Video games Accomplished Fast, the biannual charity speedrunning occasion at the moment happening proper now, not solely helps organizations just like the Stop Most cancers Basis and Medical doctors With out Borders — it helps indie video games get seen, too. Indie recreation builders face an unimaginable uphill battle not solely getting their initiatives funded, accomplished, and launched, however found as nicely. Occasions like GDQ is usually a boon to builders, exposing tens of 1000’s of viewers to little-known video games like Bat to the Heavens, Small Saga, and extra.
“It was extraordinarily thrilling,” stated 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 not leap. Bat to the Heavens is Ceroro’s first official recreation and was launched in 2024. It was featured throughout Superior Video games Accomplished Fast 2026 and late final yr at RTA in Japan. Ceroro stated that whereas her recreation has been typically profitable, getting on GDQ gave it a giant increase. “Proper after the AGDQ run, there was a big burst in gross sales and wishlists I haven’t seen since I initially launched the sport!” she stated.
Solo developer Darya Noghani stated Small Saga, her turn-based RPG a few mouse who desires to kill god, bought a pleasant uptick in consideration after being featured at GDQ as nicely. “A lot of streamers performed the sport on Twitch, a number of commenters beneficial the sport on platforms like Bluesky, and there was a pleasant uptick in gross sales,” they stated.
However the consideration of getting your recreation run at a GDQ occasion can include a worth. “You’re in a state of apprehension,” stated Noghani. Speedrunners extensively exploit glitches and develop strategies to skip giant chunks of gameplay, which could present viewers a less-than-ideal model of the sport. “Runners are pushing the sport to interrupt specifically methods, and that is adjoining to the sport simply crashing and ruining the run.”
However Noghani additionally stated that the Small Saga run was comparatively glitch-free: “I’ll take that as a win.”
Generally a runner breaking a recreation is what the developer had in thoughts. “Exploits and glitches are one thing that faucets into the character of recreation design,” Ceroro stated. Whereas the Bat to the Heavens run additionally didn’t make intensive use of glitches, “Loads of the acute motion and strategies used within the run are just about inside bounds of the supposed design,” she stated.
Ceroro’s additionally not frightened that watching a speedrun of Bat to the Heavens will spoil the sport for potential new gamers. “The speedrun for Bat to the Heavens glided by too quick to really get an excellent understanding of the whole lot or how the sport truly feels, so it’ll be a shock to new gamers,” she stated.
Due to GDQ, new gamers are coming. However whereas all of the builders I spoke to had been happy with the newfound consideration and elevated gross sales, additionally they stated the non-public achievement of getting their recreation run at GDQ was simply as necessary.
“It’s been thrilling,” stated Noghani. “As a result of GDQ is genuinely well-loved by each gamers and builders, not only for its charitable causes, however due to the efforts they’ve taken to domesticate an uplifting group.”
GDQ is way beloved within the on-line gaming group. Over time, occasion runners have applied a top-down method to variety and inclusion, internet hosting a number of smaller occasions centered on highlighting streamers from marginalized backgrounds. GDQ has additionally fostered a group the place saying “trans rights” elicits the identical sort of enthusiastic response that an OSU alum would get shouting “O-H” in a crowded Columbus bar.
“Within the improvement group, it’s a large second,” stated Xalavier Nelson Jr., inventive director at House Warlord Organ Buying and selling Simulator developer Unusual Scaffold, which has had its video games featured in GDQ occasions. “I bought about as many congratulations for showing on Video games Accomplished Fast as I’ve for getting married. It’s that a lot of a touchstone — and that optimistic of an total occasion and group.”