Celeste

 Switch
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1088 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 923 out of 1088
  2. Mixed: 79 out of 1088
  3. Negative: 86 out of 1088
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  1. bulger_paul
    Jan 28, 2018
    10
    I don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played. I'll break down my review into individual segments:

    Controls: 10/10 Very tight, extremely simple controls. Move with Left control stick. Jump with B. Dash with Y. Climb walls with RT. End of tutorial. But the sheer amount of mileage these developers get    I don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played. I'll break down my review into individual segments:

    Controls: 10/10
    Very tight, extremely simple controls. Move with Left control stick. Jump with B. Dash with Y. Climb walls with RT. End of tutorial. But the sheer amount of mileage these developers get out of such a simple base is staggering

    Gameplay: 10/10
    While the controls are deceptively simple, every single chapter introduces a few new mechanics that you will have to master in order to progress. Whether they be platforms that disintegrate underneath you, platforms that move in sync with your dashing, walls you can dash through that have a unique effect. gemstones that replenish your dash midair, bubbles that shoot you far off into certain directions, and the list goes on and on, each new mechanic requires you to use them with near perfect precision and timing. The challenge can be occasionally frustrating, and you may find yourself dying several hundred times in any given chapter (I'm not exaggerating, you will die a lot), but it's the good kind of frustration that invites you to persist, not the kind that will cause you to rage quit. And none of your deaths feel out of your control. It doesn't require you to memorize every obstacle coming next, because there's never anything popping up that you didn't expect. Every obstacle is laid out in front of you, clear for you to see, which makes the challenge more inviting than frustrating.
    But I don't want to scare off potential players who are not so keen on the sound of timing and precision based gameplay, since that doesn't sound particularly fun by description alone, but this is a joy to play and an innumerable amount of sequences had me smiling and feeling accomplished by their end.

    Difficulty Level: 7/10
    I know 7 seems fairly low considering how much time I've already spent re-emphasizing the demand for precision, and how often you're going to die, and I'm sure you've already seen many other reviews that describe it to be tough as nails, and it is, but (thankfully) the game doesn't punish you for dying over and over and over and over. I had more than 300 deaths in a single chapter once. But this game doesn't kick you in the balls the way Cuphead does every time you die, you always re-spawn in the same frame that you died in, and it takes roughly half a second to re-spawn. The sheer amount of precision the game demands in and of itself would be enough to make it a 10, but the forgiving nature of the game makes the challenge much more manageable, so you can throw yourself at the same obstacle over and over and over and over again until you get it right, which is a godsend, because I would have honestly never bothered finishing the game if I had to deal with a lives system, or if it sent me back to the beginning of each level, or something like that.

    Story: 7/10
    I'm actually not as enamored with the story as many other people seem to be. I think it's great to see more and more video games experiment in dealing with heavy thematic matter such as anxiety, panic, apathy, depression, emotional distance, etc, and I think Celeste does a good job of it, and I can imagine many people out there being touched by it, because it handles delicate topics with sensitivity, earnestness, and a touch of humor. I like the characters a lot (and I love that they actually created an Instagram account for the character who is always taking selfies and writing posts throughout the game), but I don't think it's quite perfect yet. I really hope the developers keep experimenting with this kind of subject matter, because Celeste has made me eager for whatever the dish up next.

    Artwork/Design: 8/10
    I used to refer to this segment as "graphics," because graphical power used to be important when reviewing games, but we've reached an era of gaming when gamers and reviewers are less concerned about graphical horsepower and more interested in artwork, with absolutely beautiful looking games such as Cuphead and Journey, which are both stunning games due to their artwork, even though they're not going to max out the system you run them on by any means. Celeste is in that category, and it is a brilliantly designed game.

    Music: 9/10
    It is impressive in and of itself that these indie developers composed more than two hours of music for a relatively short game (around 10hrs max to complete all of the main bits, 20 if you're a completionist that is going to collect all the strawberries and complete all the "B side" challenges), and it pays off, because the soundtrack is just beautiful.

    Overall: 10/10
    While I think the story is good, even though I wasn't as deeply impressed with it as many other reviewers were, the controls, gameplay, and design are every bit as good as you've heard and Celeste is a game that deserves to be experienced by anybody who can spare twenty bucks to try it out.    … Expand
  2. ScreenScraggy22
    Feb 19, 2018
    10
    Wow is the game just so good in almost every aspect possible. Fantastic and challenging gameplay really shines through in this beautiful game. Its fun enough to want to keep on playing no matter how hard it gets. The dashing mechanic in the game is not gimmicky and is a lot of fun. The soundtrack is very nice, and graphics are simple but good. Also a ton of replayability here with all ofWow is the game just so good in almost every aspect possible. Fantastic and challenging gameplay really shines through in this beautiful game. Its fun enough to want to keep on playing no matter how hard it gets. The dashing mechanic in the game is not gimmicky and is a lot of fun. The soundtrack is very nice, and graphics are simple but good. Also a ton of replayability here with all of the chapters having a harder mode to them, also with tons of collectables you can play this game for hours. Some of the best platforming gameplay I’ve ever experienced.… Expand
  3. Graymann
    Aug 19, 2020
    7
    I liked this game until chapter 9. I hate chapter 9. I almost sh** my pants when those weird monsters came up. this is a horror game. I cried from how scary it is, and that is not an exaggeration.
  4. Tanky86
    Apr 19, 2022
    7
    its a great platformer, but way too hard for me. this game ain’t for me and i can understand that
  5. pikby
    Feb 12, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a beutifully crafted game that not only provides a sloo of surprises for platforming veterans,with unique and intresting mechanics everwhere you look , but also provides one of the best narratives ive seen in a video game in quite some time, with the best depiction of mental illness ive seen in a video game ever as an added bonus, this game is simply a masterpeice, and ifCeleste is a beutifully crafted game that not only provides a sloo of surprises for platforming veterans,with unique and intresting mechanics everwhere you look , but also provides one of the best narratives ive seen in a video game in quite some time, with the best depiction of mental illness ive seen in a video game ever as an added bonus, this game is simply a masterpeice, and if history forgets this game, then **** history.

    97%    … Expand
  6. alexbudke
    Jul 22, 2019
    8
    While Celeste story was a complete bore to me, the gameplay including the fast reset kept me attempting to beat each level just one more time. The soundtrack was one of my favorite of the year, and this made for an overall enjoyable game.
  7. bingbon
    Nov 9, 2022
    0
    amazing game this game has truly made me appreiciate the beauty of indie games
  8. bennyslen
    Feb 16, 2018
    10
    This game is amazing. It touched my soul.

