Awesome Games Done Quick Begins Another Awesome Run January 4

It’s a new year, and the first full week of the year usually heralds the arrival of…Awesome Games Done Quick! If you don’t yet follow this great live charity video game speedrunning event, you should. Not only is it fun and consistently entertaining but it’s a great way to avoid the doldrums of January, when the holidays end and you’re stuck with those grey skies overhead and nothign to celebrate. But we CAN celebrate something. We can celebrate AGDQ!

AGDQ benefits, as always, the Prevent Cancer Foundation. As you watch the stream, you can donate to PCF and each tax-deductible donation will apply to something, whether it’s a vote on what should happen in the next run, an entry to win a prize, or a goal to unlock an extra performance. As for the games this year, GDQ’s own bullet points say to expect these:

Super Mario Sunshine – Any% on Gamecube by inkstar
Splatoon – Any% Race on Wii U by DG and LonTr0
Once Upon A Katamari – Any% on PC by Game1t
Silent Hill ƒ – New Game Story on PC by Captain Ezekiel
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Any% Expert Glitchless Race on PC by Bdud5 and Z3RO1337
Hades II – All Weapons (Alternating Routes) on PC by BehemothSteve
Pokemon Emerald – Pick-My-Main on GBA by adef

But a full week packs in way more than that. There’s also Spyro 2, Splatoon, Split Fiction, Luigi’s Mansion, Sonic Adventure, Crash 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, A Hat In Time, Metroid Prime 3, the MGS3 remake, Psychonauts 2, F-Zero GX, Donkey Kong 64 Randomizer, Twilight Princess, Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy X, Ocarina of Time AND Majora’s Mask blindfolded at once, several mystery games, and the infamous Awful Block, leading with the Land Before Time game. Over 100 speedruns this year!

Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 will run from January 4-10 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown in Pittsburgh, PA, and broadcast live on the official Games Done Quick Twitch channel.

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Travis

Member

498 messages 19 likes

#1 Jan 03, 2026

January is usually boring for me, so AGDQ helps fill that gap. I like turning it on after work and just letting it play. Even if I do not understand every detail, the tone stays calm and respectful. I am interested in Silent Hill ƒ because horror speedruns are different from action ones. Timing and movement matter in a quieter way. I also think it is impressive how runners perform live, knowing thousands of people are watching. That pressure is real. I sometimes imagine how nervous I would be in that situation. The donation tracker and goals give the stream a sense of progress. It feels like everyone is working toward something together. I do not comment much, but I still feel part of it. AGDQ has become something I expect every year, like a marker that the year has truly started.

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benimaru

New Member

131 messages 4 likes

#2 Jan 03, 2026

I watch AGDQ because it reminds me why I liked games in the first place. Not for graphics or trends, but for mechanics and creativity. Speedrunning breaks games open and shows how flexible they are. Seeing Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask played blindfolded at the same time still sounds impossible to me, and that is why I want to see it. Even if I do not fully understand it, I know it takes extreme focus. I also appreciate that AGDQ respects accessibility and explains things clearly. New viewers are not pushed away. I usually donate during runs I really enjoy as a way to say thanks. I do not care about prizes much, but I like helping reach goals. AGDQ feels sincere, and that is rare online.

kermitfries

Froggy Afternoon

643 messages 16 likes

#3 Jan 03, 2026

AGDQ is one of the few streams where I trust the people involved. It does not feel like fake hype or forced reactions. The runners focus on their craft, and the hosts respect that. I am excited for Donkey Kong 64 Randomizer because randomizer runs always feel unpredictable. Anything can happen, and that keeps me engaged. I also like that AGDQ does not only focus on popular games. Seeing something like Once Upon A Katamari makes me curious, even if I never played it. The charity part matters to me too because cancer has affected people in my family. Knowing that watching and donating can help research makes the time feel useful. I cannot watch all week, but I usually plan my schedule around a few key runs. It feels like an event worth making time for.

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