SGDQ 2023 has come and gone as quickly as the speedruns it’s known for. The event managed to raise almost $2.3 million for Doctors Without Borders, and continues its streak, raising millions for charity every single year. But with over 100 runs completed as part of the event, it can be hard to know which ones you should watch first. We’ve had our eyes glued to SGDQ 2023, and these are the runs you need to watch.
Phogs! (Any% Solo)
Phogs! is a cute game where you – or two people – can control a two-headed dog with no legs known as Phogs. They can’t jump due to their lack of limbs, but they can stretch out and bark. The main aim of the game is to slither your way through the different levels, solving puzzles as you go. However, the other way you can do it is by hanging down over a ledge, stretching out and flinging your way across the map. This is exactly what Sean_AB did over and over again to complete Phogs! In 56:35. The run is completely whacky as he controls both heads at the same time, and lets his Phogs fly.
Ratatouille (Any%)
Before Asobo Studio went on to develop A Plague Tale and The Crew, they would first make a number of licensed Disney games. One of these was Ratatouille, a game from the PS2 era where you play as Remy the rat, as he goes from humble beginnings, collecting apple cores, to cooking in a Parisian kitchen. What made adef’s 21.59 run so special was how he and the commentators were not only dressed as chefs, but they kept up the chef banter through the entirety of the run. YES, CHEF!
Peggle Deluxe (Any%)
Despite giving the outwards appearance of being for children, Peggle Deluxe is one of the more difficult games ever created. While it just involves hitting pegs with a ball as it travels down the screen, it is deceptively difficult. Britsha makes the whole thing look easy, clearing every board in 1:02:23, and finishing off with a full clear just to flex. The number of boards that can be cleared with a single shot are sure to shock you.
SNOLF (Any% NCW)
If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to finish Sonic 2 by only using the Spin Dash, then SNOLF is for you. Taking Sonic’s motto to its limits, in SNOLF dowolf had no option but to go fast when clearing the obstacles in each level. He managed to complete it in just 37:38, and if that is longer than your usual Sonic 2 playthrough, don’t worry, us too.
Pokémon Colosseum (Any% race)
What’s better than one Pokémon speedrun? Two Pokémon speedruns, as Swiftalu and Sparkle go head-to-head racing one of the series’ most underrated games. A debut for the game at a mainline GDQ event, Colosseum has no wild encounters, and every fight is a double battle. As with any Pokémon game there is plenty of randomness to rattle our players, but they make it across the finish line in 3:43:07. One of the longer runs at GDQ, but it is worth sticking with it to see Sparkle cope with the hilarious Mirakle B fight at the end. You can watch it on GDQ’s Twitch channel.
Breath of the Wild (Any%, Blindfolded)
While many of us are deep into the world of Tears of the Kingdom, others have gotten so good at Breath of the Wild that they don’t even need to see the game to finish it. Completely blindfolded, Bubzia had a series of set ups to jump to the exact positions he needed, in order to defeat Ganon in 1:33:48. Despite awkward-looking movements, it’s hard to even tell that Bubzia can’t see the game, as he defeats enemies and solves puzzles smoothly. Watch it here on GDQ’s Twitch channel.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
