New WR Falls in Kid Chameleon 100% Category
A months-old world record was broken this week thanks to a previously unknown skip in the game's fifth transformation stage. We break down the route.
Chasing World Records Across Platformer History
We catalog frame-perfect runs, obscure categories, and the routes that redefined what's possible in dozens of beloved platformers.
Browse RecordsSpeedrunning FAQ
Questions we hear from the community, answered with the routing details that matter.
What counts as a verified world record on this catalog?
We list runs that have been reviewed by category moderators or platform staff, with visible timers, clean splits, and full video evidence. Unverified submissions are flagged separately until confirmed by the community.
Do you cover any% and 100% categories equally?
Yes. Any% runs get more traffic, but we give equal editorial space to 100%, low%, and glitchless categories since they often involve entirely different routing philosophies and skill sets.
How often is the database updated?
Notable runs get added within days of verification. We also do quarterly deep-dive audits on older platformers to catch routing improvements or record resets we may have missed.
Can I submit a run for the catalog?
We welcome submissions from runners with public VODs and full-game footage. Include your category, timing method, and any known route deviations so our contributors can review it properly.
Do you cover TAS runs alongside live speedruns?
We keep TAS entries in a clearly separate section from human-verified runs, since the two communities use different tools and standards. Both get respectful, dedicated coverage.
Ready to Dig Into the Splits?
Explore routing breakdowns, category histories, and the runners rewriting platformer records week after week.
What Runners and Readers Say
Their breakdown of the low% route for Rocket Knight actually changed how I approached my own practice segments. Saved me weeks of trial and error on the third stage.
I've followed a lot of speedrun coverage and this is one of the few sites that gets the routing terminology right without dumbing it down for clicks.
They covered a category reset on a game most sites ignore entirely. Felt good to see obscure platformers get the same respect as the big names.
Why Runners Read West Coast Gaming
Built by people who track splits, not just headlines
Fast Record Updates
New verified world records and category resets get logged within days, so the catalog reflects the current state of the leaderboard.
Full Routing Breakdowns
We go beyond final times and explain the skips, glitches, and route choices that separate a good run from a record-setting one.
Runner-Sourced Insight
Many entries are reviewed with input from active runners in the relevant category, keeping the terminology and details accurate.
Category Diversity
Coverage spans any%, 100%, glitchless, and low% categories, not just the most-viewed speedrun style for each game.
Notable Runs in the Catalog
A sample of the categories and platformers currently tracked
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01
Rocket Knight Adventures — Any%
A tight 16-bit platformer known for its brutal acceleration sections; current WR route relies on a frame-window dash-cancel discovered in recent seasons.
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02
Alex Kidd in Miracle World — Glitchless
An early Sega platformer whose glitchless category has seen steady improvement as runners refine boss-pattern manipulation without exploits.
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03
Kid Chameleon — 100%
A sprawling level-select platformer where full-completion runs require memorizing dozens of transformation items across branching stage paths.
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04
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure — Any%
Often overlooked in speedrun circles, this run has quietly improved thanks to precise jump-arc routing through its swamp levels.
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05
Ristar — Low%
A stretchy-armed platformer whose low% category strips away most upgrades, forcing runners into far riskier boss encounters.
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06
Bonanza Bros. — Co-op Any%
One of the few tracked co-op categories, where synchronized routing between two runners can shave real time off a solo run.
Fresh From the Archive
Recent write-ups on routes, records, and the runners behind them
Why Ristar's Low% Category Rewards Precision Over Speed
Low% runners sacrifice power-ups for tighter margins. We look at how top runners manage boss fights with a fraction of the usual toolkit.
The Runner Behind Rocket Knight's Fastest Any%
A conversation about frame-window tech, thousands of practice resets, and what it took to shave four seconds off a long-standing record.
How Glitchless Rules Reshaped Alex Kidd Runs
A look back at when the community split glitchless from any%, and how that decision changed routing strategy for an entire generation of runners.
Reading a Splits Comparison Like a Runner Does
A short primer on interpreting split timers and segment deltas for readers new to following speedrun leaderboards and live attempts.