History Main / SpeedrunReward

[{{Speedrun}}ning is a sport; the excitement and fulfillment one gets from going through a game as quickly as possible and competing with others for fastest time, is, for speedrunners, enough to justify hours and hours spent mastering the game they play. It's almost always done JustForFun.

[[{{Speedrun}} Speedrunning]] is a sport; the excitement and fulfillment one gets from going through a game as quickly as possible and competing with others for fastest time, is, for speedrunners, enough to justify hours and hours spent mastering the game they play. It's almost always done JustForFun.

In a lot of games, you ''do'' get some kind of bonus. This is the Speedrun Reward, a type of optional [[VideoGameRewards Video Game Reward]] that encourages players to go through a game fast. Rewards come in two major flavors: Completely Cosmetic, and Actually Advantageous.

* '''Completely Cosmetic''' rewards are, well, [[CosmeticAward Cosmetic Awards]]. They may be [[MultipleEndings a new, cooler ending]], a single achievement, or even a few extra [[ScoringPoints points for your score]]. Like run times, they're only there for you to show off to other players.

* '''Actually Advantageous''' rewards, on the other hand, give you actual gameplay benefits. Generally, speedruns require you to skip most if not all optional content, which means a runner is constantly at a [[LowLevelRun low level]]. To compensate, they're given these to be able to complete a run. And yes, even [[BraggingRightsReward Bragging Rights Rewards]] fall under here, even if they're not that advantageous. These kinds of rewards usually appear as a door or chest that locks itself after [[TimedMission a period of time]].

** The game's unlock system results in this. There are two score bonuses for completing a run within a timeframe, one for under 60 minutes and another for 45 minutes (though the latter overrides the former). These two, along with other score bonuses, help you progress towards the next level and unlock new cards and relics. However, after unlocking everything, the points stop being useful and meeting these requirements only results in a Completely Cosmetic higher score.

* The procedurally generated levels in ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'' have a chance of spawning dark levels, where you have to tread carefully as you cannot see that far in front of you. However, as to not be a nuisance to speedrunners where such a level would be antithetical, beating a level in less than 20 seconds always guarantees the next one will not utilize darkness.

* In ''VideoGame/SCPSecretLaboratory'', escaping the facility in under 3 minutes grants the {{achievement|system}} "Escape Artist".

* Games with both a level timer and a score system, like some games in the ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'' franchise usually grant more points based on how much time you had left after completing a level.

** The game's scoring system [[ZigZaggingTrope zig-zags]] this. There are two score bonuses for completing a run within a timeframe, one for under 60 minutes and another for 45 minutes (though the latter overrides the former). These two, along with other score bonuses, help you progress towards the next level and unlock new cards and relics. However, after unlocking everything, the points stop being useful and simply just show your score.
** Played straight by the Secret Portal event in Act 3, which lets you skip straight to the boss and end the run if you manage to get an Act 3 ? Room in under 13 minutes. Useful if you already have a good build.

** In ''Afterbirth'', defeating Mom's Heart/It Lives in under 30 minutes grants access to The Blue Womb and the BonusBoss Hush. You'll get four Golden Chests, a shop, and two item rooms with a choice of two items each to improve your build before the battle, and beating him unlocks more items. As of ''Afterbirth+'', beating Hush is also needed to unlock the TrueFinalBoss Delirium, and subsequent fights give you the only guaranteed way to access [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon the Void]].

** Daily Runs have Rush bonuses, awarded to the player for clearing the BossRush and/or defeating [[BonusBoss Hush]], each of which still have the preconditions described above.

* The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' franchise is well known for its time and completion percentage-based endings.
** In the mainline 2D games, the faster you complete a run, the skimpier [[MsFanservice Samus]] gets in the endings, with the best times getting you Samus in a leotard, her Zero Suit, or casualwear. ''Dread'' would replace these with artwork of key moments in previous ''Metroid'' games as part of the [[MilestoneCelebration franchise's 35th anniversary]]. ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' and the [[RegionalBonus Japanese version]] of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' award images based on a combination of time, completion, and difficulty setting. Meanwhile ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' have separate galleries for both time (with each difficulty having its own set of pictures) and item collection (completing each area in the game nets you images depicting the game's backstory).

