Any%

Any% (said “any percent”) is a speedrun category in which the only goal is to reach the end of the game as quickly as possible. It does not matter what percentage of the game you complete along the way – hence “any” percent. Known bugs and glitches are generally allowed, so any% runs often look very different from normal play, with runners skipping whole sections, passing through walls or reaching the final area much earlier than intended.

It is the most common speedrunning category, and for many games the most popular one to watch.

Other common categories

• 100%: full completion of the game, such as collecting every item, though the exact definition is set by each game’s community.
• Glitchless: no glitches allowed, so the run follows the game as intended, played as fast as possible.
• Low%: finish while collecting as little as possible, which can require extremely precise play.
• All bosses, all levels and other game-specific categories: defined by what makes sense for each game.

Communities write detailed rules for each category, including what counts as the start and end of a run. These rules are usually listed on the game’s leaderboard page.

Why any% changes over time

Because any% allows almost anything, new discoveries can transform it. A newly found glitch or shortcut may cut a large chunk off the world record overnight, and runners then rebuild their routes around it. That is one reason communities often create “glitchless” or other restricted categories alongside any%, so the original style of play can still be compared fairly.

Trying it yourself

If you fancy having a go, glitchless categories in a game you already know well are a gentle start, since they rely on knowledge and practice rather than precise tricks. Remember that some glitches can corrupt save files, so use a separate save slot for experimenting.