The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no single best game for speedrunning. The strongest first choice is usually a game you already enjoy enough to replay many times, paired with a category whose tricks, length, and learning curve suit you. Use the examples below as a shortlist, then check current leaderboards, category rules, platform support, and beginner tutorials before you commit.
Why there is no universal answer
Speedrun.com’s own FAQ, which answers the common question “what are some good games to begin speedrunning with,” says there is no exact answer and recommends starting with games you like or have already watched. That advice holds up because a speedrun is a repeated, close study of one game. You will spend hours on the same levels, bosses, or movement techniques, so enjoyment is the filter that keeps you practising.
Two other factors shape the choice: how much documentation and community help exists for a game, and whether you want the competitive activity of a busy leaderboard or the freedom of a quieter one. Established titles tend to have detailed route notes and experienced helpers. Less familiar games can be rewarding if you enjoy working things out yourself, but you will have fewer guides to lean on.
How to choose a game and category
- Start from games you already love. Speedrun.com’s beginner guide suggests listing your favourite games and browsing existing runs for each. It also points out that speedrunning changes how a familiar game feels. If you want to keep a relaxed first playthrough, finish that first and start your runs afterwards.
- Pick the style of run you enjoy. The guide groups examples into retro and classic games, movement runs, glitch-heavy runs, and puzzle runs. One game can support several of these, so compare the category rather than the title alone. “Any%” and “Glitchless” versions of the same game can feel like entirely different hobbies.
- Look for mapped routes and tutorials. The FAQ cites Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey as popular, well-developed games whose beginner and advanced routes have been documented in detail. Treat this as a useful selection factor, not a guarantee that every route or video is still current.
- Check platform and category rules on the game’s leaderboard. On Speedrun.com you can filter the games list by platform, and each game page shows which consoles and versions its leaderboards accept. Confirm the current rules there before you practise a version or use a mod, because rules change over time.
- Decide how much competition you want. An active leaderboard is a good way to discover games, and the FAQ treats popularity as a discovery cue. It is not proof that a game is objectively better or easier to start with.
Example games by taste
The examples below come from Speedrun.com’s beginner guide. They illustrate the range of styles available; they are not a tested ranking or a list of the easiest games.
#1 Best Overall
| If you like | Games or categories named | What the guide says |
|---|---|---|
| Retro and classic games | The Legend of Zelda series, Metroid series, Mario Kart series | Broad catalogues, with different games and category styles within each series. |
| Movement | Super Mario 64 16/70 Star; Super Meat Boy Any%; Super Mario Odyssey Any%; Celeste Any%; Titanfall 2 Any% | Ranges from accessible starting points to technically demanding runs. Super Meat Boy is described as easy to pick up but hard to master. Super Mario Odyssey is described as having a low entry barrier and a high skill ceiling. |
| Glitches and sequence breaks | Ocarina of Time “Defeat Ganon — No SRM”; Portal Out of Bounds; Dishonored; DOOM (2016); Fallout: New Vegas | These categories depend on complex glitches or unusual movement. The guide says Ocarina of Time’s featured run is not easy to learn, even with extensive resources available. |
| Puzzle routing | Portal Inbounds No SLA; Superliminal Glitchless | Portal’s category is described as a hybrid of classic movement and routing. Superliminal is described as a puzzle game with tight optimisation. |
The guide’s descriptions of entry barriers and skill ceilings are the author’s judgement, so read them as opinion rather than measured difficulty. A Glitchless category usually asks for clean execution of known movement, while a glitch category asks you to learn techniques that the game was not designed to allow. Choose according to which of those you find fun.
What a current event shows, and what it does not
The Games Done Quick 2026 run index, a public charity marathon’s schedule of runs, includes Donkey Kong Country 2, The Talos Principle, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, I Am Your Beast, and Devil May Cry 5. This shows how varied the speedrunning scene is at a major event. It is a curated selection of runs, not a measure of which game is easiest to start with or which is the most active overall.
Comparing two options
When you narrow the choice to two games or categories, compare them on these points:
- Genre and movement style: platformer, shooter, puzzle, or open exploration, and how much precise movement the route demands.
- Category length and complexity: how long a full run takes to learn and how many segments you must master.
- Glitches: whether the category allows glitches, requires them, or forbids them.
- Guides and community: whether current route notes, tutorials, and active helpers exist for that exact category.
- Platform and version: whether the leaderboard accepts the console and version you own.
- Leaderboard activity: relevant only if you want competition or a crowded field.
The guide supports personal preference, style, and activity as discovery cues. The community FAQ supports checking route documentation and platform rules. Neither source ranks games objectively.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
Source limits
The beginner guide and the FAQ are several years old. Use them for general selection advice and representative examples, not for current leaderboard standings, tutorial availability, or platform compatibility. No hands-on testing of these games was carried out for this article, and no statistic about speedrunning popularity is quoted here.
If you want to pick up Super Mario Odyssey, which runs on Nintendo Switch, check the current category rules and route guides on its Speedrun.com page first. Controllers, capture cards, or timers are not established as requirements by the sources discussed here, so you do not need to buy any extra equipment to begin.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Speedrunning Gaming Video Game Player Console Gamer Speedrun. Searching for a gaming design for a speedrunner? Then grab this Speed Is My Superpower. Great for a video game player or a console gamer who likes holding a joystick or controller.
- You would rather play video games and speedrun? Are you a gamer who loves playing video games? If yes, then this speedrunning design is for you. Ideal for a gamer on a speedrun marathon.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
“
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
