Ash Parrish is a reporter who covers the business, culture, and communities of video games, with a focus on marginalized gamers and the quirky, horny culture of video game communities.

Grab your grill, your hot dogs, and your sparklers because it’s time to celebrate… Summer Games Done Quick 2025. The annual speedrunning charity marathon benefitting Doctors without Borders is back starting July 6th and finishes July 12th. Here’s how and most importantly what to watch as you enjoy the reason for the speedrunning season.

Summer Games Done Quick 2025 starts on Sunday July 6th at 1:30 PM ET on Twitch. Games Done Quick’s YouTube channel will have VODs up typically within a few short hours after the run completes so don’t worry if you miss anything live. There’s interesting runs every day during primetime so always check the schedule for what’s going on. You should also check in during off-hours and in the middle of the day because that’s how you find the hidden gems like LRock617’s run of Batman Forever: The Arcade Game at AGDQ 2025.

As for runs I’m excited about, there’s a Blue Prince race late Monday night July 7th, a Titanfall 2 race on Wednesday July 9th, and a Balatro run I will be seated for on Friday July 11th. For this year’s finale on Saturday, there will be a bonus run of Mario Kart World Knockout races and Deltarune Chapter 1 and 2. With the way I know GDQ works, I have a sneaking suspicion there will be a bonus incentive to donate towards that, if met, will unlock a run of Deltarune Chapter 3 and 4 as well. I hope I’m right.

With all the tumult going on in the video game industry right now it’s helpful to have something positive to turn to. That’s what Summer Games Done Quick is for. And this year, it’s needed more than ever as something to remind us that despite everything, video games, the people who make them, and the community, are pretty dang cool.