    Pro
    -The gameplay is fluid and the puzzle are good.
    -The soundtrack is WONDERFUL
    -The "story" is lovely
    -The characters are nice

    Cons
    -When the game ended, and i realized all happened too fast
  9. reyt_nice
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    Solid controls. Solid visuals. Solid music. All bundled together with mind-blowing level design and heartwarming characters. As a big fan of Towerfall I had high hopes that were massively exceeded– Switch feels like the perfect home for it.
  10. thryce3
    May 19, 2020
    6
    The gameplay is fun and challenging. The story is deeply affecting and the metaphor of climbing the mountain is at times brilliant. I would be a 9 out of 10 but...... After a long dialogue section the difficulty and frustration spikes through the roof! It is a hard game filled with trial by death, but you respawn quickly on the same screen so it actually works. Honestly, I didn't mindThe gameplay is fun and challenging. The story is deeply affecting and the metaphor of climbing the mountain is at times brilliant. I would be a 9 out of 10 but...... After a long dialogue section the difficulty and frustration spikes through the roof! It is a hard game filled with trial by death, but you respawn quickly on the same screen so it actually works. Honestly, I didn't mind the first 995 times i died (actual number- not an exaggeration). Then the climax begins and each screen has multiple sections that need to be done perfectly or you die and do them all again. It goes from a challenge to chore very quickly. I died an additional 1400+ times on the final 2 sections. It's a real shame because the story is strongest at that point. I get why they made it so hard, but it totally breaks the engagement and nearly spoiled the entire game.
    I still recommend it to anyone who wants a challenging game. I'm sure all these perfect 10's were from players who died way less than i did. Just know what you're getting into.    … Expand
  11. Theskullshammer
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    This game far surpassed my expectations. The controls are tight, the soundtrack is great, and the story is surprisingly good for a 2D platformer. There are some who'll find it to be a bit challenging so don't go in expecting it to be a cake walk, but I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for a challenge.
  12. Noktai
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    An absolute masterpiece of a platformer. The game has no groundbreaking mechanics, just jumping, climbing and dashing. The level design is what makes this title stand out. Try not to get scared by the difficulty, there is a smart assist mode to help you tune the difficulty to your liking but slowing down time or granting additional dashes.
  13. mynameisjonas
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    Wanna get this in before the peak minor indie hype explodes for this game. This game has:

    1. Fluid mechanics and amazing level design that caters to it, they really pushed this game to its limits with what you can do with jumping, dashing and climbing. 2. Interesting story and characters 3. Amazing music 4. Very challenging and rewarding. Best platformer I've played since    Wanna get this in before the peak minor indie hype explodes for this game. This game has:

    1. Fluid mechanics and amazing level design that caters to it, they really pushed this game to its limits with what you can do with jumping, dashing and climbing.

    2. Interesting story and characters

    3. Amazing music

    4. Very challenging and rewarding.

    Best platformer I've played since Tropical Freeze.    … Expand
  14. Dannyxv8
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    I made an account just to say that the level design in this game is mind-blowing. Celeste has the best level design I've ever seen in a video game. Charming characters, amazing music, simple controls, challenging difficulty, this game is for anyone who loves every detail being perfect.
  15. Aynez
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    For me, this game is platforming perfection. It starts out quite easy. And as you go, you find the game more and more challenging, while on the other hand getting better and better at the game's simple, yet perfect mechanics. The core mechanics consist of jump, climb and dash. That's it. However, all the chapters utilize these mechanics in new and innovative ways.
    It took me about 45    For me, this game is platforming perfection. It starts out quite easy. And as you go, you find the game more and more challenging, while on the other hand getting better and better at the game's simple, yet perfect mechanics. The core mechanics consist of jump, climb and dash. That's it. However, all the chapters utilize these mechanics in new and innovative ways.
    It took me about 45 hours to clear all levels, B-sides and C-sides. After that, there's golden strawberries to collect by going from start to finish on each chapter (including B and C-sides), which are just madness! :)

    In my opinion, this really is one of the best games ever made!    … Expand
  16. NJMC_
    Mar 3, 2018
    10
    I usually don't seek out or purchase many platformer games. Taking a change on Celeste, turned out to be one of the best decision I could've made. The graphics are simple, yet refined. Musical score accompanies the environmental in the best possible way. Collecting strawberries heightens the challenge of the game, but feels rewarding once you achieve the leap. Anyone who enjoysI usually don't seek out or purchase many platformer games. Taking a change on Celeste, turned out to be one of the best decision I could've made. The graphics are simple, yet refined. Musical score accompanies the environmental in the best possible way. Collecting strawberries heightens the challenge of the game, but feels rewarding once you achieve the leap. Anyone who enjoys platformers should definitely pick this one up.… Expand
  17. hazsch
    Mar 22, 2020
    10
    Celeste is the best 2D platformer I've ever played, and it's one of my favourite games of all time. The spritework is stunning, the music is unbelievably good, and the level design and controls are so tight. I became really invested in the story of Madeline and the other characters in the game, especially since I relate so closely to the struggles of anxiety and depression that is one ofCeleste is the best 2D platformer I've ever played, and it's one of my favourite games of all time. The spritework is stunning, the music is unbelievably good, and the level design and controls are so tight. I became really invested in the story of Madeline and the other characters in the game, especially since I relate so closely to the struggles of anxiety and depression that is one of the main themes of the game. That sense of anxiety is replicated in some of the tracks in the game, as is the feeling of overcoming that anxiety when Madeline reaches the top of the mountain.

    The game is hard, but it feels like it wants you to complete it. Everything is do-able, and I say that with confidence, because I've done everything. There are optional collectables, however, that increase the difficulty exponentially, and in turn they unlock even harder 'B-sides' and then once you beat those you get 'C-sides' and DAMN these things are hard. Not to mention the golden strawberries.

    Look, this game is great. Pick it up.    … Expand
  18. DistantKingDumb
    May 3, 2021
    10
    One of the greatest exponents of the platform today, the intentions of this game are pure and its design overflows with love for detail.
    Madeline's moral conflict is the best I've seen in the indie industry.
  19. PabloDesigns
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    The art style is beautiful, the mastery of pixel art. Pretty cool and extravagant music, simple but cool platformer mechanics and challenging difficulty with gorgeous level design, The story begins a little bit confusing, but once you get hooked you'll play easily 30 levels in a row.
    One of the best 2D platformers we'll see this year. Somehow reminded me to Super Meat Boy.
  20. Cool968585
    Feb 18, 2018
    10
    Celeste is a love letter to people who love 2D platformers I hope it gets a game of the year award 2018
  21. Dukemang
    Feb 18, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a great game that far exceeded my expectations when I first saw it. To start, the art style mixed with the primarily pixel graphics suits the gameplay and story so perfectly; which adds a somewhat charming aspect to it. Now charming isn't what I would consider the story, but I will say that it is much more heartfelt than I thought it would be and really hits the mark whenCeleste is a great game that far exceeded my expectations when I first saw it. To start, the art style mixed with the primarily pixel graphics suits the gameplay and story so perfectly; which adds a somewhat charming aspect to it. Now charming isn't what I would consider the story, but I will say that it is much more heartfelt than I thought it would be and really hits the mark when talking about heavier topics that deal with anxiety or depression. The game definitely has some harder difficulty spikes, but due to the tutorials and the great level design that helps build up to some parts of the game, you'll be ready for just about anything the game throws at you and enjoy yourself at the same time.… Expand
  22. NeedleNose1
    Jan 27, 2018
    10
    There are few games that I would consider perfect, even most of my favorite games of all time.
    That being said, Celeste is perfect.
    It sets out to be a beautifully pixel-animated platformer with tight controls, a killer soundtrack, and a touching story. It meets and exceeds all of these expectations. Celeste has some of the best gamefeel I've ever experienced. It doesn't take long for    There are few games that I would consider perfect, even most of my favorite games of all time.
    That being said, Celeste is perfect.

