Games Done Quick (GDQ) is a twice-a-year video game speedrun charity marathon held in the United States. It was first organized by the Speed Demos Archive and SpeedRunsLive communities. Since 2015, the event has been managed by Games Done Quick, LLC. The first GDQ event took place in 2010, and the events have raised money for many charities over the years.
The two main events hosted by GDQ are Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) and Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ). AGDQ happens in early January every year and supports the Prevent Cancer Foundation. SGDQ usually takes place in late June or early July each year and supports Doctors Without Borders. Both events last for seven days. In addition to these events, GDQ also hosts smaller marathons, special one-time events, and regular broadcasts called GDQ Hotfix throughout the year.
The events are shown live on Twitch and also broadcast at the same time on YouTube since AGDQ 2026. Viewers are encouraged to donate during the streams for rewards, such as choosing the name of a save file or main character, asking runners to complete harder challenges, or entering contests for prizes. As of January 2026, more than $59.8 million has been raised through over a million individual donations.
Format
Speedrunners show their skills by completing video games as quickly as possible. They perform these runs in front of an audience and on a livestream through Twitch. Sometimes, these runs are done in special ways, such as finishing every level of a game, completing a game while wearing a blindfold, or having multiple runners compete to finish a game first. Games played during events like Games Done Quick include both older and newer video games. The runs usually include comments from the runner or experienced commentators, as well as messages from donors read by an announcer.
Most popular runs include using video game glitches and conversations between the runner and commentators. These discussions often explain techniques or include funny jokes and friendly conversations. Humor is especially used during parts of the game that do not require much skill. Donations from viewers may include jokes that only members of the speedrunning community understand or personal messages thanking donors. Because the event is broadcast live to a large audience, runners and commentators are encouraged to avoid using strong language or offensive behavior.
When donating, viewers can choose to support specific incentives. These incentives may include extra speedruns, demonstrations of special tricks or glitches, or in-game choices, such as naming the player character.
History
Writer and speedrunner Eric Koziel points out two important events that came before Games Done Quick (GDQ): the "Desert Bus for Hope" donation drive organized by LoadingReadyRun in November 2007, and a series of charity speedrun marathons held by TheSpeedGamers starting in March 2008.
Users of the site Speed Demos Archive (SDA) decided to hold a charity marathon in January 2010 during MAGFest 8. The event focused on 8-bit and 16-bit video games and was named "Classic Games Done Quick" after the 1990s speedrunning project Quake Done Quick. Internet problems at the MAGFest hotel forced SDA administrator Mike Uyama to move the event to his mother’s home. However, the event raised over $10,000 for CARE.
After this success, the first Awesome Games Done Quick marathon took place in January 2011. It lasted five days, included newer games like Halo and Portal, and raised more than $50,000 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The first Summer Games Done Quick event happened in August 2011, raising $20,000 for the Organization for Autism Research. Both events have continued every year since, raising much larger amounts than earlier marathons.
A special event called "Japan Relief Done Quick" was held in March 2011 to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It raised over $25,000. Another special event, "God of War Done Quick," was held on March 20, 2015, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the God of War franchise. It raised $3,500 for The AbleGamers Foundation.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer 2020 marathon, both 2021 marathons, and the Winter 2022 marathon were held online. In-person attendance returned for SGDQ 2022 with strict rules like social distancing, masks, and vaccine requirements. Remote runners also participated. The Winter AGDQ 2023 event was planned to be in-person in Orlando, Florida, but it was moved online after controversies related to Florida’s laws on LGBTQ+ rights and vaccines. Moving the event caused financial challenges for the organization. Uyama, who had led GDQ for 13 years, announced he would step down in 2023 to focus on his health. He later postponed his departure to help his successor who was sick.
In its early years, GDQ faced criticism for allowing casual bigotry and for not moderating its Twitch chat. Founder Mike Uyama later admitted he had limited knowledge about LGBTQ+ issues and proper representation. From 2016 to 2018, GDQ worked to address these problems. The organization adopted a strict rule against harassment and banned people who violated it. GDQ also reached out to underrepresented groups through satellite organizations and programs like Frame Fatales and Hotfix streams.
Over time, a tradition formed at GDQ events: donors who sent messages during speedruns often ended their messages with "trans rights." This became common, and in-person audiences began shouting "trans rights" back in unison during marathons.
Speedrunning records have been set at GDQ marathons for games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2, Superman 64, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
List of marathons
Originally named Classic Games Done Quick (CGDQ), this yearly event takes place in early January. It collects money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
This event was first introduced in 2011 as a partner to AGDQ. It usually happens in late June or early July and raises money for Doctors Without Borders. Since 2015, the event has mostly been held in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.
Games Done Quick Express (GDQx) is a yearly three-day event that occurs at TwitchCon since 2018. No GDQx event took place in 2020 or 2021 because TwitchCon was canceled those years. There was also no GDQx event during the 2022 TwitchCon.
Frame Fatales is a week-long event that includes only women and non-binary participants. It began in 2019 as a four-day event and started raising money for the Malala Fund in 2020. By 2022, the event was held twice a year: once in February–March as Frost Fatales and once in August as Flame Fatales.
Controversies
As GDQ events have become more popular, some controversies have occurred. Players and commentators have been banned, and stream chat has sometimes been muted. GDQ advises attendees to avoid conversations that are divisive or controversial and to avoid harassing others. Some people have been banned for making inappropriate comments, though some critics say these bans may not always be fair.
In 2017, a commentator named PvtCinnamonBun was banned from future GDQ events after wearing a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hat on stream shortly after Donald Trump became president. This happened during a time when GDQ was updating its rules to be stricter about behavior. Before these changes, some runners who wore MAGA hats or acted in ways considered inappropriate were allowed to attend events. However, Kotaku reported that PvtCinnamonBun’s ban was later removed because the hat was not actually a MAGA hat. He was banned again for unplugging a power strip cable. Another speedrunner, Cyberdemon531, was banned for owning the MAGA hat.
In 2018, a speedrunner named "BubblesDelFuego" was banned from future GDQ events after sharing edible medicinal cannabis with a friend. This caused the friend to have a panic attack and be taken to the hospital. Bubbles used cannabis for chronic pain from complications with Hodgkin lymphoma. He told Kotaku he understood the reason for his ban but believed the staff who enforced the rules had incorrect information about tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active chemical in cannabis.
At SGDQ 2019, a speedrunner named "QuinnAce" (formerly "ConnorAce") used a spliced run to unfairly claim the world record for the "NoAbility%" category in the game Clustertruck. This prevented the actual record holder from being invited. The run was not officially submitted to speedrun.com, and the video was unlisted on YouTube before QuinnAce was accepted into SGDQ. In October 2019, the YouTuber Apollo Legend exposed the run.
At AGDQ 2020, several runners, including "Luzbelheim" (or "Luz"), were scheduled to participate in a relay playthrough of Final Fantasy VIII. However, Luz’s Twitter bio went viral for stating he disliked "feminazism," identified as "deminonbinary," and used the pronouns "luz/luz." News outlets criticized GDQ organizers for allowing Luz to play in the relay. Luz was banned without details about the length of the ban.
At SGDQ 2022, a speedrunner named "Mekarazium" admitted to faking a run of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Blade Wolf DLC. The DLC was a donation incentive and played remotely, unlike most games at the event. While the main game was played live, the DLC was pre-recorded. Viewers noticed differences in the run. Mekarazium admitted to faking the run and was banned from future GDQ events.