Timeline:
Humans love competition. They love being first and the fastest. Naturally, the name “speedrun” was first used as an analogy to the sport of running, with obvious connections to track and field competitions and other races. There is no doubt that for any game in existence, somebody has raced somebody else to finish it first or get the highest score. Additionally, speedrunning has never been completely centralized, despite attempts by some to do so in recent years. As a result, any timeline of speedrun history is incomplete. The following is our timeline of significant events in speedrun history in addition to some notable events in videogame history generally, especially the release of games with a significant speedrunning community. If you're looking for a video covering many of these events, check out Speedrunning: The Documentary by retro.
1977
Drag Race released.
1978
Space Invaders released.
1979
Asteroids released.
Galaxian released.
1980
Dragster, a re-release of Drag Race, released by Activision.
Pac-Man released.
1981
Donkey Kong released.
Galaga released.
Ultima released.
1982
Todd Rogers claims a 5.51 in Dragster.
Ms. Pac Man released.
Q*Bert released.
1983
The “gaming crash” of 1983.
Mario Bros. released.
Punch-Out!! released.
1984
Tetris released.
1985
Super Mario Bros released for the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom.
Bomberman released for the NES.
Paperboy released.
1986
The Legend of Zelda released in Japan for the Famicom.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels released as Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Famicom.
Dragon Quest released.
Kid Icarus released in Japan for the Famicom.
1987
Contra released.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link released in Japan.
Final Fantasy released in Japan for the Famicom.
1988
Super Mario Bros. 2 released for the NES (later released as Super Mario Bros. USA in Japan).
Super Mario Bros. 3 released for the Famicom.
1989
Super Mario Land released on Game Boy.
Golden Axe released.
Phantasy Star II released.
1990
Super Mario World is released for the Super Nintendo.
Commander Keen released for the PC.
1991
Street Fighter II released.
Sonic the Hedgehog released for the Genesis.
1992
Japanese magazine Famitsu hosts a gaming challenge inviting readers to send in VHS tapes.
Wolfenstein 3D released for MS-DOS.
Super Mario Kart released.
Kirby's Dream Land released for Game Boy.
1993
Doom released by id Software for MS-DOS. Doom includes an in-game timer with “Par” times set by John Romero, one of the creators.
1994
COMPET-N website launched, devoted to Doom speedruns.
Donkey Kong Country released.
Super Metroid released.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena released.
Doom II released.
1995
GameFAQs.com launches as a centralized online source for game walkthroughs and trivia.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island released for the SNES.
Donkey Kong Country 2 release for the SNES.
Chrono Trigger released.
1996
Super Mario 64 released for the Nintendo 64.
Quake released for PC, developed by id Software.
Pokemon Red and Green (later Blue) released in Japan.
Super Mario RPG released.
Resident Evil released.
Diablo released.
1997
Quake Done Quick is released by Radix, a segmented run performed by many Quake players.
Quake II released.
Mario Kart 64 released.
Goldeneye 007 released.
Grand Theft Auto released.
1998
Speed Demos Archive created by Radix.
Banjo-Kazooie released.
Metal Gear Solid released.
Half-Life released.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time released.
1999
Doomworld.com TAS section is created.
Billy Mitchell claims the first "perfect" score in Pac-Man.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater released.
Pokemon Gold, Yellow, and Silver are released.
Shenmue is released in Japan.
2000
Pokemon Crystal is released in Japan.
Deus Ex is released.
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is released.
The Sims is released.
2001
Dragon Quest 4 Extreme Research Database and Ultima Garden Database launched by Japanese speedrunners.
2002
The-Elite.net founded as a home for Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark speedrun rankings.
2003
Metroid 2002.com launched for Metroid Prime speedruns.
NESVideos.org (renamed TASVideos.org in 2006) launched by Bisqwit.
2006
NicoNicoLive launched for live webstreaming, primarily in Japan.
2007
Ustream (now IBM Cloud Video) is launched and used by many speedrunners to stream their games.
Justin.tv is launched for live webstreaming.
2008
TheSpeedGamers (now TSG.tv) host their first charity marathon, raising over $1,000 while playing the Legend of Zelda.
2009
SDA controversy – Save-warping ban and community splintering
2010
Classic Games Done Quick – Hosted by Mike Uyama, livestreamed on Ustream
2011
Twitch.tv is launched by Justin.tv, dedicated to gaming.
2012
Leaderboard added to Zeldaspeedruns.com
Deertier.com is launched to host Super Metroid runs.
2013
2014
Awesome Games Done Quick raises over $1 million
SpeedrunsLive.com tries to create an expanded leaderboard, fails
SpeedrunRecords.com, later speedrun.com, created as a centralized place
2016
Marioruns.com closes.
2017
2018
Billy Mitchell found to have cheated and has many scores removed.
2019
Speedrun-History.com launches.