10 Non-Racing Games With Fun Time Trials

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These activities, be it Time Trials, Time Attacks, or solo runs, essentially motivate you to speed up through specific sections within a game, typically found in racing titles, for each distinct track.

As a gamer, I don’t just stick to racing games. There are a plethora of games out there that challenge me to speed up and have a blast. These games keep tabs on my performance times and compare them, either with the developers’ top scores or against all my gaming buddies online.

In many cases, it’s the platformer genre that incorporates this feature, and it’s particularly prevalent within the independent gaming sector. Speedrunning, which is a form of competition, is often fostered in these games, making it an exciting and enjoyable experience for players.

I’m interested in exploring several speed-focused games that rate their enjoyment factor for quick play and help me consistently improve my level completion times by shaving milliseconds off them.

10.
Super Mario Odyssey

Freerunning Forever

In my opinion, it would have been even better if Super Mario Odyssey, the Mario game featuring the finest movement mechanics, offered more trials to test our control skills over Mario. However, the Koopa Freerunning challenges are undeniably enjoyable.

Typically, it involves a fast-paced journey across the nation, where you compete against several Koopas with varying abilities. They are usually manageable to defeat unless you happen to make some mistakes along the way.

I find these incredibly enjoyable thanks to the online rankings, as they allow me to check my performance against friends, and the quality of this gameplay mode is exceptional, making it feel like a legitimate speedrunning contest.

Beyond this, Luigi’s Balloon World offers a unique experience as a “custom pace race mode.” In this setting, you can hunt for balloons set by other gamers within a specified duration, which I find thrilling since it doesn’t force me to venture beyond the boundaries.

9.
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy

Crazy Fast

Instead of stacking three distinct games together, it seems almost unfair yet enticing to include the Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy here. Notably, this compilation offers a time trial for every single level within the game, which sets it apart from many other entries due to its unique style.

As you navigate your way through the stage, a clock is always ticking. However, you have the ability to temporarily halt this timer by smashing crates, defeating enemies, or picking up additional timers scattered throughout the level. This means that strategically planning your path becomes crucial.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: It’s all about powering through each level at a steady clip, not veering off course too much, and taking down everything within reach that doesn’t require an excessive detour – a playstyle that feels right up Crash’s alley with his relentless, non-stop gaming style.

As an enthusiast, I appreciate the current format for time trials, but I can’t help but wish for a more refined experience. It would be fantastic if there were Platinum Times that take into account your actual gameplay speed, instead of solely relying on the in-game timer. Nonetheless, regardless of the approach, optimizing for the best results remains an engaging and enjoyable challenge, with a wealth of content to explore.

8.
Spark the Electric Jester 3

A Medal A Minute

As a fan, I find that Spark the Electric Jester 3 shares some similarities with Meat Boy in terms of level ranking, but what sets it apart is the intricate and challenging nature of its stages. The medals you earn are even more fulfilling because the levels are longer and require precise execution, making my victories feel all the more satisfying.

Additionally, due to its being a 3D environment, there’s a high risk of making mistakes. Let me clarify, it seems like Spark assumes you’ll navigate decently without meeting an untimely end, but achieving this can prove quite challenging.

Winning medals may not provide any physical benefits beyond a sense of accomplishment, yet their appeal lies in the joy of collecting them and seeing the count increase. Additionally, being challenged to fully utilize one’s skills is incredibly rewarding.

In this fast-paced game, expert players are constantly zooming at speeds equivalent to Mach 10, leaping from roof to roof, and even jumping onto moving trains. The continuous action-packed gameplay, which keeps the momentum going, makes earning these medals all the more captivating.

7.
A Hat in Time

Speedrun Mode Engaged

Despite the fact that A Hat in Time doesn’t offer time parameters for each level, it compensates with an exceptional speedrun timer and a Death Wish mode, which presents numerous speedrun challenges, compelling players either to move swiftly or face the consequences.

In this game, you’ll encounter several time trials, and to gain access to additional collectibles and customization options (which are great rewards), you should aim to complete these time trials faster than the quickest recorded time available. It’s something I appreciate in games, as it encourages speedy gameplay.

To clarify, most Death Wish levels aren’t the same as the challenges mentioned, and while the timer records your time for each stage individually, you must visit different websites to compare those times with others.

While I don’t particularly enjoy that aspect, what’s exciting is the introduction of an Online Party mode, which can be likened to a time trial race against numerous players. This feature, unique to my knowledge, isn’t commonly found in other games, making it quite intriguing.

6.
Antonblast

Sling Shot

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that Antonblast finally introduces a feature aptly named “Personal Time Challenges,” unlike the usual Time Trials by nomenclature alone. Unlike previous iterations, these challenges don’t lavish you with significant rewards, but they offer an exciting opportunity to test your skills against the clock!

