AGDQ 2025 Surpasses $2.5M in Charity Donations

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 Raises Over $2.5 Million for Cancer Research

From January 5 to January 13, the Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2025 event achieved a remarkable feat by raising over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This impressive total surpassed the 2024 event's fundraising by more than $100,000, showcasing the community's continued dedication to the cause. The Prevent Cancer Foundation's mission centers on early cancer detection and prevention, as well as funding vital research and outreach programs. This event marked yet another successful collaboration between Games Done Quick and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, contributing to over $26 million raised across multiple GDQ runs.

Held annually in January, Awesome Games Done Quick is one of the two flagship events organized by GDQ, with Summer Games Done Quick taking place in July. AGDQ 2025 was hosted in Pittsburgh and kicked off with a swift run of the Switch version of Pikmin by speedrunner Ray0ken, completed within an hour.

Highlights of AGDQ 2025

The event featured speedruns from a diverse array of games, including Super Metroid and Crazy Taxi. One standout moment was the 18-minute run of Crazy Taxi, a beloved Dreamcast title. Speedrunner Chuckles825 was accompanied by a live band that performed covers of the game's copyrighted music, allowing for a seamless streaming experience. This innovative approach not only captivated the audience but also raised over $24,000 in donations.

The final event of AGDQ 2025 was a thrilling, randomized, four-player race of the SNES classic Super Metroid. The race concluded with an incredibly close finish, as runners Eddie and Andy crossed the finish line within one second of each other, adding to the excitement of the event.

Additional GDQ Events

Beyond the mainline events, GDQ regularly hosts smaller marathons such as Frame Fatales and GDQ Express to keep the community engaged throughout the year. In October 2024, GDQ responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the Southeastern US with an impromptu Disaster Relief Done Quick event. Over the course of just over two days, the event raised more than $45,000 for Direct Relief, a charity focused on providing emergency supplies, transportation, and medical response in disaster-stricken areas.

Looking Ahead

GDQ will continue its efforts with Summer Games Done Quick 2025, set to take place in Minneapolis from July 6. This upcoming event will support Doctors Without Borders, continuing GDQ's tradition of using the power of speedrunning to make a positive impact on the world.