AGDQ 2026 Showcased the Kindness of Gaming

For years, I’ve followed the Games Done Quick channel on Twitch, watching various AGDQ (Awesome Games Done Quick) and SGDQ (Summer Games Done Quick) events. This year, however, watching AGDQ 2026 started as a need to escape the darkness that seems to hang over the news cycle lately. After last week’s marathon of speedrunning benefitting the Prevent Cancer Foundation, I’ve felt renewed in my faith in the gaming community.

250 unique speedrunners took part this year in an event that ran for a solid week and raised $2,443,414 (at the time of writing) for Prevent Cancer Foundation. The foundation not only funds research but also programs for early detection and prevention to reduce fatalities due to cancer. However, not only was this event a beautiful thing for people who have been touched by cancer, but there was a second aspect of it that really touched me.

A large portion of the speedrunners this year were either LGBTQIA+ or were part of many different gaming communities. GDQ’s all-black speedrunning group “Black in a Flash” took part in various forms, as well as their women-focused “Frame Fatales,” both of which are trans-inclusive. Throughout the event, many donations had comments such as “Trans Rights!” and many other welcoming and inclusive words of comfort and care.

Sometimes we see the ugly side of gaming. Whether that is people being rude in multiplayer lobbies, CEOs laying off developers, or sexual assault allegations from prominent figures. However, this event reminded me that even though we all struggle sometimes, as a group, the gaming community (and its various communities spread out over the internet worldwide) can do great things when we work together.

Games Done Quick has content (big and small) via events all year round. They’re always fundraising for various important causes, but no matter what they are raising money for, they come together to have fun with things while raising money. All throughout the event, there were moments of pure joy and a sense of community throughout the entire week.

As the people at AGDQ often say, doing good is best done together. Part of my goal for Phenixx Gaming has always been to bring folks together, and it is events like this that recharge my batteries and inspire me to find ways (big and small) to do more for others. Gaming isn’t just a hobby or a piece of entertainment. It can be a force for good and for helping others, too.

No matter how dark things get, remember that we can do good together. The world is a scary place, but it is less so when we stand shoulder to shoulder and face things together. I’m excited for more Games Done Quick content this year, but aside from that, this makes me feel excited to just face what comes next in general. Let us make 2026 a year of kindness in gaming, or at least try to do good by others if we can.