How To Speedrun A Game Without Breaking Rules Or Glitches

Speedrunning has evolved from a niche hobby into a global competitive pursuit, with thousands of players striving to beat games as quickly as possible. While some runners exploit glitches or sequence breaks to shave off seconds, many prefer a purer form of speedrunning—one that respects the developer’s intended design and adheres strictly to community-defined rules. Completing a run without glitches or rule-breaking requires deep knowledge, precise execution, and strategic planning. This guide outlines how to master this discipline, improve your performance, and earn recognition for clean, legitimate runs.

Understanding “No Glitches” and “Any% No Major Glitches” Categories

Not all speedruns are created equal. The legitimacy of a run depends on the category it falls under. In glitchless speedrunning, players avoid any unintended behaviors, softlocks, or exploits that bypass normal gameplay progression. Common categories include:

• No Major Glitches (NMG): Allows minor quirks but prohibits sequence breaks or out-of-bounds access.
• Glitchless: A stricter standard where no exploitable bugs are used, even if they don’t break progression.
• Any% (Glitchless): Finish the game as fast as possible without using glitches, often skipping non-essential content.
• 100% (Glitchless): Complete all objectives, collectibles, and side content without glitches.

Choosing the right category is essential. It defines what tools you can use, which skips are allowed, and how tightly your run will be scrutinized by the community.

Tip: Always check the leaderboards and category definitions on Speedrun.com before submitting a run. Mislabeling can lead to disqualification.

Master Game Mechanics Through Deliberate Practice

The foundation of any successful glitchless speedrun is mastery of core mechanics. Unlike glitch-based runs that rely on unpredictable behavior, clean runs demand consistency. Every jump, attack, and movement must be executed with precision. This level of control comes only through deliberate, focused practice.

Break down each section of the game into manageable segments. Isolate difficult platforming sections, boss fights, or dialogue-heavy sequences. Use save states (in practice) or savescumming to repeat these parts until your success rate exceeds 95%. Focus not just on completion, but on optimal routing and timing.

“Glitchless runs test true mastery. You’re not hiding behind an exploit—you’re proving you understand the game better than anyone else.” — Alex Turner, Veteran Speedrunner and Moderator at Any% Runs

Practice should simulate real run conditions. Avoid relying on perfect RNG unless it’s consistently manipulable. Train yourself to adapt when enemies spawn differently or items drop unpredictably.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Glitchless Run

1. Research the Game: Study existing runs, read patch notes, and identify mechanics that could be optimized.
2. Select a Category: Choose between Any%, 100%, NMG, or Glitchless based on your goals.
3. Analyze the Route: Map out every required action, including NPC interactions, item pickups, and cutscene skips.
4. Optimize Movement: Learn advanced techniques like strafe jumping, dash canceling, or enemy hits that provide momentum boosts—all within intended mechanics.
5. Test in Segments: Break the game into chapters or zones and perfect each one individually.
6. Perform Full Dry Runs: Simulate full attempts without resetting to build endurance and consistency.
7. Record and Review: Analyze footage to identify time losses, suboptimal decisions, or hesitation.
8. Refine and Repeat: Adjust your route and technique based on feedback until you achieve consistent results.

Developing an Optimal Route Without Sequence Breaks

A route is your step-by-step plan to complete the game as fast as possible. In glitchless runs, the route must follow the intended progression path—but even within those constraints, massive time savings are possible.

Start by identifying mandatory objectives. Then, determine the earliest point at which each objective can be completed. For example, some games allow early access to vehicles or abilities through natural progression, not glitches. These are fair game.

Use tools like flowcharts or spreadsheets to visualize dependencies. Ask: Can I skip this side quest? Does this NPC give me a permanent upgrade I’ll need later? Can I manipulate enemy spawns to reduce downtime?

Strategy	Valid in Glitchless?	Example
Using a well-timed jump to skip a ladder	Yes	Super Metroid: Shinespark jumps within room boundaries
Triggering a cutscene skip via menu pause	Depends on category	Some Zelda games allow this; others ban it
Walking through a wall using corrupted geometry	No	Classic sequence break via out-of-bounds
Exploiting AI pathfinding to clip through barriers	No	Pushing an enemy to force player clipping
Using a damage boost from an enemy’s hitbox	Sometimes	If it's reproducible and doesn't require precise pixel alignment

Always verify borderline techniques with the community. What seems like clever optimization might be classified as a glitch depending on how it interacts with collision detection or animation states.

