Summer Games Done Quick is no stranger to massive fundraisers, but the speedrunning community has truly outdone itself this time. Despite the event having to go virtual once more, as well as happening at a time where many are hurting financially, the marathon gaming event still managed to secure its third-best return on record - with $2,897,000 raised for charity.
The fundraising took place over the course of a week, with over 100 games speedrun as part of the show. Despite the shift in format, the legion of speedrunners banded together in aid of the charity Doctors Without Borders, and also showcased some truly weird and wonderful runs.
Games Done Quick has held various speedrunning events since 2010. Phenomenally, it was this lockdown event that made it in the top three for most donations, with the current record being Awesome Games Done Quick, which raised $3,164,002 in January 2020.
Donations from these events have gone to Doctors Without Borders for some time now, but it will mean more in 2021 particularly, as the charity has recently contended with both coronavirus and the attacks on Gaza. Speaking during the event on Friday, the charity said, “Huge thanks to the speedrunners and the wonderful Games Done Quick community for coming together to support our lifesaving medical work.”
As always, SGDQ brought variety, showcasing games you wouldn’t typically associate with speedrunning. Featuring franchises like Resident Evil, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and even Spongebob, there truly was something for everyone. One that was turning a few heads was GeoGuessr - the Google Maps browser game that involves guessing your location from a random point on the globe, using your surroundings for clues.
Feeling optimistic, the next event under the Games Done Quick banner has already been announced: an in-person Awesome Games Done Quick 2022. Admittedly, hosting it physically is listed as a “maybe”, and there’s no word on a venue yet, but the organizers say there will be an announcement soon.
If you want to catch up on any games you missed, you can check out the VODs on the Games Done Quick YouTube channel.