A charity speedrunning occasion has changed into an ideal showcase for smaller video games

Games Done Quick, the biannual charity speedrunning occasion at present occurring proper now, not solely helps organizations just like the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Doctors Without Borders — it helps indie video games get observed, too. Indie recreation builders face an unimaginable uphill battle not solely getting their tasks funded, accomplished, and launched, however found as effectively. Events like GDQ is usually a boon to builders, exposing tens of hundreds of viewers to little-known video games like Bat to the Heavens, Small Saga, and extra.

“It was extremely exciting,” mentioned Ceroro, developer of Bat to the Heavens, a platformer wherein the character should ascend to the heavens utilizing a bat as a result of she can’t soar. Bat to the Heavens is Ceroro’s first official recreation and was launched in 2024. It was featured throughout Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 and late final yr at RTA in Japan. Ceroro mentioned that whereas her recreation has been usually profitable, getting on GDQ gave it a giant increase. “Right after the AGDQ run, there was a large burst in sales and wishlists I haven’t seen since I initially released the game!” she mentioned.

Solo developer Darya Noghani mentioned Small Saga, her turn-based RPG a few mouse who needs to kill god, obtained a pleasant uptick in consideration after being featured at GDQ as effectively. “A number of streamers played the game on Twitch, several commenters recommended the game on platforms like Bluesky, and there was a nice uptick in sales,” they mentioned.

But the eye of getting your recreation run at a GDQ occasion can include a value. “You’re in a state of apprehension,” mentioned Noghani. Speedrunners extensively exploit glitches and develop strategies to skip massive chunks of gameplay, which could present viewers a less-than-ideal model of the sport. “Runners are pushing the game to break in particular ways, and you know this is adjacent to the game just crashing and ruining the run.”

But Noghani additionally mentioned that the Small Saga run was comparatively glitch-free: “I’ll take that as a win.”

Sometimes a runner breaking a recreation is what the developer had in thoughts. “Exploits and glitches are something that taps into the nature of game design,” Ceroro mentioned. While the Bat to the Heavens run additionally didn’t make intensive use of glitches, “A lot of the extreme movement and techniques used in the run are pretty much within bounds of the intended design,” she mentioned.

Ceroro’s additionally not apprehensive that watching a speedrun of Bat to the Heavens will spoil the sport for potential new gamers. “The speedrun for Bat to the Heavens went by too fast to actually get a good understanding of everything or how the game actually feels, so it’ll be a shock to new players,” she mentioned.

Thanks to GDQ, new gamers are coming. But whereas all of the builders I spoke to have been happy with the newfound consideration and elevated gross sales, additionally they mentioned the non-public achievement of getting their recreation run at GDQ was simply as essential.

“It’s been exciting,” mentioned Noghani. “Because GDQ is genuinely well-loved by both players and developers, not just for its charitable causes, but because of the efforts they’ve taken to cultivate an uplifting community.”

GDQ is way beloved within the on-line gaming group. Over the years, occasion runners have applied a top-down strategy to range and inclusion, internet hosting several smaller events targeted on highlighting streamers from marginalized backgrounds. GDQ has additionally fostered a group the place saying “trans rights” elicits the identical form of enthusiastic response that an OSU alum would get shouting “O-H” in a crowded Columbus bar.

“In the development community, it’s a giant moment,” mentioned Xalavier Nelson Jr., artistic director at Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator developer Strange Scaffold, which has had its games featured in GDQ events. “I got about as many congratulations for appearing on Games Done Quick as I have for getting married. It’s that much of a touchstone — and that positive of an overall event and community.”