After seven days straight of speedrun streaming, Summer Games Done Quick 2023 has hit its end. Closing the curtain in the early morning hours, the final day of SGDQ 2023 was overflowing with sweetly swift speedruns to watch, drawing in tons of donations for Doctors Without Borders. In total, the marathon raised over $2,200,000 for the charity, serving as a constant reminder of the generosity of gamers and viewers across the globe.
Key Takeaways
- From start to: finish, SGDQ 2023 day 7 was truly prime time, with some stellar speedruns that need to be seen.
- In the wee: morning hours of SGDQ 2023 day 7, MistMaster1 and Violin went head-to-head in a stunning race of the classic PlayStation 2 Disney/Square RPG.
- The Tony Hawk: Pro Skater franchise ruled our childhoods, and Tony Hawk’s Underground was particularly wild when it was released in 2003.
From start to finish, SGDQ 2023 day 7 was truly prime time, with some stellar speedruns that need to be seen. We recommend checking out the full stream, but in case you’re strapped for time, here’s a list of some of our favorite speedruns from the final day of SGDQ 2023. As always, this list is not meant to be exhaustive, but simply a short list of recommendations. To watch replays of these speedruns, check out the Games Done Quick Twitch channel or their YouTube channel.
The Best Speedruns of SGDQ 2023 Day 7
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (Any% Proud Race) by MistMaster1 and Violin
In the wee morning hours of SGDQ 2023 day 7, MistMaster1 and Violin went head-to-head in a stunning race of the classic PlayStation 2 Disney/Square RPG. Playing on Proud difficulty, both runners competed in an exciting race, holding pace with each other over multiple lead changes. The overall route and specific tricks are easy to understand thanks to the clear and concise commentary, resulting in a comfy and engaging run. If you want to see two runners mercilessly beat the snot out of Disney characters and wrap up bosses in the blink of an eye, be sure to watch this race of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.
Final time: 2:22:10
Tony Hawk’s Underground (Beginner Any%) by Biglaw
The Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise ruled our childhoods, and Tony Hawk’s Underground was particularly wild when it was released in 2003. By letting you get off your skateboard and run around on foot, Underground changed the way we looked at skating games, and subsequently, runner Biglaw has now changed the way we look at Underground. Pulling off long combo strings full of butt-smacks, 900s, and more, Biglaw practically flew through this open-ended extreme sports game with ease. Tony Hawk games seem to always make for great speedruns, and the Tony Hawk’s Underground run during SGDQ 2023 day 7 was no different.
Final time: 34:53
Super Mario Bros. (Warpless, One-Handed) by GTAce
There a few things as satisfying as a good speedrun of the original Super Mario Bros on NES. Pulling out all the stops for SGDQ 2023 day 7, runner GTAce showcased the classic “Warpless” category of this iconic platformer, but upped the stakes considerably. Playing with just one hand, GTAce hopped through the game’s many perilous worlds, performing incredibly tough tricks like the wall jump despite the control scheme. There were tons of incredible speedruns during SGDQ 2023 day 7, but this one demands to be seen.
Final time: 19:37
Elden Ring (Any% Glitchless + Blindfolded Maliketh) by Mitchriz
Elden Ring is a brutally tough action game that took me nearly 100 hours to beat on my first playthrough. In this Any% speedrun, Mitchriz wraps up the main story mode in just over an hour, all without the use of glitches. Using a slew of neat tricks, like canceling fall damage with the bow or pulling off parkour on a horse, Mitchriz blazed through the Lands Between taking no prisoners. All of the boss kills are clever and quick, but things get even crazier when Mitchriz takes on Maliketh completely blindfolded. If you’ve fought through even a portion of Elden Ring‘s unforgiving world, it’s worth it to check out this amazing speedrun from SGDQ 2023 day 7.
Final time: 1:16:09
Super Mario Maker 2 (Relay Race) by TheRileyC, Aurateur, PangaeaPanga, TanukiDan, Shoujo, Caspur189, LilKirbs, and Thabeast721
In this exciting relay race, Team Crushin’ Turts and Team Perchance faced off in a gauntlet of incredibly tough Mario Maker 2 levels, showcasing truly next-level platforming mechanics. Having never played the levels before, both teams work on the fly to figure out their routes, swapping the controller after each death. This back-and-forth race is an absolute nail-biter, with wildly clutch moments and some of the most inventive Mario Maker 2 levels I’ve ever seen. Between the intense competition and stunning gameplay, the Super Mario Maker 2 relay race kept the excitement high in the closing hours of SGDQ 2023.
Final time: N/A
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Any% Blindfolded) by Bubzia
Speedruns are difficult enough on a base level, often taking hundreds of hours of practice to properly pull off. Over the past few years, runner Bubzia has made it his mission to tackle some of the most iconic games ever without even looking at the screen. Both a feat of gaming and immense memorization, this blindfolded Any% speedrun from SGDQ 2023 day 7 was ridiculously cool to see. As you might expect, blindfolded runs can easily go off the rails at any moment, especially in games with full 3D movement. Bubzia did not let that deter him in the slightest, taking down puzzle shrines and bosses using audio alone. Be sure to stick around after the end of the run for a fun glitch showcase!
Final time: 1:33:48
That wraps up our coverage of Summer Games Done Quick 2023! We had a great time posting daily recaps, and watching as the marathon racked up donations for Doctors Without Borders. Thanks to all of the wonderful players and organizers who helped make SGDQ 2023 possible, providing some exquisite entertainment across the week!
