Arcade machines, the iconic pillars of gaming history, have a unique relationship with player-created challenges and the modern concept of speedrunning. Unlike contemporary PC and console games, classic arcade cabinets were not designed with explicit "speedrun modes" or formal systems for user-generated challenges. Their primary competitive framework was the high score system. Players naturally created their own challenges, such as "1CC" (one-credit clear) or "no-miss runs," pushing the limits of the game's design without any in-game acknowledgment. The machine itself simply recorded the final score and initials.

The hardware and software of traditional arcades were closed systems. Built on ROM (Read-Only Memory), the game code was immutable, preventing official updates or the addition of new modes. There was no internal clock to track completion time with precision, making the score the sole, universal metric of skill. Speedruns, therefore, were conducted externally, timed by the players themselves using stopwatches, with verification relying on community trust and later, video evidence.

However, some modern arcade machines and re-releases have begun to incorporate features that cater to this competitive spirit. Updated versions of games, often found on compilations for home consoles or modern arcade platforms, may include built-in timers, save states for practice, and online leaderboards that can track both score and time. Furthermore, the arcade community itself is the engine for these challenges. Dedicated players define the rulesets, maintain leaderboards on websites, and use modified hardware or emulators to ensure fair timing and rule enforcement for speedruns. In essence, while the original arcade machines provided the canvas through their high-score systems and demanding gameplay, it was the player community that invented the challenges and speedrun modes, adapting the classic experience to fit a modern competitive landscape.