A Guide to the ng+ Perfect Run in Speedrunning

What Makes a Speedrun "Perfect" in New Game Plus?

Speedrunning has always been about more than just finishing a game fast. It is about routing, execution, and the split-second decisions that separate a good run from a great one. When you add New Game Plus into the equation, the stakes shift. You carry over gear, abilities, or levels from a previous save, but the enemies scale too. That is where the concept of a perfect run really comes into focus. I have spent hundreds of hours chasing these runs across several titles, and the lessons I have learned come down to preparation, adaptability, and knowing when to reset.

A New Game Plus run is not just a victory lap. It is a different beast entirely. In a standard new game, you build from zero. Every upgrade matters, and the difficulty curve is designed to teach you the game. But in NG+, you start with a toolbox that can break the game wide open. Some players think that makes it easier. It does not. The enemy health pools are larger, new attack patterns appear, and the margin for error shrinks because you are expected to already know the game. That is why an ng+ perfect run demands a specific mindset. You are not learning the game anymore. You are mastering it.

Why NG+ Runs Require a Different Kind of Precision

I remember the first time I attempted an NG+ run in one of the Dark Souls games. I had beaten the base game a dozen times, and I thought I had the routing down. I loaded into NG+ with a fully upgraded weapon and a stack of healing items. Within the first area, I realized my old routes were useless. The enemies I used to one-shot now took two swings, and the boss I could stagger in seconds now punished every whiff. That run fell apart fast. The real lesson was that an ng+ perfect run is not about raw power. It is about efficiency under pressure. You cannot rely on brute force because the numbers are against you. You have to think about every encounter like a puzzle where the pieces shift.

In many games, NG+ also changes enemy placements or adds new enemy types. That means your muscle memory from the base game can actually work against you. I have seen runners get caught off guard by a trap that was not there in their previous playthrough. The best way to handle this is to treat your first NG+ attempt as a scouting run. Take notes on where the difficulty spikes, which weapons feel underpowered, and which shortcuts still work. A perfect run is built on that kind of detailed knowledge, not just reflexes.

Routing for the NG+ Perfect Run

Routing is the backbone of any speedrun, but in NG+ it becomes a balancing act. You have to decide which items to carry over and which to leave behind. Some games let you keep everything from your inventory, which sounds great until you realize you are carrying a lot of dead weight. I have seen runners waste precious seconds scrolling through menus to swap weapons they never use. A clean inventory is part of the route. Strip down to the essentials. Know exactly which tools you need for each boss or gauntlet.

Another part of routing is understanding the game's scaling system. Some games scale NG+ difficulty based on your level when you start the new cycle. In those cases, it can be better to hold off on leveling up too much before starting NG+. A lower starting level can mean smaller enemy health pools, which might save you a few hits per encounter. That kind of optimization adds up over a full run. I have shaved minutes off my times just by adjusting when I start my NG+ cycle.

Execution and the Mental Game

Even with perfect routing, the execution is where most runs die. An ng+ perfect run requires concentration from start to finish. The early sections can feel deceptively easy because you still have endgame gear, but that lures you into sloppy play. I have lost runs to a basic enemy that I ignored because I was thinking about a later boss. Every hit counts. In NG+, healing items might be scarcer, or the cost to restock might be higher. You cannot afford to take unnecessary damage just because you are used to tanking hits.

The mental game matters just as much. When you are chasing a perfect run, you will reset a lot. Some days, the game just does not cooperate. A random crit from an enemy, a missed dodge, or a glitch can end a run that looked promising. The runners who get the best times are the ones who can reset without frustration. They treat each attempt as a learning experience. I keep a small notebook with timestamps of where I died, so I can spot patterns. If I keep dying to the same enemy, I adjust my approach instead of trying the same thing harder.

Tools and Techniques for Consistency

Consistency is the secret ingredient. Anyone can get lucky and have one fast run. A perfect run comes from being able to replicate that performance over and over, so you can push the boundaries of what is possible. Here are a few things that have helped me stay consistent:

• Practice specific segments in isolation. I replay the same boss fight ten times in a row until I can do it without thinking.
• Use save states or backup files to test risky strategies without losing progress. This is especially useful for learning new routes in NG+.
• Record every attempt and review the footage. I look for moments where I hesitated or made a suboptimal decision, even if the run was fast overall.
• Set a clear reset condition. If I take a certain amount of damage before the first boss, I restart. This keeps me from wasting time on a run that is already compromised.

These techniques are not just for top-tier runners. Even if you are just trying to beat your personal best, they can help you cut down your time. The ng+ perfect run is a goal that rewards patience and attention to detail more than raw speed.

Common Pitfalls in NG+ Runs

I have seen a lot of runners make the same mistakes when they transition from standard new game to NG+. The first one is overconfidence. You have the best gear in the game, so you think you can steamroll everything. That attitude leads to careless deaths. The second mistake is sticking to the exact same route you used in the base game. NG+ often changes the order of areas or the requirements to access certain shortcuts. You have to adapt your route to the new realities of the game.

Another pitfall is ignoring resource management. In NG+, you might start with a lot of consumables, but you cannot replenish them easily until you reach certain points in the game. I have seen runners burn through all their best healing items early, only to hit a tough boss later with no way to recover. Plan your item usage like you would plan a budget. Use cheap items for minor damage and save the expensive ones for emergencies.

Finally, do not neglect your equipment loadout. Some weapons and spells that were powerful in the base game fall off in NG+ because enemy resistances change. I have had to abandon my favorite sword because the damage output was no longer competitive. Be willing to experiment with different builds, even if they feel unfamiliar. The perfect run often comes from a loadout you would not normally consider.

When to Reset and When to Push Through

One of the hardest skills to learn is knowing when to reset a run. If you take a big hit early, it might be tempting to restart immediately. But sometimes, the run is still salvageable. I have had runs where I took a heavy hit in the first few minutes but still finished with a personal best because the rest of the run was clean. The decision comes down to how much the mistake costs you. If it costs a few seconds, it might be worth continuing. If it costs a major resource or a lot of health, the run is probably not going to be a record, but it can still be good practice.

On the other hand, do not let sunk cost fallacy keep you in a bad run. If you are consistently taking damage or making errors, the rest of the run will probably not be clean either. I have a rule: if I make the same mistake twice in the same area, I reset. That sign tells me I am not focused enough, and continuing will just reinforce bad habits.

Final Thoughts on the NG+ Perfect Run

A perfect run in NG+ is not about being flawless. It is about being good enough to recover from small mistakes while maintaining a high average speed. The phrase "ng+ perfect run" gets thrown around a lot in the speedrunning community, and it means different things to different people. For me, it is a run where every major decision is the best one I could have made at that moment, given the information I had. It is a run that I can look back on and feel proud of, even if there were a few stumbles along the way.

If you are new to NG+ speedrunning, start with a game you know well. Map out your route, practice the tough sections, and do not be afraid to reset. The first few attempts will be rough, but every reset teaches you something. Over time, you will build the muscle memory and the mental resilience to chase that perfect run. And when you finally get it, the feeling is worth every failed attempt.