    It sets out to be a beautifully pixel-animated platformer with tight controls, a killer soundtrack, and a touching story. It meets and exceeds all of these expectations. Celeste has some of the best gamefeel I've ever experienced. It doesn't take long for the controls to become such second nature that you can hardly remember that you're holding a controller. I can't think of anything negative to say about it. It's just damn good. Charming, fun, exceptionally creative and packed with content.

    If you like platformers at all this game will not disappoint. If you don't like platformers, even the best one ever made probably won't satisfy you. Celeste is absolutely one of the best platformers ever made.    … Expand
  23. mfguevar123
    Jan 26, 2018
    10
    Desde que Nintendo presento el juego en el nintendo direct mini vi que era un juego INDIE de calidad, pero al jugarlo experimente algo que ningun juego AAA me habia dado.
  24. Powermario0
    Jan 26, 2018
    9
    Great game! Fast, fun and gorgeous. Just buy and play it... you will not regret it! 9/10
  25. NintendoGamer1
    Feb 4, 2018
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing and fluid to play. Anybody who doesn't buy this game will be doing a disservice to themselves. 10/10
  26. delux247
    Jan 29, 2018
    10
    Blew away my expectations in almost every regard: I was imagining a Super Meat Boy experience and while the platforming was on par with, if not better, than SMB, the music, story and level design are some of the best in the 2-D platforming genre. It's a steal at $20 with TONS of replay value.
  27. memus
    Apr 20, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a wonderful game:
    +It tackles a topic of human psychology and fears in a really smart way
    +That's the first rogue-like game that I finished and actually enjoyed. The learning curve is done well and in the end I felt that my skill at playing this game was amazing. +Finally, I'm happy to own Switch. This game fits portable format just perfectly. +Additional kudos to Matt    Celeste is a wonderful game:
    +It tackles a topic of human psychology and fears in a really smart way
    +That's the first rogue-like game that I finished and actually enjoyed. The learning curve is done well and in the end I felt that my skill at playing this game was amazing.
    +Finally, I'm happy to own Switch. This game fits portable format just perfectly.
    +Additional kudos to Matt (developer) for making the second awesome game in a row (after Towerfall)

    Not a ten because:
    -In the end story gets too cheesy and repetitive
    -The secrets feel underdeveloped (I don't collect them anyway)
    -Sometimes the game was too tough for me (especially clouds and feathers sections)    … Expand
  28. Buzzz
    Feb 5, 2018
    9
    A fantastic platformer, with solid controls, and a surprisingly good storyline.
  29. epicboyblue
    Jan 18, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Celeste is a good game. The problem with this game is the movement. Sometimes I would want to dash in a up/down/left/right direction, but the game would give me a diagonal dash causing me to die from the environmental hazards. The narrative is lackluster. There's no subtlety with the "theme" of the game. This a bare bones video game. The movement does work well with the narrative, but there isn't any actual combat. It is just movement in the form of running. It works decently. It does kind of play into the narrative, but not well enough to the extent of it being a phenomenal game. The narrative itself is riddled with pacing issues, There's very little, then you get a multiple choice lore dump at some point. The final level is oddly difficult compared to the rest of the game because it does seem difficult at one point, but the finale dials it up to the White Palace level in Hollow Knight. I get it's the finale, but it did feel like like the difficulty didn't match the rest of the game. This game is good, but it doesn't do anything I haven't seen other games do better. I tried using the pro controller, but the dash issues I mentioned earlier were still present. That's all I got. Oh, the mental issues narrative isn't really good. I get it works because Madeleine is running away. It just doesn't work. The feather mechanic didn't work as well I thought it would, then it didn't matter because the game took it away. It might help people, but this kind of narrative has already been explored, and this game doesn't add anything to the conversation that hasn't already been said and it doesn't try to say anything in a different way.… Expand
  30. GoldenKing95
    Feb 2, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a great 2D plat-former whom can be quite challenging at times, but will always feel fair! The game only uses four main mechanics: Move, Jump, Dash and wall-climbing, and tweaks those as you continue the great story line by adding some power-ups or objects of interest throughout the level.

    The more you play, the more the cutesy protagonist gets to you, or so is my experience    Celeste is a great 2D plat-former whom can be quite challenging at times, but will always feel fair! The game only uses four main mechanics: Move, Jump, Dash and wall-climbing, and tweaks those as you continue the great story line by adding some power-ups or objects of interest throughout the level.

    The more you play, the more the cutesy protagonist gets to you, or so is my experience with the game. The music also provides a great atmosphere for the game, and fits with the action and story-elements really well!

