Speedrunning can rejuvenate the enjoyment of your favorite games, especially when combined with the pursuit of achievements. This blend of completing a game as quickly as possible while also striving for 100% completion offers a fulfilling challenge for many gamers.
However, it is disappointing that numerous games designed for speedrunning lack any associated rewards or achievements for this playstyle. One prime example is Celeste.
10 Sonic X Shadow Generations
Falling A Little Short
Despite Sonic’s storied reputation for speed, the franchise has historically provided limited speedrunning achievements that challenge players to complete the game efficiently. However, Sonic X Shadow Generations includes rank achievements based on S-ranks for each stage, allowing players to focus on speed.
Achieving S-ranks is contingent on time, encouraging players to embrace their inner speedster. While this system incentivizes quick play, the process can sometimes feel too forgiving, primarily revolving around avoiding death rather than mastering routes and perfecting execution. Nonetheless, I appreciate the developers’ intent to motivate skill development through speed.
9 A Hat in Time
Jumping Through Hoops
A Hat in Time presents numerous avenues for speedrunning; however, its achievements are curiously indirect. Minor challenges exist, such as completing Ship Shape without angering the captain or finishing Train Rush without time bonuses. Yet, the true challenge lies in the Death Wish mode.
Here, the achievement for earning every mark in Death Wish is incredibly tough, including numerous speedrunning challenges that require players to navigate levels within tight time constraints. Full marks demand superior performance, even from those unfamiliar with advanced techniques, making it a thrilling experience despite the lack of a game-wide speedrun achievement.
The game’s fluid movement mechanics enhance the enjoyment, seamlessly integrating speed into 3D platforming gameplay, which contributes to the fun factor of tackling challenging levels.
8 Halo 2
A Little Too Brutal
Requiring players to complete the entirety of Halo 2 in a mere three hours on Legendary difficulty seems daunting. The achievement awarded for this feat is a brisk 30 gamer score, which necessitates that participants outperform 99.7% of players or consult detailed tutorials for optimal gameplay strategies.
The challenge includes mastering movement mechanics while navigating enemy fire, making it feel akin to a stealth experience where agility and caution are crucial. Although the reward can be satisfying, it might not be an endeavor you’d want to undertake lightly.
7 Antonblast
Teeny Tiny Pieces
ANTONBLAST, with its focus on maintaining momentum through levels, challenges players to achieve above-par times. The developers set stringent benchmarks, making the achievement for speedrunning a significant endeavor.
Players are encouraged to practice time trials repeatedly, learn intricate level layouts, and continually improve their performance. While this doesn’t embody a full-game achievement, it offers a manageable yet engaging challenge for speedrunning enthusiasts.
Frequent practice, along with discovering shortcuts and refining strategies to circumvent enemies, allows gamers to control their timing and progress at their own pace.
6 Spelunky
Cave Crashing
Spelunky embodies the roguelike genre, propelling players down a mineshaft to sprint through chaos. The Speedlunky achievement encapsulates this ethos with a requirement to finish the game in under eight minutes. This stands in stark contrast to typical lengthy play sessions of 20-30 minutes.
This swift pace aligns well with my enjoyment of playing randomized sandbox titles, as it allows for chaotic exploration and resource gathering. It delivers the adrenaline rush that speedrunning aficionados crave.
5 Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Fun in Four Ways
Each of Shovel Knight’s four campaigns presents the exhilarating challenge of completing the game in 90 minutes. While this target is demanding, it remains achievable.
My favorite campaign is Plague Knight’s, where speedrunning necessitates fast-paced movement and combat efficiency, refining your skills along the way. Achieving these trophies is a true test of one’s platforming prowess and respect for the game’s design.
4 Hollow Knight
Void of Speed Tech
While many achievements in Hollow Knight reward basic progression, its speedrunning achievements stand out as they are genuinely challenging. The easiest, Speedrun 1, requires a finish in 10 hours, which is quite manageable with the right strategies.
Speedrun 2 ups the ante by demanding completion in under five hours, a more formidable challenge due to the game’s complexity. The most arduous achievement, Speed Completion, necessitates achieving 100% completion in under 20 hours, making it a thorough test of skill and endurance.
3 Super Meat Boy
We’ve Got Beef
The entire experience in Super Meat Boy resonates with a sense of urgency, where each world challenges players to complete levels as quickly as possible. Achievements define the speedrun challenge with the vague directive to beat the world in minimal time, requiring players to navigate through levels with precision and skill.
The game’s responsive controls ensure that any mistakes are solely the player’s responsibility, emphasizing perfect execution in gameplay design, keeping boredom at bay and sustaining the thrill of speedrunning.
2 Neon White
Made For Speedrunning
Neon White likely stands out as the most speedrunning-focused title on this list, featuring ranks and leaderboards that foster competitive play among friends. Achievements require players to earn the intended best rank on each level, providing continuous motivation for improvement.
The game’s structure allows players to find shortcuts and optimize their routes, creating an addictive experience of constant refinement and challenge. Amid the incremental successes, players can thrive in a competitive environment with rewards for their commitment to optimizing their gameplay.
1 Pizza Tower
Papa Pepperoni, Please
Echoing the challenges posed by Antonblast and Sonic, Pizza Tower prioritizes individual levels while ranking players on their speedrun performance, transforming it into a meticulous routing challenge for skilled players seeking a P rank.
With S ranks feeling nearly impossible at times, mastering the game’s unique controls demands precision akin to navigating a slippery arena. Each movement becomes a dance through a vibrant, chaotic world, providing an exhilarating experience.
Watching speedruns showcases rapid dashes, ground slams, and deft movements through collectibles, elevating the excitement of achieving speed in this engaging environment.
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