerable in late-game encounters with minimal health and resources, speedrunner “Player 5” wrapped up the adventure in just under 30 minutes. After watching this speedrun, our hype level for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is at an all-time high.
Final time: 29:56
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst (NG+) by codenamemeteor
What would a speedrun marathon be without some literal (yet virtual) speedy running? Luckily, speedrunner codenamemeteor provided fast footwork in the first-person, open-world parkour game, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. As big fans of this underrated franchise, we loved watching codenamemeteor pull off awesome freerunning strings, travel out of bounds, and sequence-break the game in multiple ways. We can watch high-skill Mirror’s Edge gameplay all day and this speedrun contained everything we love about this trendsetting series.
Final time: 53:01
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (All Bosses) by Dr4gonBlitz
Without a doubt, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a classic speedrunning game and one of the best PlayStation titles of all time. Played by expert runner Dr4gonBlitz, who has graced several GDQ events in the past, this speedrun highlights exactly why the community is still bustling nearly 25 years after its release. Displaying supremely optimized movement, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it boss kills, and several frame-perfect tricks, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night definitely deserves a spot on our list of the best speedruns of AGDQ 2023 day 1.
Final time: 32:40
Cuphead (300%) by jason2890
It’s safe to say that Cuphead is challenging, but runner Jason2890 upped the ante by performing a “300%” category speedrun of the game, effectively collecting everything and beating every boss on the hardest difficulty. That includes the recently released DLC, The Delicious Last Course, which adds an additional area and several bosses. Using some advanced platforming and exclusive strategies while using the new playable character, Miss Chalice, Jason2890 beat Cuphead to a pulp. Pun-filled commentary backs this lighthearted speedrun, so fans of dad jokes and world play will be extra pleased.
Final time: 1:12:01
Donkey Kong Country 3 (Any% Race) by Bluepen49, laff____, and Shaaf
Speedrun races are one of our favorite parts of any Games Done Quick marathon and this 3-way sprint of Donkey Kong Country 3 for Super Nintendo lived up to expectations. This quirky sequel is loaded with fun characters and simple yet challenging platforming, making it the perfect venue for a straightforward “Any%” race. All of the competitors put on a great show, displaying their best rolling techniques and finishing the game in the same amount of time it takes us to beat the first world. There were lots of modern games scheduled for AGDQ 2023 day 1, so it was extra nostalgic to see this burst of retro competition.
Final time: 46:50
After 12 hours of speedrunning, AGDQ 2023 has raised over $140,000 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, clearing AGDQ 2022’s opening day total of $100,000 by a wide margin. Day 1 of AGDQ 2023 has come to an end, but the marathon is far from over. With 6 more days of speedruns left, there’s plenty of time to overtake the AGDQ 2022 marathon total of $3.4 million.
Be sure to check back for more AGDQ 2023 recaps throughout the week and follow our Twitter for notable clips and live reactions. If you’re watching along at home, enjoy the marathon! If not, consider checking out AGDQ 2023 live on the Games Done Quick Twitch channel.