    I would suggest buying this game if you are a Switch user, even if you don't necessary like plat-former's!    … Expand
  31. Gwz
    Feb 11, 2018
    9
    Celeste is near perfect. The retro 2d graphics does its work and is not overly gimmicky. The controls are SUPER TIGHT, one of the best I've touched on a modern game. The story is relevant and easy to follow. Sure, there's a lot between the lines and the symbols are a bit on the nose, BUT they are not pretentious and feels genuine and drawn from experience. It's about depression but not inCeleste is near perfect. The retro 2d graphics does its work and is not overly gimmicky. The controls are SUPER TIGHT, one of the best I've touched on a modern game. The story is relevant and easy to follow. Sure, there's a lot between the lines and the symbols are a bit on the nose, BUT they are not pretentious and feels genuine and drawn from experience. It's about depression but not in a way that validates trigger warnings though it doesn't pull any punches, which takes us to the difficulty level! Celsete is HARD, like oldschool-learn-by-doing-and-failing hard. It fits with the theme of getting over your real or imagined limits. After a frustrating but rewarding first level the game just keeps ramping up. You level up by learning to play. The design is a marvel of pedagogic teaching in game mechanics. Coming back to the first level you will be struck by how easy it suddenly is.
    Bottom line about the difficulty: I've never, ever played a game that was still fun to play even after dying so many times. I cursed like a sailor in mud but I felt that it was fair and if it was to frustrating it was a sign for me to quit and try again later.
    I give Celeste a solid 9 but that is only because I leave the 10 for my 3 top games of all time.    … Expand
  32. deepspace
    Mar 9, 2018
    6
    The game’s fantastic soundtrack and awesome style aside, this is an exercise in frustration and sameness. If each screen was interesting and gave you a reason to battle on, I’d probably persevere, but this game’s dynamic is just too one-dimensional. Maybe less of the one-trick pony of doing the same thing on each screen for the next one. But yeah, beautiful game and great style- and theThe game’s fantastic soundtrack and awesome style aside, this is an exercise in frustration and sameness. If each screen was interesting and gave you a reason to battle on, I’d probably persevere, but this game’s dynamic is just too one-dimensional. Maybe less of the one-trick pony of doing the same thing on each screen for the next one. But yeah, beautiful game and great style- and the mood is fabulous.… Expand
  33. jasoncporter
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    This game does something I have never seen before: present a compelling and emotional story in a platforming game. I'm sure there are others out there, but this hits the perfect sweet spot of storytelling and tight platforming that everything just fell perfectly into place. The music is absolutely phenomenal (Congrats Lena Raine on composing that masterpiece), the visuals are even prettyThis game does something I have never seen before: present a compelling and emotional story in a platforming game. I'm sure there are others out there, but this hits the perfect sweet spot of storytelling and tight platforming that everything just fell perfectly into place. The music is absolutely phenomenal (Congrats Lena Raine on composing that masterpiece), the visuals are even pretty breathtaking at times even though they're in an 8-bit style. Story heavily touches on mental health so if you've ever struggled with anxiety or depression, a lot of this will hit home to you. 10/10, didn't want it to end.… Expand
  34. irrzir
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    Don't let the edgy internet contrarians fool you: the game is good. It's not perfect, but keeps you captivated for long enough to justify more than the 20 bucks it charges.

    Let's get the basics out of the way: the game is *full* of content. Superb level design, secrets for those that want them, and a crapload of levels. I'm guessing that the people who are complaining about the    Don't let the edgy internet contrarians fool you: the game is good. It's not perfect, but keeps you captivated for long enough to justify more than the 20 bucks it charges.

    Let's get the basics out of the way: the game is *full* of content. Superb level design, secrets for those that want them, and a crapload of levels. I'm guessing that the people who are complaining about the time-to-complete have probably not discovered the B-sides--which are disgustingly difficult chapters that use mechanics you learned about in the story. In addition, the B-sides also teach you advanced movement techniques which are used to speedrun the game.

    Moving on: the music is sublime, and the story is phenomenal (though a bit cheesy at times). The music for chapter two, and for the final bits of the storyline are among my favorites in gaming.

    My only substantial complaint with the game comes in the form of one of its mechanics in one of the chapters: wind. While most other mechanics seem to empower you to do crazier and crazier things, the wind mechanic is introduced for one chapter to basically slow the game down to a crawl, and overwrite the muscle memory you built up over the chapters. It's frustrating in a way that *is* technically fair, but it doesn't really feel fair. That mechanic persists for only one chapter, however, and isn't actually enough of a complaint to warrant docking a point. The game definitely deserves a 10/10 bar that silly mechanic, so that's what it gets.    … Expand
  35. night4
    Mar 5, 2018
    7
    It's good, it really is. But in absolutely no world does it deserve the scores it's getting.

    Pros:

    -Sound/music
    -You don't have to wait long after dying
    -Nice pixel art

    Cons:
    -Parts get a bit frustrating
    -"Story" is lame
    -Price is too high
  36. setuis
    Feb 8, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Dash is awesome but also annoying, I am good at planning jumps and how to do everything but the game limits me due to Dyspraxia as i accidentally press wrong buttons why can't the game have a planning jump function where you can type in commands and what point to execute the next command at least then it would feel like I accomplished something - Lucky i can use the assist mode for Immortality but once on it was like why even bother to turn it off I got to the end of chapter 3 just before the hotel guy became a boss and I died 1500 times on chapter 3 before giving up with the repetitive nature of the last room due to the terrible jumps near the end, long rooms should have a mid way check point to reduce the frustration but i guess an Immortality mode allows you to get to the end of the game at the cost of feeling no accomplishment what so ever. The chapter 3 end boss would have killed me for sure with stupid charges etc had Immortality mode not been on, the game will become to punishing for a majority of players and games that have to use Immortality mode built in cheats are therefore badly balanced. Positives good mechanics , negatives no way to remap controls not having the option to hover for a moment when using dash so you can move directions correctly and not constantly smash yourself into the stuff that kills you. Will now finish game with cheats on cause its to hard for me to complete otherwise, I won't feel any sense of accomplishment from it through and accomplishment is a big part of the game.

    The characters are interesting and have charm, but some of the long rooms really dapper the game. Its a shame the jump and dash couldn't have be designed as a single button with a hover pause while in mid air to allow you better control over dash with your stick.    … Expand
  37. kickinbck199317
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    Celeste is one of those rare games that comes around that is excellent on every level. Such a joy to play. Besides an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia from its 8-bit style graphics, the game presents with:
    -fast, fluid, and fun gameplay!
    -tight/precise controls -a challenge to all players (assist mode for players unfamiliar to the platforming genre...or to get those pesky strawberries)    Celeste is one of those rare games that comes around that is excellent on every level. Such a joy to play. Besides an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia from its 8-bit style graphics, the game presents with:
    -fast, fluid, and fun gameplay!
    -tight/precise controls
    -a challenge to all players (assist mode for players unfamiliar to the platforming genre...or to get those pesky strawberries)
    -hours of challenges and strong replay value
    -a mysterious story that has you constantly questioning and keeps you coming back for more
    -one of the best soundtracks every assembled that perfectly blends with each environment    … Expand
  38. mcsw712
    Mar 1, 2018
    10
    Amazing. Retro gaming at it's finest. Plus cheat options for when you get stuck!
  39. iRaidius916
    Jul 13, 2019
    10
    Masterpiece. No other word can describe this beautiful, balls-to-the-walls platformer. Soundtrack: 10/10
    Gameplay: 10/10
    Story/Storytelling: 9.5/10
    Post-game: 100/10 (No kidding!)
    If I could rate this game above a 10, I would!
  40. Adubis27
    Apr 26, 2018
    9
    8.9/10. Top 5 side-scroller of all time? This game is a must-have for any fan of platformers.
  41. msklar
    Jan 30, 2018
    10
    Honestly, this game lived up to and exceeded my hype for it, the attention to detail, overall polish, and basically everything about this game is super amazing
    like it pretty much covers every single aspect of good game design I like, has a really good (though a bit repetitive at times) soundtrack, the sound design is about the best I've ever experienced -- Nintendo quality stuff
    the    Honestly, this game lived up to and exceeded my hype for it, the attention to detail, overall polish, and basically everything about this game is super amazing
    like it pretty much covers every single aspect of good game design I like, has a really good (though a bit repetitive at times) soundtrack, the sound design is about the best I've ever experienced -- Nintendo quality stuff
    the game feels like it was made by Nintendo, I only had one out of 2081 deaths that I can remember that wasn't my fault (I hit right and Madeline [the player character] went left :/ )
    In how the game runs: pretty much perfect on switch, it crashed once for me but i'm not sure why and i only lost about 5 mins of progress
    the art is probably the best pixel art in a game I have EVER seen - there's an animation for everything (like there are diff animations for how far your hanging off a cliff! The detail is crazy)
    The level design is fantastic. There was one part that dragged on too long -- come on game, I'm sick of this boss-fight area, lets move on-- but other than that the way they build on mechanics is better than any platformer I've played, and the game only outright tells you how to use the main two mechanics: jumping and dashing. Every single other mechanic is shown through clever gameplay and really good art
    And I haven't gotten to any of the post-game stuff yet, apparently there are something like 3 versions of every level (each level is 1-2hr long), there are 7 levels (plus a bonus) PLUS a ton of collectibles I haven't found yet
    The only thing I want in this game that isnt there is a way to save without quitting (no idea why this isnt an option), though the autosave does a good job of keeping up
    Oh also the pacing in the level design is practically perfect, besides that one boss thing, and the adaptive soundtrack fits the mood of each part of each level perfectly

    buy
    this
    game

    9.95/10 -- this game is an absolute joy to play, and a showcase of bringing all great aspects of game design together into a complete package.

    P.S. THE GAME IS HARD, but there is an assist mode which is supposed to make it a lot more manageable for people who can't handle some of the tougher rooms    … Expand
  42. capedavenger
    Oct 7, 2018
    5
    Somehow, I can't get into many of those hypetrain games...at all. It's well made, the graphics are great, controls solid, but...it's not for me. I'm not the type of guy who likes to stare at a screen trying to memorise button combinations, trying stuff over and over and over... I'm sure it's an enjoyable challenge for some, but not for me.
  43. Sunshadow87
    May 12, 2020
    10
    Un juego que puede ser considerado una obra maestra.
    El juego es infernalmente difícil, así que tenedlo en cuenta antes de adquirirlo, es fácil estar una hora intentando completar una secuencia en los últimos niveles, por no hablar de las caras B y C... pero si os gustan los retos es altamente satisfactorio superar cada secuencia.
    Es un plataformas puro, con nuevas mecánicas jugables en    Un juego que puede ser considerado una obra maestra.
    El juego es infernalmente difícil, así que tenedlo en cuenta antes de adquirirlo, es fácil estar una hora intentando completar una secuencia en los últimos niveles, por no hablar de las caras B y C... pero si os gustan los retos es altamente satisfactorio superar cada secuencia.
    Es un plataformas puro, con nuevas mecánicas jugables en cada nivel que te llevan a un aprendizaje continuo a lo largo de todo el juego (y que es muy real si rejuegas viejos niveles y puedes completarlo sin dificultades).
    El apartado gráfico y sonoro acompaña la muy muy pulida jugabilidad, con controles altamente precisos y con mecánicas ocultas avanzadas.
    Tras la jugabilidad hay una historia profunda e introspectiva que puede tocar teclas. Esta esta contada de manera tangencial y no directamente, una narrativa de 10.    … Expand
  44. ChopStixMan
    Jul 26, 2019
    10
    This game is straight perfect. It controls like a dream, the levels designs are nigh-genius, music is off the charts, and the story legitimately rocks you to your core. I mean how often does a video game have an actually good story let alone one that doesn't even have animated cut-scenes. I played the heck out of this game. I got finished all the A, B, and C sides and got all theThis game is straight perfect. It controls like a dream, the levels designs are nigh-genius, music is off the charts, and the story legitimately rocks you to your core. I mean how often does a video game have an actually good story let alone one that doesn't even have animated cut-scenes. I played the heck out of this game. I got finished all the A, B, and C sides and got all the strawberries. I stopped short of collecting every single golden strawberry because I decided to not become a professional Celeste player like TGH or or Yoshi Pro or something :-) I'll still do a clean 4 hour playthrough of it every 6 months or so though. Just buy it. I hear there is a sweet DLC coming soon.… Expand
  45. eddavid
    Apr 30, 2022
    10
    The level design is brilliant. The story is heartfelt and the emotional issues the story deals with are important. Anxiety. The driving emotion behind our modern kives of chaos and fear. The game teaches us to breathe and relax at the stress that is the world. A truly important game and piece of art to make us all become better forms of ourselves.
  46. Pimplup
    May 14, 2020
    10
    Really good story, music, gameplay, and graphics. If you're into 2D platformers at all you'll love this game.
  47. Evenstar1985
    Oct 16, 2021
    10
    Bought this game 3 times, first on the Switch, then PC, and lastly PS4 to get the platinum, 20.000 deaths later, would still do it again.
  48. Jacklg
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    Fun and fair, yet tough and demanding. The music rules, the mechanics feel so forgiving and smooth which makes each death feel less annoying, and its visually beautiful. Just a great time
  49. Daisuk
    May 26, 2020
    7
    Solid platforming game, tight controls and lots of very challenging platforming puzzles to solve. I enjoyed it, but ultimately, I just don't think it was as special as a lot of people will have you believe. The story isn't anything to write about, and although the game looks and plays well, it's largely forgettable, in my opinion. Still definitely worth playing, it's just not AS special asSolid platforming game, tight controls and lots of very challenging platforming puzzles to solve. I enjoyed it, but ultimately, I just don't think it was as special as a lot of people will have you believe. The story isn't anything to write about, and although the game looks and plays well, it's largely forgettable, in my opinion. Still definitely worth playing, it's just not AS special as a lot of people say it is, in my opinion.… Expand
  50. illumi3602
    Jul 18, 2020
    9
    this game is pretty good, it feels good on the Nintendo switch controller and run well
  51. Gontrand00
    Dec 8, 2020
    9
    This game has a really good balance between a good story (but not too present), good learning curve, good challenge and, most important of all, good controls.

    Even if it's a lot of hard work, every platforming game should have controls that are as slick as Celeste. Period. This game is difficult but is totally doable if you keep practicing, and the controls are so smooth that it never    This game has a really good balance between a good story (but not too present), good learning curve, good challenge and, most important of all, good controls.

    Even if it's a lot of hard work, every platforming game should have controls that are as slick as Celeste. Period. This game is difficult but is totally doable if you keep practicing, and the controls are so smooth that it never really feels as a chore to beat a level (it is difficult because the game design is based to be challenging).

