Elden Ring Boss Battles Elevated: A Saxophone Speedrun Spectacle at AGDQ 2023

Awesome Games Done Quick has “come to an exhilarating finish,” raising a record-breaking $2,556,305 – equivalent to £2.1 million – for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

The week-long fundraiser concluded last night with a speedrun of Gigantic Metroid after drawing over 2000 in-person participants and “tens of thousands” of viewers on Twitch.

Speedrunners arrived from all corners of the globe to “race through an array of games both new and old,” often featuring “quirky incentives and challenges to encourage donations,” including a live concert during Crazy Taxi, where Dr. Doot performed Elden Ring using a saxophone as a controller – displayed above – and an operatic performance by professional vocalist Xem following his Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando run.

You can also watch FunkopotamusWes’s gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. Wii using his head and feet through motion controls while playing the piano.

Since 2010, Games Done Quick has generated over $54 million (£44.2 million) for charities globally, including Doctors Without Borders, Malala Fund, Organization for Autism Research, and more.

Upcoming is Back to Black, the first all-black speedrunning charity event, scheduled for February 6-9, benefiting racial justice nonprofit Race Forward. Summer Games Done Quick will return to Minneapolis, Minnesota to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders in July.

Last year, Shiba Inu Peanut Butter became the first dog to speedrun a game during Awesome Games Done Quick.

Peanut Butter speedran Gyromite, a