Learn about optimization, routing, and cracksliding.

Breaking the Barrier: The Evolution of Speedrunning Trends in 2025

The world of competitive gaming is no longer just about who can finish a game; it’s about who can dismantle its very foundation the fastest. In 2025, the pursuit of the ultimate speedrun world record has transcended simple platforming skill, evolving into a high-stakes blend of forensic software engineering and superhuman execution. From the discovery of "impossible" skips to the rise of sensory-deprivation challenges, the landscape of speedrunning is shifting toward a future where the game’s code is merely a suggestion.

The Science of Speed: Glitch Hunting and Optimization

At the heart of every record-shattering run lies the tireless work of the community's "scientists": the glitch hunting experts. These individuals spend thousands of hours probing the invisible boundaries of game worlds, looking for the slightest oversight in collision detection or memory management.

Once a potential exploit is found, the process of routing begins. This isn't just about finding a path from A to B; it's a complex mathematical problem where runners must weigh the time saved by a risky glitch against the probability of a "softlock" that ends the run. Modern optimization now frequently involves tools like Deep Reinforcement Learning to simulate millions of movement permutations, ensuring that every frame of a character's animation is utilized to its maximum potential.

New Frontiers: Specialized Categories and Blindfolded Runs

As standard categories like Any% (beating the game as fast as possible) become optimized to the point of "frame-perfection," the community has branched out into increasingly creative specialized categories (e.g., blindfolded).

Blindfolded speedrunning, in particular, has exploded in popularity throughout 2025. These runs rely 100% on audio cues and internal metronomes. For example, in games like Super Mario 64 or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, runners use the rhythm of the background music to time their inputs to the millisecond. This transition from visual reaction to rhythmic execution has turned speedrunning into a performance art, often drawing more live viewers than traditional runs at events like Games Done Quick.

Case Study: The "Crackslide" Revolution in Super Mario 64

To understand how a single discovery can reset a decade of progress, look no further than the recent upheaval in Super Mario 64. For years, the speedrun world record for the "1-Star" category was gatekept by a maneuver so difficult it was considered the "Holy Grail" of technical skill.

The Glitch: Sequence Breaking via the Crackslide

In late 2025, a new technique known as the Crackslide was discovered. This is a form of sequence breaking that allows Mario to bypass massive sections of the game by exploiting how the game handles "sliding" physics on specific floor seams.

• The Mechanism: By approaching a specific "crack" or seam in the floor geometry at a precise angle and speed, the player can force Mario’s velocity vector to overflow.

• The Result: This launches Mario through solid walls and directly into the "Infinite Stairs" or Bowser loading zones, bypassing the need for dozens of Power Stars.

• The Impact: This discovery didn't just shave seconds off the record—it made previously elite-only routes accessible to a wider range of runners, leading to a flurry of new world records in late 2025.

The Strategic Pillars of a Modern Speedrun

To reach the top of the leaderboards, a runner must master three distinct phases of preparation: