There is no universal ranking of the best speedrunning games. Based on the available evidence, Super Mario 64 ranks first, followed by Celeste and Portal 2, because each has documented leaderboard or runner-support resources. That evidence does not substantiate a fair ranking of ten games, so this list stops at three rather than filling the remaining places with guesses.
How this ranking works
This is an editorial ranking, not an official or objective verdict. The criteria are practical: whether a game has an organized speedrun hub with leaderboards and categories, and whether runners can find guides, setup help, or other community resources. The available information supports comparing those resources for these three games; it does not establish their relative difficulty or support a complete top ten.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The best-supported speedrunning games
1. Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 takes the top spot for the breadth of its documented runner infrastructure. Its Speedrun.com page includes leaderboards, categories, guides, resources, forums, and statistics, giving a prospective runner several places to begin and ways to explore the community.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThere is also a dated measure of activity: Guinness World Records reported 49,013 attempted runs on Speedrun.com as of June 12, 2025. That figure is a snapshot of recorded attempts, not a current count or a measure of how good the game is to run.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
2. Celeste
Celeste has similarly visible support for runners. Its Speedrun.com page lists leaderboards, levels, guides, resources, forums, and statistics. The page’s level listings make it possible to see that the community organizes runs at more than one scope, though the available information does not establish which category is best for a newcomer.
Guinness reported 46,083 attempted runs on Speedrun.com as of June 12, 2025. As with the Super Mario 64 figure, treat this as a dated attempt count rather than a live total or a quality ranking.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
3. Portal 2
Portal 2 earns a place for its dedicated community hub. The Portal 2 Speedrun Hub describes itself as a resource for new and experienced runners and links to leaderboards and setup resources. That makes it a clear starting point for finding run-specific information without assuming anything about the game’s difficulty or current popularity.
Recommended Free Tools
What the attempt counts can—and cannot—tell you
Guinness World Records compared recorded Speedrun.com attempts for three games as of June 12, 2025:
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
| Game | Recorded attempts | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | 49,013 | Guinness World Records, reported as of June 12, 2025 |
| Celeste | 46,083 | Guinness World Records, reported as of June 12, 2025 |
| Subway Surfers | 45,753 | Guinness World Records, reported as of June 12, 2025 |
These are counts of attempted runs, not necessarily unique runners, completed runs, active players, or a measure of a game’s quality. They also do not provide a comparable figure for Portal 2. The Subway Surfers count is included for context only; it does not establish that game as one of the best speedrunning choices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose between them
- Start with Super Mario 64 if you want the broadest documented set of community resources among these picks.
- Look at Celeste if access to both whole-game and level-oriented listings matters to you.
- Choose Portal 2 if you want a hub that explicitly gathers setup and leaderboard resources for runners at different experience levels.
Before committing to any game, check its current leaderboard and guides for the category you actually want to run. The available sources establish where these resources can be found, not which game will best suit your preferences or how challenging a particular run will feel.
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
Why this is not a full top ten
A ranked list of ten would imply a consistent comparison across all ten entries. The available information does not establish comparable leaderboard, guide, or setup resources for seven additional games, so assigning them places would be speculation. These three are the games for which the evidence supports specific, useful claims.
Quick Recap
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