Celeste

Celeste
A game about a girl who is depressed
Trying to climb a mountain due to unrest
This platformer game is very finessed
The myriad mechanics all coalesced
To put your skills to the ultimate test
The design is great, I do not jest
Secrets within add a lot of zest
All while you climb and push toward the crest
Although the peak is your true quest
You'll want to explore all the rest
The fruit, the tapes, at your behest
So I leave you with one request
Buy this game and you will be blessed
With a grand game, the very best
One more point to be addressed
If you want more you can invest
Many hours into mods, who could have guessed
Their ingenuity leaves many impressed
So many new things inside the chest
Known as the mod manager, Everest

Celeste sat in my backlog for what felt like forever. It wasn't until my kindred spirit convinced me to finally give it a shot that I dove in. And wow, I really wish I had listened earlier. This game is an absolute gem in the platformer genre. It actually surprised me both with its gameplay and emotional weight. Even though it's been out for years, for me, this game stands out as one of the best platformers I've ever played, and for this reason, I'm taking some time to write this review to make sure this game gets the recognition it deserves (even though that most likely it won't be read by anyone after being released for so many years).
Let me start by saying this: if you're into platformers, Celeste is going to feel like a gift. The controls are tight and responsive, making every jump, dash, and climb feel precise. Each level introduces new mechanics that keep the experience fresh and the game definitely knows how to challenge you, but it never feels unfair. In fact, I've never blinked twice after dying, actually enjoying every moment of it. I think that what's so remarkable about Celeste, is that it makes failure feel like part of the process. Every time you fall, you learn something new about the terrain, the enemies, or the timing, and when you finally succeed, it's deeply satisfying (and I apparently also make squeaking grunting sounds during these moments). The game encourages persistence, and the quick respawn times make retries virtually seamless.
But here's what really surprised me: Celeste isn't just a tough platformer, it's also an incredibly heartfelt story. You follow Madeline as she climbs Celeste Mountain, a journey that mirrors her internal struggles with anxiety and self-doubt. The character interactions are brief but impactful, especially between Madeline and her darker self, 'Badeline'. These moments hit hard, and by the time the story wrapped up, I found myself genuinely moved! ♡ And honestly, it's rare for a platformer to make you think as much as it makes you sweat, but Celeste does both effortlessly. Then there's Lena Raine's incredible soundtrack. The way it shifts from upbeat and energetic during intense sections to serene and emotional during quieter moments is nothing short of brilliant.
All in all, I can't believe I waited this long to play Celeste, but now that I have, I get the hype. If it's been sitting in your backlog, let me be your cherished confidant to tell you: go climb that mountain. You won't regret it.
Absolutely recommended ♡

genuinely my favorite game of all time, endless replayability and great fan-made content. platforming feels tight and is made by a great group of people. I originally pirated this game many years ago, but I ended up buying it out of respect for the team who made it. I felt so bad about pirating that I actually ended up buying it 13 other times for people, across multiple platforms. this game has helped me discover so much about myself, and has helped me get through many tough times in my life, such as breakups and losses of loved ones. if you are reading this, go buy the funny trans jumpy game! (also 69 hours nice)

This is one of those games where I judged it by the cover and did not read enough of the reviews! I though this was going to be a comfy, cozy platformer with a cute story. Ohhh boy was I wrong.
This game is a painstakingly handcrafted instrument of unyielding psychological torture.
Don't get me wrong.. I'm loving it. But goodness gracious, this is challenging. There's like... 4 controls? Direction, jump, climb, and dash. That's pretty much it. But the amount of things they did with that... it's nothing short of amazing.
This is a precision platformer in every sense of the word. You have to practice, die, practice again, and eventually you figure out the timing, the coordination, and all and get it. And that was one room. Now go to the next one. Each room is hand crafted with devious and malicious intent. It's kind of glorious.
The great thing is they don't punish you at all. Respawns are super fast, and you start right at the beginning of the room you were on. Rooms can sometimes be one screen only, so you basically just have to nail the room down. It appears that later in the game there is more scrolling and the rooms get larger, but I'm not quite there yet. Regardless, this can be more challenging than it sounds even if it is only one screen, as usually you need to zig zag through and avoid all kinds of nefarious things they put in your path... but it's doable. And when you finally beat a room, you are happy about it... and then you see the next one.
There are also a bunch of things later in the game, like enemies and such but I have no idea how those work so I won' t comment on them now. There is a story here that appears to be pretty cute. It's a simple story, but I quite like how they present it. It's about a girl named Madeline (changeable) climbing Mount Celeste (yes, I know, I thought Celeste was the girl's name at first as well) to prove to herself that she can.
This is a game that could potentially become frustrating. Frustration is the enemy of gaming, and so I recommend taking it in small doses if you are prone to that. Don't try to play this for 8 hours straight if you are at risk of going full tilt... it won't help. You need to breathe and be calm and coordinated with this game. I play for a room or three, then put it down and do something else. I'll slowly work my way through it over time, and that is fine with me because I enjoy every time I do get into it, and the challenge is always something I'm ready for.
This is a great game, and I am looking forward to slowly working my way through it.
Just breathe, Madeline... you can do this!

