Hey fellow speed demons! If you're anything like me, the thrill of shaving milliseconds off a run, mastering intricate glitches, and pushing games to their absolute limits is what gets you out of bed. The Resident Evil 4 Remake has been a hotbed for speedrunning action, and the Any% NG+ category is no exception. The current world record, a blistering 1:25:59, is a testament to incredible skill and deep game knowledge. But how was it achieved? What strats, skips, and sacrifices were made to shave every possible second off the clock? In this deep dive, we're going to break down exactly what it takes to achieve a run like this, dissecting the route, the key tricks, and what you need to do if you want to challenge the top spots.
Table of Contents

What is Any% NG+ Speedrunning?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the record, let's clarify what we're talking about. Any% means completing the game using any means necessary, with no restrictions on items, glitches, or exploits. The "NG+" (New Game Plus) modifier is crucial here. It signifies that the run starts with all the protagonist's upgrades and inventory carried over from a previous playthrough. This is a massive advantage, allowing access to powerful weapons and abilities from the get-go, fundamentally changing the game's pacing and enabling strats that wouldn't be possible in a fresh save.
The Current World Record: 1:25:59
The time to beat is currently held by the legendary speedrunner “RE4NG+”. This isn't just a fast time; it's a masterclass in execution, route optimization, and leveraging the game's mechanics to their absolute breaking point. Achieving this time requires near-perfect runs through every section, precise inputs, and a deep understanding of enemy AI and environmental interactions. It's a demonstration of countless hours of practice and dedication.
The Route: Optimal Path and Strategies
The backbone of any successful speedrun is the route. For the Resident Evil 4 Remake Any% NG+ category, the route is meticulously designed to bypass as much of the game as possible. “RE4NG+”’s record run utilizes a combination of known skips and newly discovered exploits to shave off critical minutes.
The general flow often starts with a rapid traversal of the initial village sequence, often skipping combat encounters entirely. In the original game, this was a huge time save, and the remake also allows for significant skips here with the right movement and crowd control. Instead of engaging every Ganado, the runner focuses on pure movement and using specific tools to clear mandatory enemy groups as efficiently as possible. For instance, well-placed grenades can decimate tight clusters of enemies, saving precious seconds that would otherwise be spent on individual eliminations.
Key sections like the Salazar statue puzzles and the entire Ashley escort segments are prime targets for skips. These are often the most time-consuming parts of a normal playthrough, and in a speedrun, they become critical choke points that must be bypassed or minimized. The strategy often involves precise positioning and exploiting enemy AI to either ignore the player or be manipulated into positions where they can be dispatched instantly.
Optimization extends to every single action. This includes:
- Precise Aiming and Movement: Landing headshots consistently, even while moving, is paramount. Fast movement tech, like bunny hopping or slide cancels (if applicable in the remake's mechanics), is essential to maintain momentum.
- Grenade Usage: Strategic placement and timing of grenades are vital for clearing groups of enemies quickly without resorting to slower weapon fire.
- Weapon Selection and Upgrades: The NG+ advantage allows for powerful starting gear. Choosing the right weapon for specific encounters (e.g., the TMP for rapid fire, the Striker for crowd control) and ensuring they are optimally upgraded is key.
The ability to use all your NG+ upgrades is a game-changer. It means you can tackle encounters with weapons that would normally take dozens of hours to acquire and fully upgrade. This allows for aggressive strategies that bypass entire combat scenarios.
Key Skips and Glitches
The magic of speedrunning often lies in the glitches and skips that break the intended game progression. In Resident Evil 4 Remake, particularly in the Any% NG+ category, these are absolutely essential. While the specifics can evolve as runners discover new exploits, some common targets include:
- Village Skip: Early in the game, finding a way to bypass the initial waves of enemies and progress to the next area much faster than intended. This often involves precise movement through specific environmental triggers.
- Salazar Skip: Lord Salazar's section in the castle is notoriously long. Runners have developed techniques to bypass large portions of his boss fight or the preceding puzzles, often by manipulating the game's trigger points or using specific item placements.
- Ashley Section Skips: Protecting Ashley can be a major time sink. Strategies often involve manipulating her AI to follow the player quickly, or in some cases, finding ways to bypass trigger events that require her presence.
- Wall Breaches and Out-of-Bounds (OOB) Exploits: Some runs may involve finding unintended paths through the game's geometry, allowing players to skip entire levels or boss fights by moving outside the playable map boundaries.
The discovery and perfect execution of these skips are what separate good runs from world-record contenders. It requires not only understanding the glitch but also knowing the exact frame-perfect inputs or environmental interactions needed to trigger it consistently.
Mastering the specific grenade throws for optimal enemy grouping and damage is an art form in itself. One misplaced grenade can cost you valuable seconds.
Tips and Tricks for Aspiring Speedrunners
Thinking of jumping into the Resident Evil 4 Remake Any% NG+ scene? It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding category. Here’s how you can get started and improve:
- Study the Pros: Watch VODs of the current record holder (“RE4NG+”) and other top runners. Pay close attention to their movement, enemy engagement (or lack thereof), and how they execute skips. Websites like Speedrun.com are invaluable resources for this.
- Learn the Skips: Dedicate time to practicing individual skips. You can often find tutorials for specific glitches on YouTube or speedrunning forums. Start by getting them to work consistently in practice mode or on a save file.
- Master Movement: Precise control over Leon's movement is critical. Practice running, turning, and strafing efficiently. Learn any advanced movement tech the community has discovered for the remake.
- Weapon Specialization: Understand which weapons excel in NG+ for speedrunning. The TMP is often favored for its high rate of fire, and the Striker shotgun can be devastating for crowd control. Ensure you know the optimal upgrade paths for these weapons.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Speedrunning is a grind. Don't get discouraged by failed attempts. Every run, even a bad one, teaches you something. Focus on improving one section at a time.
- Join the Community: Engage with other runners! Discord servers dedicated to Resident Evil 4 Remake speedrunning are fantastic places to ask questions, share strategies, and get feedback.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to beat Resident Evil 4 Remake in NG+?
The fastest known method is the Any% NG+ speedrun, aiming to complete the game as quickly as possible using all available glitches and skips. The current world record is 1:25:59.
Do I need to play the game normally before attempting NG+ speedruns?
Yes, you need to complete the game at least once to unlock the New Game Plus option and carry over your upgrades. For speedrunning, you'll want to unlock powerful weapons and treasure combinations.
What are the most important glitches for Resident Evil 4 Remake speedruns?
Key glitches often include various forms of skips (like the Village Skip or Salazar Skip), out-of-bounds exploits, and enemy manipulation techniques. These vary as new discoveries are made.
Is NG+ speedrunning harder than regular Any%?
It can be different. While NG+ provides powerful gear, the routes often rely on more complex glitches and precise execution due to the altered game state. The core challenge is always optimization and execution.
Where can I find the latest Resident Evil 4 Remake speedrun strategies?
Websites like Speedrun.com are the primary hubs for leaderboards and discovered strategies. Joining community Discords dedicated to the game's speedrunning is also highly recommended.
The Resident Evil 4 Remake Any% NG+ World Record of 1:25:59 is a monumental achievement, showcasing the pinnacle of skill and dedication within the speedrunning community. Whether you're aiming to replicate it, beat your personal best, or simply understand the incredible feats players can achieve, it's a fascinating category to follow. The constant innovation in strats and the pursuit of perfection make this a thrilling time to be a fan of both Resident Evil and speedrunning.
What are your thoughts on this record? Have you tried any NG+ speedruns yourself? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion on our Discord server! We love to hear from our community of hardcore gamers and speedrunners.