As a gamer, let me tell you, the time limits they set are off the charts. They want us to perform at our best, find those precious bonus seconds tucked away in each level, and execute flawlessly every move. It’s quite a challenge!

Additionally, it’s important to note that this game won’t always follow a predictable pattern. This means you’ll need quick reflexes and the ability to adapt your strategy quickly if the enemies decide not to cooperate during any particular playthrough.

To put it simply, these trials offer a deeply gratifying experience within the game, primarily due to their extreme difficulty level. If you enjoy the adrenaline-pumping chase sequences from Wario Land, then you will find this even more thrilling.

5.
Portal 2

Incredible Optimization

In an alternative phrasing, Portal 2 allows you to play specific stages within the game and keeps track of your completion time, placing you among a league of players who have incredibly swift mouse clicking skills.

As a fan, I’d say instead of meticulously solving puzzles, this mode fundamentally changes the game experience, turning it into a fast-paced, action-packed dash where you swiftly teleport across rooms in mere moments.

The game isn’t primarily at fault, but it hosts the glitchiest leaderboard on the list. To stand a chance, you might need to master techniques like out-of-bounds play, reporting, and a handful of other advanced moves – they certainly have an impressive appeal.

Watching the top players on those highly optimized leaderboards engage in such close competition through swift flicking and portal use is truly exhilarating, despite the fact that I could never match their dedication to reach the top spots myself.

4.
Penny’s Big Breakaway

Roll The Tape

If your game is a fast-paced platformer that relies on momentum, it’s essential to include a thrilling time trial mode with global rankings. And remarkably, Penny’s Big Breakaway exceeds these criteria beautifully.

Experience one of the most thrilling time trials! The standout feature is the route design, which takes you soaring over unexpectedly accessible rooftops. The joy of hurtling across these structures and using your yo-yo for a soft landing as you roll towards the finish line is simply amazing.

In simpler terms, not having any reward for fast play or recognition for successfully completing levels makes me a little annoyed. If this game had as much emphasis on speed as the others on the list, it could easily be ranked number one.

Award random medals upon meeting a specific time limit in each level, and I guarantee you’ll be investing at least another 10 hours into this game. I’ve previously set the record for Wall Kick Wallop over a year ago; I plan to break it once more.

3.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Peel-Out

In the league of faster-paced games from SEGA, Super Monkey Ball often takes a supporting role alongside another franchise. The game’s levels are specifically designed for quick playthroughs, and the Banana Rumble mode excels at doling out rewards for swiftness.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say this game pretty much nails it. The challenge levels are spot on, each with a perfect par time that rewards points for every successful completion. And if you’re into speed runs or collecting all the goodies, there’s an exciting Time Attack mode designed specifically for snagging collectibles to shave off even more time from your clear times.

I appreciate the intriguing duality here, as many games include time attacks, and the outcome is often influenced by what items you collect within the level. Although this adds complexity to strategic planning (routing), it sometimes feels less straightforward or fair.

As much as I enjoy tossing characters like Hatsune Miku and others across the screen on my Sega Dreamcast, it’s a bummer that the game lacks online leaderboards. Just like playing Hat in Time, I find myself needing to look elsewhere for comparisons on my run times.

2.
Sonic X Shadow Generations

Another Side, Another Story

It’s fantastic that Sonic Generations, among the series, was unique in featuring a time trial mode with an online ranking system, and it makes me even more delighted that Shadow Generations adopted this approach 13 years later.

Instead of providing time trials solely from the main menu, they record your time and rank it against other players on the same console in a leaderboard.

They don’t only show time trials when you first enter the game, but rather keep track of your time and compare it with others playing at the same time on the same console, using a scoreboard or leaderboard.

Beyond the bonus points awarded for swiftly completing a level, it’s important to note that these two games offer distinct forms of time trials. Sonic focuses on raw speed, while Shadow encourages item gathering as an additional incentive.

By offering two distinct games within the same collection, you’re essentially providing a “Choose Your Journey” experience, where time trials can be embarked upon in either ‘Chaos Island Act 1’ or ‘Seaside Hill Act 2’.

1.
Neon White

Ruby Rank

Should you be familiar with Neon White, it’s likely you know that it stands among the finest speedrunning games ever created. What makes it exceptional is that each and every level inherently functions as a time trial, and they’re all superbly designed.

For the very first time in my gaming life, I didn’t advance past a level when playing a game with level ranks – that was until I discovered Neon White. It’s incredibly rewarding and hard to resist perfecting my timing and strategy, and I can’t get enough of it.

The motion flows smoothly, and the activity never ceases – it’s a thrill to execute, and the developers seem so eager for fast-paced gameplay that they make the dialogues dull, prompting players to rush past every cinematic scene.

At each level, you earn medals based on your performance, with Diamond being the ultimate goal for completion. However, you also have the option to aim for a Ruby rank, which signifies that you’ve surpassed the skill level of the game’s creators.

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2025-04-29 19:12