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Pokémon speedrunning is a unique movement of players whose goal is to complete a given game from the main series in the shortest time possible. Instead of focusing on traditional collecting all the creatures or exploring, they have one goal: to reach the credits faster than anyone before them. This phenomenon attracts thousands of people – both creators of new tracks and viewers on streaming platforms, creating one of the most engaged communities in the gaming world.
History and Origins
The first attempts to break time records appeared in the early 21st century, although formal rules for measuring time or keeping recordings of results didn’t always exist. In 2004–2005, the first recorded attempts to beat Red and Yellow in the fastest time appeared. Initially, so-called segmented runs, recorded in fragments, predominated, before the RTA (Real Time Attack) standard – continuous completion from start to finish in a single session – was adopted.
The development of the internet fueled the community’s momentum. Collaborative discussions about routes, discovering new glitches, and organizing rankings have made speedrunning a significant part of global gaming culture. Since 2010, the development of professional analytical tools and ranking platforms has paved the way for current record holders and global events.
Popular Speedrun Modes and Categories
Key Categories
- Any% – Allows the use of all available tricks to reach the end of the game as quickly as possible.
- Any% Glitchless – Major bugs and exploits are prohibited; pure game mechanics are the priority.
- 100% – Involves completing defined objectives (e.g., collecting the entire Pokédex or winning all battles).
- Category Extensions – Modified variants, such as completing the game with only one selected creature or without using XP centers.
Characteristics of Popular Routes
- Real Time Attack (RTA): Real-time time measurement, without pressing the pause button.
- Tool-Assisted (TAS): Uses tools that emulate perfect button presses.
- Segmented: An older format in which a track is created from several concatenated recordings – now rarely seen in live tournaments.
Key Tricks and Techniques
- RNG Manipulation: Advanced techniques that allow you to influence random events (opponent movements, encounters with rare creatures) through sequences of highly precise movements and actions.
- Text Acceleration: Game settings such as the fastest text option, disabling combat animations, or using single initials in character names have a real impact on saved seconds.
- Pivoting: Focusing training experience on a single, exceptionally powerful creature, usually caught in the first few minutes of the game.
- Map Glitches: Older versions used things like wall-walking, skipping training sessions, or even skipping entire game segments due to programming errors.
- Save Corruption: In select games, this is used to drastically shorten gameplay by breaking game scripts (not allowed in some categories).
- Examples of legendary glitches include MissingNo (Red/Blue), Mount Skip (Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee), and the Save Glitch in Ruby/Sapphire.
The speedrunning phenomenon strongly unites the community. Players share new discoveries, co-create routes, and the healthy rivalry itself fuels new generations of record-breaking players and mechanics researchers. Charity marathons like Awesome Games Done Quick play a significant role – the community regularly raises tens of millions to help those in need by presenting their best attempts live to viewers around the world. Learning to cooperate, openness, and mutual support make the speedrunning community considered one of the most engaged and friendly.
Occasionally, controversies arise around attempted cheating, testing the limits of regulations, or rule changes, but transparency and mutual scrutiny ensure that the phenomenon retains its sporting and social character. The impact of speedrunning on the development of game code analysis tools has become a unique phenomenon, resulting in the discovery of hundreds of bugs and previously unknown aspects of the engine.
Generation I
Pokémon Red/Blue
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
1:45:05 |
hwangbro |
|
| Any% Glitchless (Classic) |
1:56:29 |
Exarion |
|
| Any% |
1:18.893 |
pokeguy |
|
| Any% No Save Corruption |
11:33 |
stocchi |
|
| Catch 'Em All |
1:37:12 |
eddaket |
|
Pokémon Yellow
| Kategoria |
Czas |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
1:53:37 |
hwangbro |
|
| Any% Glitchless (Classic) |
2:03:20 |
Exarion |
|
| Any% |
1:19.510 |
pokeguy |
|
| Any% No Save Corruption |
12:41 |
stocchi |
|
Generation II
Pokémon Gold/Silver
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
3:13:39 |
WaveWarrior |
|
| Any% |
8:40 |
CasualPokePlayer |
|
Pokémon Crystal
| Kategoria |
Czas |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
3:09:24 |
pokeguy |
|
| Any% |
5:04 |
entrpntr |
|
Generation III
Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
1:57:17 |
Shiru666 |
|
Pokémon Emerald
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
2:30:25 |
Shiru666 |
|
| Any% |
1:25:02 |
AmoebaUK |
|
Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% |
2:02:11 |
pokeguy |
|
| Elite 4 Round 2 |
3:28:55 |
pokeguy |
|
Generation IV
Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
3:44:03 |
werster |
|
| Any% |
57:06 |
werster |
|
Pokémon Platinum
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
3:40:01 |
werster |
|
| Any% |
2:43:29 |
werster |
|
| Elite 4 Round 2 |
4:57:01 |
werster |
|
Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% Glitchless |
3:34:28 |
werster |
|
| Any% |
1:59:29 |
werster |
|
Generation V
Pokémon Black/White
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% |
3:12:21 |
Wh0misDS |
|
Pokémon Black 2/White 2
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% |
3:12:35 |
werster |
|
| Challenge Mode |
3:14:41 |
werster |
|
Generation VI
Pokémon X/Y
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% |
3:42:49 |
LunAxy |
|
Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% |
3:04:46 |
Sinstar |
|
| Elite 4 Round 2 |
4:20:17 |
eddaket |
|
Generation VII
Pokémon Sun/Moon
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% (New 3DS) |
5:05:10 |
wartab |
|
| Any% (3DS) |
5:16:17 |
wartab |
|
Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% (New 3DS) |
5:39:29 |
wartab |
|
| Any% (3DS) |
5:59:31 |
PulseEffects |
|
Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% (Eevee) |
3:02:08 |
eddaket |
|
| Any% (Pikachu) |
3:03:06 |
kerbis54 |
|
Generation VIII
Pokémon Sword/Shield
| Category |
Time |
Speedrunner |
|
| Any% (Sword) |
4:04:13 |
ringo777 |
|
| Any% (Shield) |
4:07:06 |
wsopboy91 |
|
Pokémon Speedrun – Summary
The phenomenon of speedrunning in the main Pokémon series is a fascinating cross-section of passion, collaboration, and competition. From pioneering attempts in the Game Boy era, through the discovery and popularization of hundreds of tricks, to today’s professional rankings, this trend has not only redefined the way we view gameplay but also contributed to the development of the entire community, code research, and the promotion of charitable and scientific endeavors. Each new generation, each updated track, and each newly discovered exploit brings fans a new dose of excitement and inspiration to push their limits.
