Why Speedrun Donkey Kong 64?

Donkey Kong 64 is a massive game — 201 Golden Bananas, 40 Banana Medals, 10 Boss Keys, and a sprawling world with five playable Kongs. That scope makes it both a daunting challenge and a fascinating speedrunning subject. Whether you want to blitz through it in under two hours or spend days optimizing every last collectible, there's a category for you.

The Main Categories

Any% (No Major Glitches)

The most accessible entry point for new runners. The goal is simply to defeat K. Rool and reach the credits as fast as possible without using major out-of-bounds glitches. This category features clean routing, well-documented strats, and a healthy community of runners at all skill levels.

  • Approx. time range: Under 3 hours for beginners, under 2 hours for experienced runners
  • Key focus: Efficient world order, skip known cutscenes, minimize backtracking

Any% (Glitches Allowed)

This is where things get wild. Runners exploit a range of tricks including tag anywhere, out-of-bounds movement, and storage glitches to dramatically cut time. This category requires deep game knowledge and precise execution.

  • Notable tricks: Tag Anywhere, Bonus Barrel Storage, Aztec Lobby Skip
  • Best for: Runners who've already mastered NMG and want a new challenge

101% (All Collectibles)

The ultimate test. 101% requires collecting every Golden Banana, Banana Medal, Boss Key, Crown, and Fairy while also completing Jetpac and defeating K. Rool. Runs can exceed six hours. This category rewards encyclopedic game knowledge and flawless routing above all else.

  • Approx. time: 5–8 hours depending on skill level
  • Key focus: Memorizing all 201 banana locations, efficient multi-Kong routing

Individual Level (IL) Runs

Instead of a full game run, IL runners focus on a single world — Jungle Japes, Angry Aztec, and so on — trying to collect all items in that world as fast as possible. Great for practice and for players who want to contribute records without committing to full-game runs.

Glitches Worth Learning Early

  1. Vine Clipping: Allows Kongs to pass through certain barriers using vine swings. Relatively easy to learn.
  2. Orangstand Sprint Cancel: Lanky-specific movement optimization to maintain speed.
  3. Bonus Barrel Storage: Advanced trick that stores a bonus barrel state to access locked areas.

Resources for Getting Started

  • Speedrun.com/dk64: The official leaderboard with guides, Discord links, and run submissions.
  • YouTube: Watch WR runs and tutorial videos to understand route decisions before you start routing yourself.
  • Practice ROMs: The community has created practice ROM hacks that let you teleport to any area for isolated tech practice.

Which Category Should You Start With?

If you're brand new, start with Any% NMG. It teaches you the game's flow, world connections, and basic routing without overwhelming you with glitch tech. Once you've got a few clean runs under your belt, branch out into glitched categories or start working toward 101%.

The DK64 speedrunning community is welcoming to newcomers — don't hesitate to jump in a Discord and ask for route notes or a review of your first run.