    The music is good and also I really enjoyed the fact that the berries are optional. It really helps to know that they are there to impress your friends or if you wanna beat your own personnal high score.

    For people who want a even more challenging game, they have the B-C sides and all the heart stuff to do (I didn't because I am not a masochist lol). It's too bad that those side quest are insanely hard because I would have love to be able to do some of them, but I am not fond of dying 1000 times just to understand how works some insanely precise mechanics, but that's really just me.

    All in all, it's a great game that really deserves the praises. If you love fair platform challenges, it is here for you.    … Expand
  52. TyDollaS1gn
    Jun 16, 2021
    10
    This game had me obsessed... Perfectly designed to make you a master. It is not easy, but it is not too hard to kill your spirit. In fact, it is full of spirit. This game is an absolute perfect example of beautiful level design and tight controls.
  53. zachblackattack
    Aug 12, 2021
    8
    Truly unique and inspired. The lore is entertaining and the characters, although no larger than a few pixels, feel detailed and breathed-in. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenging gameplay and for myself, it fits within a range of not-too-easy but rewarding. I would recommend it to anyone looking to kill a few hours.
  54. eyalem123
    Aug 19, 2021
    10
    celeste is an incridble game. i feel like everything has a reason to be there. the story is touching and i wish we had more of it, the music and visuals are great but the level design and controls are truly outstanding. there is no filler. the platforming is tight but not annoingly hard, and there is no punishment for failing so it doesn't feel unfair. there is also more content then youceleste is an incridble game. i feel like everything has a reason to be there. the story is touching and i wish we had more of it, the music and visuals are great but the level design and controls are truly outstanding. there is no filler. the platforming is tight but not annoingly hard, and there is no punishment for failing so it doesn't feel unfair. there is also more content then you can imagine. the best 2d platformer i ever played.… Expand
  55. wilsonharvey
    Dec 5, 2021
    10
    You can feel the time and the love that went into this game. It was one of the best experiences in a game I’ve had in a long time. It changed my mood every time I played. The music the art style the level design. Flawless in my eyes.
  56. Simonclysm
    Dec 13, 2021
    10
    perfect in all points of view

    The story followed me in a difficult moment and thanks to that it helped me to move forward, considering that I felt like madeline
  57. Blue9710x
    Feb 20, 2022
    10
    Celeste is an indie game that I tried on a whim and instantly fell in love with it, and 2d plat formers aren't a genre I particularly enjoy. It is a game I planned to beat over the course of a week but couldn't help but beat in one night. The game is full of charm that I hardly see anywhere else. The platforming is the best and most smooth I've played in any game ever. The main story isCeleste is an indie game that I tried on a whim and instantly fell in love with it, and 2d plat formers aren't a genre I particularly enjoy. It is a game I planned to beat over the course of a week but couldn't help but beat in one night. The game is full of charm that I hardly see anywhere else. The platforming is the best and most smooth I've played in any game ever. The main story is very heartwarming and made me cry by the ending credits. Each level is unique in every way from visuals, game play changes, narrative, and music. Speaking of music, nearly every song in Celeste is great to listen to. The only negative thing I can think about the game is that the grind to 100% the game is crushingly difficult and only meant for the best of the best, which heavily contradicts the story's message. I'd rate Celeste a 9.5 out of 10 if meta critic allowed me to but I'll put a 10 in its place due to this game being the first game of an indie studio.… Expand
  58. foxabouttown
    Mar 9, 2022
    9
    A fun and challenging platformer, with a story that keeps you motivated, with very little amounts of time where it feels repetitive.
  59. BannerSiamang15
    Jul 21, 2022
    10
    You can wavedash which already makes it better than 80% of games and then on top of that the level design and ideas are amazing. Also has a surprisingly great story. Overall I'd say it's a little harder than New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
  60. poggomobile
    Jun 16, 2022
    9
    this game is not the best game in the world, but it is very cool. I like it a lot and come back to it over and over.

    it can be frustrating to get through some bits sure, and you will die a lot of times, but generally the hard aspects seem *fair* to me. I don't ever feel I missed a move because a problem with the game messed me up.... Just, you need to not get hung up on your character    this game is not the best game in the world, but it is very cool. I like it a lot and come back to it over and over.

    it can be frustrating to get through some bits sure, and you will die a lot of times, but generally the hard aspects seem *fair* to me. I don't ever feel I missed a move because a problem with the game messed me up.... Just, you need to not get hung up on your character dying and re-spawning all the time, I guess.

    Repetitiveness was never really an issue for me because I never played it obsessively for hours and hours in a row.. I have other games to play when I feel like a break from celeste.. :-)    … Expand
  61. Mr_alternate
    Jun 7, 2022
    9
    I love the art style and gameplay of Celeste. The story I really enjoyed as well with it's themes of mental health. Overall I really recommend this game to anyone who hasn't played it yet
  62. AnnaLynxy33
    Jul 18, 2022
    9
    Such a masterpiece! I didn't expect the precise platformer to be so good in gameplay, story, and atmosphere.

    There is a myth that this game is extremely hard, but it's not true. I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I enjoyed playing it so much! If you're looking for a real challenge - you definitely can get that as well: B, C sides of each level, chapter 9, collect all strawberries, gold    Such a masterpiece! I didn't expect the precise platformer to be so good in gameplay, story, and atmosphere.

    There is a myth that this game is extremely hard, but it's not true. I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I enjoyed playing it so much! If you're looking for a real challenge - you definitely can get that as well: B, C sides of each level, chapter 9, collect all strawberries, gold strawberries and etc.

