Games Done Quick is an event series with an excellent premise. Speedrunners showcase their craft to a wider audience to generate excitement for donating to the Prevent Cancer Foundation (during Awesome Games Done Quick) or Doctors Without Borders (during Summer Games Done Quick).
And it works! The crowd certainly gets into it throughout the event, especially as the finale approaches. However, for a variety of factors (ie: not currently interested in becoming a speedrunner myself and therefore being in spectator mode the whole time, along with the event taking up a whole week of time I would have to block out), I don't find attending a GDQ in person to be a particularly good value proposition. As a result, I have no real insight into what goes on at GDQ outside what's seen on camera (ie: the main ballroom).
An alarm went off when I saw this shit:
We have absolutely crushed any Malört record of GDQ. Our feat will live in the history books and… NEVER AGAIN
— TimLoafy 🍞 (@loafy.io) January 11, 2026 at 2:11 AM
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What is going on! Why are there not one, but multiple niche gaming communities obsessed with the worst spirit ever made?
I was first alerted to the existence of Malort by fighting gamers discussing plans to attend future Combo Breakers and/or Frosty Faustingses. Being distilled in Chicago, it makes sense that CB and FF are ground zero for its peddling in FGC spaces. Chicago has never hosted a GDQ event.
Funnily enough, after having survived one FF and four CBs without being offered Malort, it finally got offered to me at the last Climax of Night (in Atlanta). I declined, just like I declined every other drop of alcohol during that event, which ultimately motivated me to kick the habit for good.