The Summer Games Done Quick 2021 marathon has started, offering an endless seven-day stream of speedrunning goodness, all in the name of charity. We had a great time watching the stream, basking in all the super-fast gaming fun. If you missed the first day of the festivities and are looking for some great runs to watch, we’ve got a list of our favorite speedruns from SGDQ 2021 day one!
If you want to watch any of the speedruns mentioned below, you can check out the replays on Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel or their YouTube channel. Please keep in mind that this is a subjective list of our favorite runs and nothing more. We weren’t able to watch every run of the day, so you should check out all of the other speedruns that took during day one of SGDQ 2021. With the first day of the marathon in the bag, here are our picks for the best speedruns of SGDQ 2021 day one!
The Best Speedruns of SGDQ 2021 Day One
Psychonauts (Any%) by yoshipro
Psychonauts is an imaginative and psychedelic platformer, and with Psychonauts 2 coming out next month, there’s no better time to watch a speedrun of the original. This excellent run helped kick off SGDQ 2021 in style, with record-holder runner yoshipro delivering an entertaining and humorous performance with some impressive speed tech. If you like movement-based tricks, big glitches, and lighthearted commentary, definitely check out this speedrun. It’s also a great way to get a taste of Psychonauts without seeing too many spoilers, as some major glitches skip over significant portions of the game. We’re super amped for Psychonauts 2, and this run by yoshipro made us even more excited.
Final time: 36:17
Mega Man X (4-way 100% race) by darrenville, Tiki, Clipper, and Luiz Miguel
Mega Man X is one of the best games of all time, and this four-runner race at SGDQ 2021 was a delight to see. Speedrun races of Mega Man games rarely disappoint, and this entrancing showcase was no different. All four speedrunners put on a hell of a show, displaying frame-perfect accuracy, immaculate movement, and an overt amount of retro gaming skill. The race was super close, culminating in a nail-biting dash through the final boss rush. If you’re a fan of Super Nintendo games, Mega Man, or speedrun races in general, check out this fantastic run from day one of SGDQ 2021!
Final time: 35:39
Spyro the Dragon (1998 version, Any%) by Dayoman
There are some signature elements of a great GDQ speedrun – impressive gameplay, a wholesome tone, and great commentary to name a few. Spyro speedrunner Dayoman brought all that and more during their Any% run of this beloved PlayStation classic, continuing day one of SGDQ 2021 in style. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the Spyro series, it’s hard to deny the infectious nature of Dayoman’s positivity and showmanship, making this one of the most captivating speedruns of SGDQ 2021.
Final time: 45:03
Metal Wolf Chaos XD (Cutscene%) by BlueMetal
This lesser-known action game developed by FromSoftware (yes, that FromSoftware) is all about the President of the United States donning a mech suit and engaging in explosive warfare against a treasonous coup led by the Vice President. Complete with ridiculous voice acting, anime-inspired boss battles, and plenty of hilarious cutscenes, Metal Wolf Chaos XD was a great scheduling choice for the fourth of July. Played with blistering speed by BlueMetal, this speedrun provided both chuckles and impressive gameplay, easily making it one of our favorites of the night.
Final time: 41:12
For the second year in a row, SGDQ 2021 raised nearly $100,000 for Doctors Without Borders on the first day alone. As is the case with every Games Done Quick marathon event, we love seeing the wholesome generosity of the gaming community on display. Last year’s SGDQ event raised over $2.3 million, so that’s the score to beat! With six more days of fun left, that’s plenty feasible considering the fierce donation efforts of the speedrunning community.
Those are our picks for the best speedruns of SGDQ 2021 day one! As always, we’ll be covering the entire marathon, so come back throughout the week for more on SGDQ 2021. For live reactions and discussions, check out our Twitter (@official90skid) or join our Discord server. Enjoy the speedruns!