** In the mainline 2D games, the faster you complete a run, the skimpier [[MsFanservice Samus]] gets in the endings, with the best times getting you Samus in a leotard, her Zero Suit, or casualwear. ''Dread'' would replace these with artwork of key moments in previous ''Metroid'' games as part of the [[MilestoneCelebration franchise's 35th anniversary). ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' and the [[RegionalBonus Japanese version]] of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' award images based on a combination of time, completion, and difficulty setting. Meanwhile ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' have separate galleries for both time (with each difficulty having its own set of pictures) and item collection (completing each area in the game nets you images depicting the game's backstory).

* The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' franchise is well known for its time and completion percentage-based endings. The faster you complete a run, the skimpier [[MsFanservice Samus]] gets in the endings. Some games, such as ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' and the [[RegionalBonus Japanese version]] of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' also award other images based on your speed in addition to your item-collection percentage.

In a lot of games, you ''do'' get some kind of bonus. This is the Speed Run Reward, a type of optional [[VideoGameRewards Video Game Reward]] that encourages players to go through a game fast. Rewards come in two major flavors: Completely Cosmetic, and Actually Advantageous.

* The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' franchise is well known for its time and completion percentage based endings. The faster you complete a run, the skimpier [[MsFanservice Samus]] gets in the endings.
* One of the Steam achievements in ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' is actually called "Speed Run". To get the achievement, the player will need to keep progressing in the game faster and faster- by submitting the code to the office elevator before the Narrator can say it and doing the ending enough times for him to automatically open the elevator door, and jump to the platforms instead of waiting for them, you can rush the story fast enough to complete the Speed Run. This only applies to the "Freedom Ending", as it's the "real" story of the game, since all the other endings involve you disobeying the Narrator at some point.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' there is a trophy unlocked in the Final Mix versions for beating the game in under 10 hours
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' awards a medal for completing the campaign mode in under 4 hours of gameplay. You can save and play through at your own pace, but the game records how long it takes from start to finish. The clock keeps ticking if you have to restart a level or a checkpoint.

** In Afterbirth, defeating Mom's Heart/It Lives in under 30 minutes grants access to The Blue Womb and the BonusBoss Hush. This gives you a huge selection of bonus items before the fight, and beating him unlocks more items. As of Afterbirth+, beating Hush is also needed to unlock the TrueFinalBoss Delirium, and subsequent fights give you the only guaranteed way to access [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon the Void]].
** In Afterbirth+, one achievement (and a new item) can only be unlocked by beating the Lamb in under 20 minutes.

-->'''Data''': Did you know that if you start a new game without cutting the power, you can try the game again at a different difficulty setting? Here's another hint...The faster you play, or the harder it is, the easier it will become...Wonder what that means? Maybe you can figure it out...
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''

* ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain'' and [[VideoGame/RiskOfRain2 its sequel]] has the [[DynamicDifficulty difficulty slowly increase over time]], as well as increasing after each stage. Players are incentivized to find the teleporter as quickly as possible, while gathering enough items to keep up.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'', the Pact of Punishment lets you jack up the difficulty in several ways in order to get bounties, items which advance the meta-progression. One of these ways is the Tight Deadline condition, which gives you a limited time to clear each region, 9 minutes for the first level, 7 for the second, and 5 for the last one. In addition, leftover time is added to the time of the next region, granting more incentive to go fast.
** Another example exists in the form the Lambent Plume keepsake, which grants you move speed and dodge chance every time you quickly clear a room.
* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd:'' Some stages' "medals" may require you to finish the stage under certain number of seconds. Getting a medal for the first time will reward you with a few Crystals.
* ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsCoded Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' has plenty of trophies available for speedrunning through every world. In total there are 8 trophies available for speedrunning from the easiest ones (in 5 minutes or less) to the giant Hollow Bastion II that takes at most 30 minutes. Getting any trophy gets you a Trophy Chip that boosts yours stats. Also to get the special video of the game, you need to get at least 20 trophies which means getting all the speedrun trophies would put you almost halfway there. This is why most people suggest going for these trophies first as the game gives you plenty of options and advantages to complete the speedruns fast (Modifying difficulty, lowering health and strength of enemies).
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'': Beat the game in under 3 hours to unlock a powerful Rocket Launcher with infinite ammo.
* PlayedWith in ''VideoGame/SlayTheSpire''. The game has two score bonuses for completing a run in under 60 minutes and 45 minutes (though the latter overrides the former). These two, along with other score bonuses, help you progress towards the next level and unlock new cards and relics. However, after unlocking everything, the points stop being useful and simply just show your score.

* In the original ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' for the N64, [[VideoGame/FZero Captain Falcon]] is unlocked by completing single player mode in under twenty minutes then defeating him in a challenge match.
* The procedurally generated levels in ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'' have a chance of spawning dark levels, where you have to tread carefully as you cannot see that far in front of you. However, as to not be a nuisance to speed runners where such a level would be antithetical, beating a level in less than 20 seconds always guarantees the next one will not utilize darkness.
* ''VideoGame/DeadCells'' rewards players for getting through certain levels in a short time, though the times as the game goes on do ''not'' apply individually. For instance, the first level has a 2-minute game, the next level has a 4-minute gate, then 6, etc. If you spend longer than 4 minutes in Level 1, it will not start at 0 upon entering level 2, so the player has to move through ''every'' level quickly, not just the one they're trying to clear. A player can spend time grinding for cells within each level, or they can take the guaranteed large number of cells and upgrades for finishing a level within the time gate.

* The procedurally generated levels in ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'' have a chance of spawning dark levels, where you have to tread carefully as you cannot see that far in front of you. However, as to not be a nuisance to speed runners where such a level would be antithetical, beating a level in less than 20 seconds always guarantees the next one will not utilize darkness.

* In the original ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' for the N64, [[VideoGame/FZero Captain Falcon]] is unlocked by completing single player mode in under twenty minutes then defeating him in a challenge match.

** Played straight by the Secret Portal event in Act 3, which lets you skip straight to the boss and end the run if you manage to get an Act 3 ? Room in under 13 minutes. Useful if you already have a good build.

* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' features a trio of achievements earned for speedrunning the game. "Speedrun 1" requires completing the game in ten hours, "Speedrun 2" requires completing the game in five hours[[note]]previously three hours[[/note]], and "Speedrun Completion" requires achieving OneHundredPercentCompletion [[note]]exactly 100% is required for the achievement, even though the maximum possible is 112%[[/note]]within twenty hours.

* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' features a trio of achievements earned for speedrunning the game. "Speedrun One" requires completing the game in five hours, "Speedrun Two" requires completing the game in three hours, and "Speedrun Completion" requires achieving OneHundredPercentCompletion within twenty hours.

** Beating Mom in under 20 minutes grants access to the special Boss Rush room, giving you two choices of multiple items, before and after the rush.

** In Afterbirth, defeating Mom's Heart/It Lives in under 30 minutes grants access to The Blue Womb and the Bonus Boss Hush.

* One of the Steam achievements in ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' is actually called "Speed Run". To get the achievement, the player will need to keep progressing in the game faster and faster- by submitting the code to the office elevator before the Narrator can say it and doing the ending enough times for him to automatically open the elevator door, and jump to the platforms instead of waiting for them, you can rush the story fast enough to complete the Speed Run. This only applies to the "Freedom Ending", as it's the "real" story of the game.