The base game is barely an introduction to what this games engine has to offer. The amount of tech this game leaves out is insane. Play the base game then try any mod that has come out in recent memory. 10/10 game would waste my life on again

This may just be another positive review in a sea of positive reviews, but Celeste is my favourite game and I feel compelled to say a few words about it.
The game is excellently designed as a precision platformer with just about the cleanest gameplay of any platformer I've ever played or likely will play. It is difficult, but the difficulty builds slowly, and the game teaches you in forgiving ways as you go. It was also made to be accessible to everyone, with an assist mode, if needed, to help everyone enjoy the game at the difficulty they are most comfortable with.
The story is fantastic as well. Its a story that is easy to relate to and unlike most games, one that I find myself thinking about in my day to day life on occasion.
There are so many ways to enjoy the game and challenge yourself as well, if that's something you're into.
I have a hard time thinking of anything negative to mention. This game is a must play game in my opinion if you're even remotely into this type of game.

Man, this game.
A friend of mine suggested I play Celeste, so I did — and hoo boy, I did not expect an emotional rollercoaster out of this beautiful masterpiece.
For anyone wondering: Celeste is a hard platformer game. But you know that already. What I (and probably many others) am trying to say is that this might not be the type of game for you — BUT!!! there IS an assist mode. If it weren't for the assist mode, I myself wouldn't have been able to finish the game AND the DLC. So, just beware of the difficulty, although it is suggested to play through it with assist mode turned off.
Anyways, I managed to talk about anything but the game so far. Great start to a review.
As I was saying, Celeste is a hard game, but it's FILLED with content. You got like 9 levels, most of them having another "side" (basically a bonus level) or two. Like, no wonder I almost got to 100h with this game. (Although I have to admit that some part of it is due to skill issues...)
But yeah, you'll be sitting here for a LOOOONG time if you want to do EVERYTHING (or at least hunt the achievements down) .
I promise, though, it's really fun. If you're unsure about the gameplay, I suggest you read about it in other reviews that dive a bit deeper into the gameplay side of this game.
The story. Holy moly. I'm not gonna spoil the whole thing for you, but I'll try to describe the way it made me feel.
You are a funny little blob character (she’s a person, but it’s funny to say it this way) who wants to climb a mountain (who would have thought) and that’s what you do.
On your way, you’ll meet a few more characters — some more charismatic than others.
All of the characters have their arcs, goals, and personality.
Basically, there is one specific character who made me rethink the way I view myself — which is weird, since my favorite game didn’t even manage to achieve this level of self-awareness / self-reflection. They are so well written to the point where you understand their motives better when starting a second run.
The rest of the cast is also amazing. I love them so much — they're just great.
One thing I noticed is also how the story and the gameplay go hand in hand in several sections of the protag's journey.
There’s a section that feels super hard and exhausting to get through? Probably what our girlypop (protag) is also feeling.
There’s a section making you feel empowered? Madeline feels empowered too.
It’s just beautiful how the game puts you inside Madeline’s shoes and makes you FEEL what she feels.
And don’t get me started on the music. Just *chef’s kiss*
I know, if this is one of the first reviews you’re reading about this game and you took your time to get through this one, you might be disappointed by the lacking content (*of this review). But hey, maybe you got curious enough to either continue looking at reviews or you’ve decided to play Celeste yourself.
I know I did. A 10/10 experience indeed