Speedrunning in 2025: How AI Tools Are Changing the Game

July 14, 2025 Logan Pierce 0 Comments 4 min read

Speedrunning has always been part puzzle, part performance, part obsession. It’s where players push games to their limits—and then break those limits entirely. But in 2025, the fastest runs in the world aren’t just fueled by practice—they’re being refined and reimagined with AI.

From route generation to frame-perfect practice bots, artificial intelligence is reshaping how runners train, compete, and define “human possible.”

⚙️ AI-Assisted Routing

One of the most transformative tools in modern speedrunning? AI pathfinding for optimal routes.

Here’s how it works:

Runners feed game data (like level layouts or RNG tables) into open-source AI models
The AI simulates thousands of possible paths
It returns the fastest, glitch-optimized strategy based on current tricks

Games like Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring, and Celeste have seen entirely new world records after AI-assisted routes surfaced.

“It’s not cheating. It’s discovery—just faster.”
— Speedrunner “Snaxel” at SGDQ 2025

🎯 AI Practice Bots

Training for a world record means repeating the same 5-second section… for hours. Now? AI-powered tools can:

Auto-rewind sections for seamless repetition
Predict likely player errors and coach alternative inputs
Sync controller input with frame-by-frame slowdowns (great for tight glitches)

Many modern emulators now feature “practice overlays” built using machine learning to track visual cues and input timing.

🧠 Glitch Detection & Prediction

Ever find a trick by accident? AI doesn’t need luck. It brute-forces weird collisions and flags potential exploits.

In 2025, tools like GlitchHunter and TASPro are used by runners to:

Identify wall clips and void warps
Calculate overflow conditions
Simulate RNG frames to pre-map outcomes

This has made glitch-hunting less luck, more logic.

👀 TAS vs. Human: The Debate Heats Up

TAS (Tool-Assisted Speedruns) used to be completely separate from “human runs.” But now:

Human runners use TAS data to mirror inputs
Some categories allow partial AI planning with manual execution
TASBot events are drawing bigger Twitch audiences than ever

The line is blurring—but for many, execution still defines the legend.

📈 Speedrunning Is Growing—Fast

Speedrunning YouTube channels (like Summoning Salt and EZScape) are seeing record subs
Twitch speedrun categories have doubled since 2023
SGDQ 2025 raised over $5.3M for charity, its highest yet
Indie devs now design with speedrunners in mind (e.g. Pizza Tower, Viewfinder)

❌ Concerns Around AI Speedrunning

Some runners argue it “flattens” creativity
Others fear it widens the gap between casual and elite
There’s still tension around what counts as “AI-aided” vs. TAS

That said, most agree: it’s not about replacing skill—it’s about revealing potential.

🏁 Final Thought

In 2025, the future of speedrunning is fast—faster than human alone. With AI at their side, players are no longer asking “what’s the best route?” but “how far can we possibly push this game?”

And the best part? The answer keeps changing.