Speedrunning Pokémon Red and other classic titles is tough. Players aim to finish these games as fast as possible, going beyond just completing the story or catching all Pokémon. They want to set new records.
In 2021, a speedrunner known as Hwangbro set an impressive record of 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 5 seconds. No one thought it was possible to beat this. But things changed on January 25.
Pokeguy, a speedrunner who almost beat Hwangbro’s time in 2022, managed to crush the old record by over a minute, landing at 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds. He didn’t use new tricks. He just played smarter and had a bit of luck.
Fans of speedrunning called this attempt everything from “legendary” and “amazing” to the “greatest world record in Pokémon Speedrunning.” Even Hwangbro admitted this run might never be topped. Though people thought the same about the previous record, speedrunners often find a way to surprise us.
Finding new glitches could help beat this time. But with the game being over 20 years old, chances seem slim. Pokémon Red speedrunners looking for a world record might need to try a different game. Luckily, the Pokémon series has plenty of options.