    The only thing which I didn't like - I played the whole game using a stick of a controller and it was a mistake - most of the time character dashed in the wrong direction. So, play using dpad for dashes and you'll love this game.    … Expand
  63. Synthia
    Jul 11, 2022
    10
    Fun gameplay, creative mechanics, likeable characters and beautiful music. Celeste is everything you could ever want out of a 2D platformer and more, strongly recommend.
  64. BetaPlayer
    Aug 1, 2022
    10
    Is a masterpiece, from music to story is amazing, the gameplay is probably the best part tho, the levels are very fun and hard, but it feels like the one that fails it's you, not the game itself, definitely a must play. My favorite game of 2018.
  65. GRAFAIAI
    Sep 1, 2022
    0
    this game is so boring. i really dont like it. you cant have fun playing this
  66. binglebongus
    Nov 9, 2022
    0
    Bingle bongus when i bingle my bongus under the tree, when will i bingle somebody's bongus with me. My bongus needs bingling, meet me at the bridge, oh no, i left my bongus in the fridge.
  67. sloomo
    Dec 10, 2022
    5
    Gameplay is average. Story is terrible and makes you want to stop playing it. Don’t spend more than five dollars if you want this.
  68. Magele
    Jan 26, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a magical experience. It combines effective elements of a platformer with those of a puzzler in a simple, yet difficult world to navigate. Don't take the pixelated graphics for granted, there's a story here that goes beneath the surface. The scalability of the game allows for players who want to master the puzzles the ability to search for collectibles and try B-sides (harderCeleste is a magical experience. It combines effective elements of a platformer with those of a puzzler in a simple, yet difficult world to navigate. Don't take the pixelated graphics for granted, there's a story here that goes beneath the surface. The scalability of the game allows for players who want to master the puzzles the ability to search for collectibles and try B-sides (harder versions of the levels) or you can turn on Assist mode and just enjoy the excellent level design. Chapters are robust and full of interesting new obstacles. The catharsis that the character goes through on her journey is simple yet profound. The story, level design, gameplay mechanics and overall FUN (that's why we play games, right?), hits the mark on every occasion. Prepare to die 100 times trying to reach a single strawberry and master the mountain known as Celeste!… Expand
  69. SethpCecil
    Feb 23, 2018
    3
    To me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" wave of better games such as Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy. The gameplay loop becomes repetitive after the first world and the when you finally pass a particularly difficult area you get more a sense of relief that its finally over rather thanTo me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" wave of better games such as Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy. The gameplay loop becomes repetitive after the first world and the when you finally pass a particularly difficult area you get more a sense of relief that its finally over rather than accomplishment. I appreciate why some enjoy this game, but in no way is it a "best game of all time" game, this game isn't even in my top 10 of 2D platformer games.… Expand
  70. chris74
    Jan 29, 2018
    10
    Fantastic game that shows that if you boil a game down to great mechanics, variety and a meaningful story you don't need a big production value or graphics to create a masterpiece.
  71. Angel_Sigh
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    I love platformers - I think they're the most perfect expression of twitch gaming there is, and my favourite game growing up was Super Mario World on my old SNES. I was blown away by the creativity of the Mario Galaxy games. But 3D platformers have not been hitting the high points recently, not since the demise of the Wii and Nintendo's decision to turn away from the Galaxy games. Lately,I love platformers - I think they're the most perfect expression of twitch gaming there is, and my favourite game growing up was Super Mario World on my old SNES. I was blown away by the creativity of the Mario Galaxy games. But 3D platformers have not been hitting the high points recently, not since the demise of the Wii and Nintendo's decision to turn away from the Galaxy games. Lately, the best platformers have all been 2D examples, and, to pick one in particular, Super Meat Boy instantly barged its way into my top 10 Greatest Games OAT list.
    I'm a huge fan of the genre, and my Switch has been pretty much unplayed since I set the disappointing Mario Odyssey aside - then along came Celeste with its outrageous metascore...what else could I do? I downloaded it immediately and I've been playing nothing else since. It really is as good as everyone's saying, and when a new franchise appears, from a dev who's not world-famous either, and immediately gets a metascore like this, you can be sure there's something there to get excited about.

    I'll get my complaints out of the way first, because they're pretty minimal:

    1. The controls on Switch are not well-suited to split-second 2D platforming. It's just not practically possible to use an analogue stick to play something that demands such precision - it's far too insensitive - and the only other option you have is the Switch's 'd-pad'. The problem is that it's not really a d-pad; rather it's a four-button configuration that stands in for a d-pad, and this means your fingers often slip into the gap at the centre. This isn't a constant issue, but it happens enough for it to mess up some crucial moments in the game, which, like I say, requires absolutely perfect precision. The second problem with the controls, more minor perhaps, is that when you're playing on the big screen and the left and right joy-cons are detached, the left joy-con is simply too small for your hand to fit comfortably around it, and as a result you get the dreaded hand-cramp/-claw-cramp.

    2. The narrative is...well-meaning. It has occasional moments of Lynchian intrigue - birds appearing at particular moments throughout - and there are half-hearted attempts to imbue the whole climb itself with an air of metaphysical mystery, as though it might be some kind of dreamlike confabulation brought about by stress. But these elements don't join up well, and the writing ranges from mildly interesting, mildly amusing, to painfully worthy, anaemic stuff that feels like it was cribbed from a self-help book. There are lines about 'believing in yourself' and 'trusting in who you are', and subjects like anxiety attacks and lack of confidence and self-worth are dealt with clumsily. Some people have credited it simply for talking about these issues in the first place, but that's not really enough I don't think. This is a work of art, not a speech by a motivational speaker or a pamphlet on coping with depression, and as a result subjects like this need to be approached with some degree of nuance, and stitched properly into the fabric of the game, rather than awkwardly dumped on the player at the end of a level. It's incongruous, and over-earnest. It's a shame, because as a narrative device climbing a mountain is fertile ground. It has danger, obstacles to be overcome, a clear beginning and a very definite end. In Celeste however it never really feels like you're climbing a mountain at all except insofar as you're generally moving upwards.

    So those are the flaws, but they are rendered almost irrelevant by the platforming itself, which nudges up against perfection throughout. The warp and weft of the level design is better than anything you'll find in a 2D game outside of Super Meat Boy. It is an absolute joy to control, and the economy of the moveset(jump, dash, climb; that's it) means that the innovation instead comes in the form of certain structural gimmicks that run through each level.
    These are implemented with such skill, such invention, and are paced so well, that I finished a few of them and literally exhaled in awe. There are huge, diaphanous blocks which extend your dash as you pass through them; there are levels where ferocious winds extend your basic jump, or curtail it; there are levels in which platforms smash forwards whenever you dash; if this sounds confusing, trust me on this: it's all intuitive, and deeply satisfying to play. It's undeniably demanding, but crucially, and as with SMB, the restart time is so short that you can instantly throw yourself back into the level as soon as you die.
    I've completed it, and I died A LOT(just over i600 times!), but the design is so good there's never a doubt about why you messed up, or what you should've done; not once did I think 'forget this - this is just unhinged' as I did with the post end-game levels in SMB. Celeste's difficulty curve is gloriously smooth.

    In summary, this is the best platformer, 3D or otherwise, on the Switch. Seriously.    … Expand
  72. CanadianYeti
    Feb 1, 2018
    9
    Celeste easily ranks up there alongside the likes of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Shovel Knight as one of the best 2D platformers to be released this decade. The high-speed platforming poses a tough but fun and fair challenge, and the way the clever story is woven into the gameplay is especially brilliant. This game is definitely a must play for any fans of the genre.
  73. Zeriel
    Jun 14, 2018
    7
    I hate the word overrated but there's just no other way to describe this game. I keep hearing people calling it the best game on Switch! I mean it's a good game but It has been blown way out of proportion. Celeste is a hard as BALLS platformer, that's it. If you enjoy platformers but find they're too easy then you will enjoy this game. However, it can get really repetitive, (seriously I'veI hate the word overrated but there's just no other way to describe this game. I keep hearing people calling it the best game on Switch! I mean it's a good game but It has been blown way out of proportion. Celeste is a hard as BALLS platformer, that's it. If you enjoy platformers but find they're too easy then you will enjoy this game. However, it can get really repetitive, (seriously I've died like 500 times so far) but the game makes you keep trying out of frustration. The story is charming and the main character is likeable but there's not much else.