Advanced Techniques That Aren’t Glitches

Many speedrunning techniques exist in a gray area—they’re not bugs, but they push the limits of intended design. When done correctly, these are fully acceptable in most glitchless categories.

• Damage Boosting: Intentionally taking hits to gain knockback momentum. If the game allows it without crashing or desyncing, and it works consistently, it’s usually permitted.
• Dialogue Skips: Using controller inputs to skip text faster than intended. As long as it doesn’t involve memory manipulation, it’s typically allowed.
• Momentum Preservation: Chaining dashes, rolls, or slides to maintain speed across terrain changes.
• RNG Manipulation: Resetting or acting at specific frames to influence random outcomes like item drops or enemy behavior.

Tip: Frame-perfect inputs are not glitches. If a technique works consistently with humanly possible timing, it’s considered skill-based, not exploitative.

The key distinction lies in whether the game engine is being forced into an unintended state. If the animation plays correctly, the collision remains intact, and no internal variables are corrupted, the technique likely qualifies as valid.

Mini Case Study: Beating Hollow Knight in Under 2 Hours – Glitchless

One of the most celebrated recent achievements in clean speedrunning was Sarah K.’s sub-2-hour Any% Glitchless run of Hollow Knight. Known for its tight platforming and intricate map layout, Hollow Knight offers few opportunities for major skips without glitches.

Sarah spent six months studying enemy patterns, nail upgrades, and charm synergies. She discovered that by manipulating Geo drops from specific Grubs and using the Mantis Claw immediately after acquiring it—instead of waiting for the traditional tutorial completion—she saved nearly four minutes. She also optimized her path through Greenpath by triggering NPC events out of order through precise timing, avoiding backtracking.

Her breakthrough wasn’t a hidden wall clip or corrupted file—it was mastering the game’s physics enough to execute 17 consecutive damage boosts off Vengefly Kings without losing health. Each boost saved half a second. Combined, they accounted for over eight minutes of total time saved.

When she submitted her run, it was reviewed by three moderators. None found violations. Her record stood not because she broke the game, but because she played it better than anyone else had.

Checklist: Preparing for a Valid Glitchless Speedrun

Before attempting or submitting a run, ensure you meet all requirements:

• ✅ Verified the correct category rules on Speedrun.com
• ✅ Avoided all known banned techniques (e.g., out-of-bounds, arbitrary code execution)
• ✅ Used only in-game mechanics for movement and progression
• ✅ Recorded full gameplay with timer overlay visible
• ✅ Included startup and reset time in final clock
• ✅ Practiced full run consistency (completed 10+ dry runs under goal time)
• ✅ Reviewed footage for missed optimizations or hesitations
• ✅ Confirmed no external software was used beyond recording tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using a turbo controller allowed in glitchless runs?

Yes, as long as the input is still generated by the player. Auto-hotkey scripts or macro programs that send repeated inputs without manual press are prohibited. Mechanical turbo controllers are generally accepted because each pulse corresponds to a physical switch activation.

What counts as a “glitch” versus an “advanced technique”?

A glitch produces behavior the developers did not anticipate and often destabilizes the game state—like walking through walls or corrupting save data. An advanced technique uses intended mechanics in optimized ways—like wave dashing in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The line can be fuzzy, so consult category moderators when in doubt.

Can I use emulator features like save states during a real run?

No. Save states, fast-forward, and rewinding are only permitted during practice. Submitted runs must be performed on original hardware or approved emulators with no unfair advantages. Emulator-specific input lag reduction may be restricted depending on the game.

Conclusion: Mastery Over Exploitation

Speedrunning without glitches isn’t about limiting yourself—it’s about elevating your skill. There’s undeniable prestige in beating a game through sheer understanding of its systems, rather than circumventing them. Clean runs showcase discipline, patience, and deep engagement with the craft of gaming.

Every millisecond saved comes from study, repetition, and refinement—not luck or exploitation. Whether you're aiming for a personal best or a spot on the leaderboard, remember that legitimacy amplifies achievement. A glitchless record isn’t just fast—it’s respected.

🚀 Ready to start your first clean speedrun? Pick a game, choose a glitchless category, and begin segmenting today. Share your progress, learn from others, and prove that speed and integrity can go hand in hand.