The Ethics of Speedrunning: Is Exploiting Glitches Cheating?

17 December 2025

Speedrunning—where gamers aim to complete a game as quickly as possible—has become a phenomenon in the gaming world. It’s more than just a hobby; it’s a competitive art form. Watching someone blaze through your favorite video game in a fraction of the time you took to finish it is oddly mesmerizing. But there’s always been a question lurking in the shadows of this growing community: is exploiting glitches in speedrunning cheating?

It’s a debate that divides gamers and fans alike. For some, glitches are a legitimate part of the game’s mechanics. For others, they’re an unfair shortcut that undermines the spirit of the challenge. Let's dive into this topic and break it down step by step.

What Exactly Is Speedrunning?

Before we go knee-deep into the arguments, let’s clarify what speedrunning is for those who might not be entirely familiar. At its core, speedrunning is the art of completing a game as quickly as humanly possible—or, in many cases, faster than humanly possible, thanks to the use of impressive techniques like frame-perfect inputs or tool-assisted runs (TAS).

Imagine trying to finish a game like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 20 minutes when your first playthrough took dozens of hours. Speedrunning isn’t just about playing fast—it’s about mastering a game inside and out, dissecting its mechanics, and finding the most efficient path to the end credits.

Speedrunning comes in flavors, or "categories," which include:
- Any%: Finish the game as fast as possible by any means necessary, glitches included.
- 100%: Complete every aspect of the game (collectibles, side quests, etc.) while still aiming for speed.
- Glitchless: Finish the game without exploiting glitches or unintended mechanics.

Each category has different rules, and these distinctions are crucial in the ethics debate about glitches.

What Counts as a Glitch?

So, here’s the thing—what even qualifies as a glitch? A "glitch" is an unintended behavior or bug in a game’s code. Developers didn’t plan for it, but it’s there because, hey, nobody’s perfect.

Glitches can vary wildly. Some are harmless, like walking through a wall that wasn’t coded properly. Others can be game-breaking, letting players skip huge chunks of the game or achieve impossible feats. For example:
- In Super Mario 64, the "Backwards Long Jump" (BLJ) lets players bypass locked doors and finish the game in mere minutes.
- In Minecraft, glitches like "chunk duplication" allow players to generate infinite resources.

Now, glitches aren’t inherently good or bad. They’re just… there. But the moment you start using them to alter gameplay, especially in speedrunning, the ethics discussion kicks in.

The Case For Exploiting Glitches

Here’s why some speedrunners think exploiting glitches is totally fair game:

1. Glitches Are Part of the Game

If a glitch exists in a game, isn’t it technically part of the game’s design, even if it’s unintended? Gamers often argue that if developers didn’t patch a glitch, it becomes fair to use—like a loophole in the system. Think of it like finding a secret shortcut on a racetrack. You didn’t build the track, but you found a way to use it to your advantage.

2. Glitches Require Skill

Let’s not sugarcoat it—pulling off glitches in speedrunning often takes serious skill. We’re talking about precise inputs, timing, and even an intimate understanding of how the game’s code works. It’s not "press a button and win." Some glitches are so complicated that they require hours of practice to nail consistently.

3. It’s Allowed in Certain Categories

Remember those speedrunning categories we mentioned earlier? Glitches are part of the deal in "Any%" runs. If the rules allow it, how can it be considered cheating? It’s a level playing field where everyone competing in that category has access to the same tools, including glitches.

The Case Against Exploiting Glitches

On the flip side, there’s a solid argument that glitch exploitation is against the spirit of speedrunning. Here’s why:

1. It’s Not "Playing the Game" Properly

Critics argue that glitches let players bypass the actual content of a game. Think about it: if you’re using a trick to skip entire levels or mechanics, are you really "beating" the game? For traditionalists, speedrunning should be about mastering gameplay as it was intended, not finding loopholes.

2. It Can Alienate Casual Players

Let’s be real—watching a speedrun filled with glitches can be confusing or underwhelming for someone who doesn’t understand what’s going on. If someone’s zipping through walls or clipping into weird areas, it might feel less impressive than watching a clean, glitchless run.

3. It Feels Like Breaking the Rules

To some, exploiting glitches just feels… wrong. It’s like using cheat codes or hacks, even though it’s technically within the game. For purists, it undermines the hard work that developers put into designing the game, turning it into an exercise in bug-hunting rather than skillful gameplay.

So, Is It Cheating?

Here’s the million-dollar question: is exploiting glitches cheating? The answer isn’t black and white—it depends on context and personal philosophy.

1. It’s All About Agreement in the Community

In speedrunning, the community sets the rules. If a specific category allows glitches, then it’s not cheating within that context. But if you’re competing in a "glitchless" run and you use a glitch, that’s 100% cheating—no question about it.

2. Intent Matters

Cheating often implies malicious intent, like deliberately breaking rules to gain an unfair advantage. In most cases, speedrunners aren’t trying to cheat; they’re pushing the boundaries of the game and testing its limits. It’s a creative exploration as much as it is a competition.

3. The Ethics Are Subjective

Ultimately, whether you see glitch exploitation as cheating comes down to personal values. Do you see speedrunning as an art form where anything goes? Or do you think it should stick to the intended experience?

The Role of Developers

Interestingly, developers themselves have a big role in the discussion. Some embrace speedrunning and glitches. For instance, the creators of Celeste even included tools to help speedrunners practice certain sections. Others, however, actively patch glitches to prevent exploitation, essentially closing the loopholes.

When developers acknowledge and support speedrunning, it adds legitimacy to the practice—glitches and all. But when they patch out bugs or explicitly disallow certain techniques, it shifts the ethics conversation.

Conclusion: A Balancing Act

At the end of the day, the ethics of speedrunning is a balancing act between creativity and integrity. Exploiting glitches isn’t inherently cheating—it’s a skillful use of the tools available. But for those who believe in pure, unaltered gameplay, it can feel like cutting corners.

Speedrunning is, above all else, a testament to the passion and dedication of gamers. Whether you’re glitch-hopping through walls or perfecting a glitchless route, the real beauty of speedrunning lies in the community’s love for gaming and the shared excitement of chasing impossible goals.

And isn’t that what gaming is all about—finding joy in the challenge, however you choose to tackle it?