pixelated image of man screaming

Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) and Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ), the twice-yearly marathon streams for speed runners to show off their skills and raise money for charity, has been going since 2010. In that time, there have been hundreds upon hundreds of different runners, games, and memorable moments.

Since SGDQ 2025 just wrapped up, I figured this was a perfect time to go ahead and share some of my favorite runs of all time — mostly because they’re so unique, so special, that they stick with me. Particularly, when I need to watch something as I fall asleep.

Mitchriz’s Blindfolded Run of ‘Sekiro’

How in the hell does someone memorize this game to the point where they can do it blindfolded? This shit is hard enough as it is with two eyes! Mitchriz is always down for a terrific run, usually a Soulslike, but this is his masterpiece.

Peanut Butter the Dog Plays ‘Gyromite’

Someone taught a dog how to play a video game. They trained a dog… to speed run a game. Perfection. This will never be achieved again — it’s a once in a lifetime event.

‘Crazy Taxi’ Played with a Live Cover Band

To get around the problem streamers have with copyrighted music, GDQ ingeniously hired a band to play the songs from “Crazy Taxi” to get around the automated systems. They need to do this more often — especially with the “Tony Hawk” games.

Using Instruments to Beat ‘Elden Ring’ and ‘Super Mario Bros.’

You have to be either a genius or a sick bastard to think of, and then do, this challenge run live in front of thousands. And nail it. Like, it’s one thing to use a wacky controller for a From Software game, but to play the Mario music WHILE you’re playing it? Simply incredible.

Ripping and Tearing in ‘Doom’

Nightmare difficulty in 2016’s “Doom” is hard enough, but speed running it by memory and getting 100% completion is another. But what makes this run special is the runner ByteMe, the couch behind him, the donations, the jokes, and the vibes. Rip and tear until it is done.

HeyZeus Playing ‘Bloodborne’

A heavy metal guy playing the most heavy metal game ever made, a match made in heaven. This is an insanely entertaining run with very charming and hilarious commentary; I don’t think there’s a single boring Soulslike speedrun to ever be in one of these marathons because of the extremely high level of skill needed to make difficult games look like cakewalks. Also, what a beard on HeyZeus!

‘Pepsi Man’

It’s always a joy to see this game played in any capacity, and the cult surrounding it is intense enough. Shout outs to the guy in the costume and of course the main actor, Mike Butters, and all of his glorious cut scenes.

More Blindfolded Runs

If you’re still impressed with beating “Sekiro” blindfolded, imagine completing these hardcore Nintendo classics!

Royal Rainbow

A V-tuber named Harutomo plays the “Katamari” titles and only says one thing in English after every level: royal rainbow. These games are my all-time favorites, I love this speedrunner, I love everyone donating saying “royal rainbow,” and the only thing I hate is that I donated to this live, and didn’t get my comment read out loud.


Image credit: Ryan Snaadt

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