Start with short, fun, and easy-to-learn games like Super Mario 64, Celeste, and Portal.
I’ve been running games and helping new runners for years, so I know which titles teach speedrun basics fast and keep you hooked. This guide breaks down what games are best for beginners in speedrunning? — why they work, how to pick one, how to practice, and the first mistakes to avoid. Read on to find a game that fits your time, platform, and patience, and start shaving seconds off your playthroughs today.
Why try speedrunning as a beginner?
Speedrunning is a fun mix of play, craft, and community. It teaches you to break games into checks, optimize routes, and practice purposefully. New runners get fast feedback. You see small gains quickly. That sense of progress keeps people coming back.
Speedrunning also builds technical skills. You learn frame rules, input timing, and tool use. You meet helpful people who share tricks and routes. If you want a hobby that rewards curiosity and practice, speedrunning is ideal.
What games are best for beginners in speedrunning?
Choosing the right first game matters. Ask: Do you want short runs? Simple mechanics? A big community? The best starter games meet at least two of these needs. Below are clear picks and why they work for new runners.
Top beginner-friendly games
- Super Mario 64
- Short runs and clear goals. Many tutorials exist. Movement tech is fun to learn.
- Community is welcoming and full of guides, making early progress easier.
- Celeste
- Tight, responsive controls. Glitchless runs teach routing and execution.
- Runs are short and repeatable, great for practice loops.
- Portal
- Puzzle focus means predictable runs and lots of routes to learn.
- Any% runs are short and teach sequence planning.
- Super Mario Bros. (NES)
- Simple mechanics and classic tricks. Ideal for learning precision and timing.
- Strong leaderboard history helps you benchmark progress.
- Ori and the Blind Forest / Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Good for runners who like platforming with varied routing.
- Runs are longer but forgiving and rewarding.
- Hollow Knight (non-100% categories)
- Offers smaller categories like Any% or All Bosses for shorter learning curves.
- Great for practicing boss patterns and movement.
- Sonic the Hedgehog (classic)
- Fast movement and simple inputs. Excellent for learning momentum-based routing.
- Community resources help new runners learn routing quickly.
Why these games work for beginners
- Short run times let you repeat attempts and learn quickly.
- Clear goals and checkpoints reduce frustration.
- Large communities have guides, splits, and VoDs to learn from.
- Games with precise controls let you practice execution skills that transfer across titles.
How to match a game to your style
- If you like puzzles, pick Portal or similar.
- If you love platforming, try Celeste or Super Mario 64.
- If you prefer speed and chaos, Sonic or SMB fits.
- If you want deep routing later, pick Hollow Knight or Ori.
What games are best for beginners in speedrunning? Look for short, forgiving runs, lots of tutorials, and responsive controls. I’ve run several of these titles and found they build confidence fast.
How to pick your first speedrun game
A few clear steps make the choice simple. Use this checklist when asking, "What games are best for beginners in speedrunning?"
- Time you can commit
- Pick games with run times that match your schedule. Short runs let you practice more.
- Platform and setup
- Choose a platform you own. Emulators help, but console knowledge is useful.
- Community and resources
- Look for games with active guides, splits, and Discords.
- Fun factor
- Pick a game you enjoy. If it’s fun, you’ll practice more.
Try this quick test
- Watch a top run once.
- Try a single level or chapter.
- Time a practice attempt.
If you enjoyed it and could see yourself improving, that game is a good fit.
Personal note: I picked a short platformer as my first run. I did 10 attempts in an evening and improved every run. That quick progress kept me going. What games are best for beginners in speedrunning? Ones that let you feel improvement on the first day.
Basic categories and communities for beginners
Understanding categories helps you start small and grow. Here are the main types beginners often try.
- Any%
- Goal: finish the game as fast as possible by any legal means.
- Good for beginners because runs tend to be short.
- Glitchless
- Goal: finish without major glitches.
- Great for learning execution before learning complex tricks.
- 100% or Completionist
- Goal: collect everything. Runs are long and advanced.
- Avoid as a first category; try later.
- Boss Rush / All Bosses
- Goal: beat key fights quickly.
- Good intermediate step between short runs and full-game runs.
Where to find community and guides
- Leaderboards and guides on speedrun hubs give category rules and splits.
- Discords and forums are the best places to ask questions.
- Watch VoDs and tutorial videos to learn routes and tech.
People often ask, "What games are best for beginners in speedrunning?" Communities often suggest titles above because they have strong guides and friendly channels. That advice matches my experience mentoring new runners.
Tools and practice methods for new runners
Use simple tools to organize runs and track progress. These tools make practice efficient.
- Timer and splits
- Use a reliable timer app to split and compare runs.
- Learn when to split and when not to split for consistent analysis.
- Video capture
- Record runs to review mistakes and saves.
- Compare your run to top runs to spot time losses.
- Emulators and console setups
- Emulators help practice in small chunks. Consoles avoid possible rule issues.
- Learn the timing differences between emulator and real hardware.
- Practice modes and segmenting
- Break the game into small sections. Master each segment before linking.
- Use practice maps or save states when allowed.
Practice tips I learned
- Focused practice beats long casual play. Do 30-minute targeted sessions.
- Work on one trick at a time. Master it before adding others.
- Keep notes. Small route changes add up to big time saves.
What games are best for beginners in speedrunning? The ones where these tools and methods make rapid improvement easy. If your first game supports practice modes and has a clear route, you’ll learn faster.
Common mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them)
Beginners often make the same small errors. Avoid these to save time and frustration.
- Trying to learn everything at once
- Focus on one route or trick at a time.
- Chasing world records too early
- Benchmark against your past runs, not the best in the world.
- Poor recording habits
- Not recording runs makes progress hard to measure.
- Ignoring community resources
- Guides and discords speed up learning significantly.
- Neglecting consistency
- Small, daily practice beats long, infrequent sessions.
From my experience, a clear plan and daily short practice sessions help most. Set tiny goals, like shaving 2–3 seconds per week. That keeps you motivated and moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions of What games are best for beginners in speedrunning?
What is the easiest game to speedrun for a total beginner?
The easiest title depends on your tastes, but short platformers with good guides are ideal. Games like Celeste or classic Mario titles are often recommended.
How long does it take to get good at speedrunning?
You can see noticeable improvement in a few days to weeks with focused practice. Mastery takes months, but short-term progress is fast with repeatable runs.
Do I need special tools to start speedrunning?
No. A timer and a way to record runs are enough to start. You can add emulators, capture cards, and advanced tools as you progress.
Should I use emulators or original hardware?
Use what’s easiest and allowed by your chosen category’s rules. Emulators help practice; real hardware avoids some rule complications.
Is speedrunning expensive to start?
Not necessarily. Many speedruns use games you already own and free timer apps. Emulators are free, and console setup costs vary by need.
Can I learn speedrunning alone or should I join a community?
You can learn alone, but communities accelerate progress and provide help. Joining a Discord or forum gets you tips, routes, and encouragement.
Conclusion
Choosing a first game shapes your speedrunning journey. Pick short, fun titles with clear goals and active communities. Practice in short sessions, use simple tools, and focus on one trick at a time. What games are best for beginners in speedrunning? The ones that let you learn, repeat, and enjoy the grind. Start small, stick with it, and celebrate the small wins. Share your first runs, join a group, and keep improving — then come back and aim for that personal best.
