The charity speedrun event has turned into the perfect showcase for minigames

The games were executed quicklya biannual speedrunning charity event currently underway, is not only helping organizations like the Cancer Prevention Foundation and Doctors Without Borders — it’s also helping bring attention to indie games. Indie game developers face an incredible uphill battle not only to get their projects funded, completed and launched, but to get discovered as well. Events like GDQ can be a boon for developers, exposing tens of thousands of viewers to little-known games like Bats to the sky, Little sagaAnd more.

“It was very exciting,” said Seroro, the game’s developer. Bats to the skya platform game where the character must ascend into the sky using a bat because he cannot jump. Bats to the sky It is the first official game of Ceroro and was released in 2024. It appeared during Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 and late last year in Roads and Transport Authority of Japan. Ceroro said that although her game was generally successful, getting the GDQ gave her a big boost. “Right after launching AGDQ, there was an explosion in sales and wishlists that I haven’t seen since I originally released the game!” she said.

said solo developer Daria Nogani Little sagaa turn-based RPG about a mouse who wants to kill a god, got a nice boost in interest after appearing at GDQ as well. “A number of streamers have played the game on Twitch, several commenters have recommended the game on platforms like Bluesky, and there has been a nice uptick in sales,” they said.

But paying attention to running your game at a GDQ event can come at a price. “You are in a state of apprehension,” Noghani said. Speedrunners exploit glitches extensively and develop techniques to skip large portions of gameplay, potentially showing viewers a less-than-optimal version of the game. “Racers force the game to stop in certain ways, and you know that couples with the game crashing and ruining it.”

But Noghani also said that Little saga The run was relatively error-free: “I would consider that a win.”

Sometimes, a runner breaking the game is what the developer had in mind. “Exploits and glitches are something that is in keeping with the nature of game design,” Seroro said. while Bats to the sky The operating system also did not make extensive use of glitches, she said: “A lot of the extreme movements and techniques used in playback are largely within the confines of the intended design.”

Seruru also isn’t worried about watching the speedway Bats to the sky It will ruin the game for potential new players. “Sprint to Bats to the sky “It went by so quickly that we couldn’t quite understand everything or what the game actually looked like, so it will be a bit of a shock to new players,” she said.

Thanks to GDQ, there are new players coming. But while all the developers I spoke to were happy with the new attention and increased sales, they also said that the personal accomplishment of running their game at GDQ was just as important.

“It was exciting,” Nogani said. “Because GDQ is truly loved by both players and developers, not only for its charitable causes, but for the efforts they have put into cultivating an uplifting community.”

GDQ is well-loved in the online gaming community. over the years, The event’s competitors implemented a top-down approach To diversity, inclusion and hosting numerous Smaller events Focus on highlighting streamers from marginalized backgrounds. GDQ has also fostered a community where the phrase “trans rights” elicits the same kind of enthusiastic response that an Ohio State graduate would get He shouts “oh” In a crowded Columbus bar.

“In the development community, it’s a giant moment,” said Xalavier Nelson Jr., creative director at Space Warlord organ trading simulation Developer Strange Scaffold, who had Its games have been featured at GDQ events. “I’ve received as many congratulations for my appearance at Games Done Quick as I have for my wedding. It’s a great touchstone – and it’s a positive thing for the event and the community in general.”