    Side note, the developer is a bit of an arrogant **** on the forums. He's an Anita Sarkeesian fan and likes to delete threads or anything that even mentions her. I don't let this affect my score of the game but he's definitely not a friend of gamers and I won't support his work anymore.    … Expand
  74. Flyinryan
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    Loved this game so much it gave me sore thumbs! The story is amazing and the game-play is the best combination of challenge and reward.
  75. bhappenstance
    Jul 9, 2022
    1
    Celeste is bar none one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. It's the kind of *tough-as-nails* platformer that makes self-professed hard-core gamers creams their knickers (hence the various glowing reviews). And while the concept, design, and music are praiseworthy, the controls just outright suck. For a game with hairs-breadth, one-hit deaths, you need as much precision asCeleste is bar none one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. It's the kind of *tough-as-nails* platformer that makes self-professed hard-core gamers creams their knickers (hence the various glowing reviews). And while the concept, design, and music are praiseworthy, the controls just outright suck. For a game with hairs-breadth, one-hit deaths, you need as much precision as possible. But with Celeste, sometimes a jump works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you clear an obstacle, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you grip the wall, sometimes you drop. It all starts to feel so...random and cheap. As such, a cool concept quickly devolves into a mind-numbing grind where you'll pass a level moreoften by luck than skill, which totally crushes any enjoyment Celeste could have offered. A terrible experience I wish upon no one.… Expand
  76. vape
    Feb 16, 2018
    10
    buy this game it's so good. Just watch the dunk's video on this mastapiece.
  77. VartAndoley
    Jan 29, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There is no easy way to sum up Celeste. The term 'bottled lightning' is prudent, however. For an indie game with a staff of five people, it checks an assortment of the token boxes of current releases.

    -Good music.
    -Fun, arcadey gameplay.
    -Collectible depth.
    -Unique art style.
    -Gameplay depth.

    There were a good many things I didn't want to like about Celeste as I loaded the game and began my first file, not realizing that I had already skimmed over some options like the assist mode and the fact that you can name your character, Madeline by default.

    The game starts with this 3D overlay of the mountain, where you are dumped into the prologue. Right off the bat this was incredibly jarring, but since it was so surface-level, it merely felt like signs of what may be a greater condition.

    The prologue itself seemed light, average even. You know little about Madeline, other than she wants to climb this mountain, and that she shows signs of a typical protagonist that second-guesses themselves. You're introduced to a side character and the game goes on to show you the air-dash mechanic. Standard stuff.

    From here on out the game begins to subvert expectations. You could spend a lot of time discussing the intricacies of movement in the game, how you continue to learn things well into the post-game, and the fact that it is done almost entirely tutorial-free, but to focus on just the gameplay is lacking perspective on this release.

    What Celeste manages to do with a bizarre precision is interweave the storyline elements into the gameplay itself. What at first was something that had me hunkering down to pander violently to the whims of the indie game market very quickly became something that was pulling me along to its own individual, personal style.

    While Celeste is not a tragedy, it is in many ways tragic, and I'm sure to many relateable. Madeline is simply running. She needs to get away from something in her past that she can't deal with, and the story buffers this with discussions about anxiety and depression.

    What is shocking about this is the gameplay itself leans into it as well, and it leans hard.

    'Boss' fights where you are being chased. Somber, massive areas designed to make you feel lost. A story-element mini-game about dealing with anxiety (which is used remarkably well later in the game as a visual effect). An incredible, intense boss sequence that leaves you feeling revitalized, and a perfect crescendo to finish the game, triumphant. Even something of a bittersweet ending.

    Now that's not to say it's perfectly executed. Some of the lines and characters are so unbelieveably cheesy and deliberate it can be hard to stomach at first, but the game wins you over on so many other levels that you can't help but be taken for the ride.

    For there to even be a game that tackles subjects like depression and actually emulate it to some degree isn't something to be taken lightly, since this doesn't really happen very much in the medium, so this game is likely going to be very highly regarded from people concerned about narrative.

    Upon beating the game, my expectations were subverted one final and harrowing time. This was the sweetest fruit (strawberry, if you will) for me. While I was amused with the storyline being well executed and still high off the fumes of the final stage, progress is halted. I needed to start finding elaborately hidden secrets in every main stage, and beating incredibly difficult b-side versions of the main stages. The reward? Even more difficult stages, certainly. The fox-hole goes incredibly deep in Celeste, and it is rewarding.

    The music is complementary and interwoven seamlessly into the experience. This itself is an art that was honestly very well done. Hitting specific triggers advances the loop in the songs, all arranged around the scenes adeptly. The soundtrack itself stands alone quite well, an interesting showcase being the two compositions for the mirror temple. Very emotional music with a very personal flair. It really needs to be said that the audio enhances this game on many levels, feeling like a character in the story.

    When thinking of slights against Celeste, quickly I get to surface level, petty complaints (I don't like the chapter end stills they use, at all!!!). The core game itself is gorgeous, an absolute treat to behold visually with rich and varied color schemes, always anchored against Madeline's character sprite as a stiff contrast. Intricate detail in the world, no secret felt truly hidden.

    So that's why I think bottled lightning sums it up. This product could not have been made by anyone else. It's relentlessly charming, and follows through on every set up. By no means is this game a masterpiece, it's not trying to be. It's a relentless tour-de-force that is pushing the genre where it needs to go.    … Expand
  78. MuffinMan369
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    this game was incredible, i loved it from start to finish. There are so many things to this game that make it great, the music, the game play, the story and some people might not like the art style but personally i loved it. I think it might be one of my favourite indies next to Stardew and Meat boy (i haven't played a lot of indie games)
  79. Exstream
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    Wonderful game that takes the difficulty of platformers like super meat boy and adds a deep and motivating plot to it. This game is a must buy
  80. Bnois
    Mar 16, 2020
    5
    Compared to other great indies like cuphead, hollow knight, dead cells, gris etc., this game feels like another mobile 3$ game
  81. op90
    Jun 11, 2022
    10
    to play....................................................................
  82. MoondogJapan
    Apr 17, 2018
    4
    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with all these rave reviews maybe you should buy it and see what all the fuss is about... Stop Right There. Do NOT buy this game. It will be a painful waste of money. If you're looking for a challenge and hate yourself, buy this game and waste your    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with all these rave reviews maybe you should buy it and see what all the fuss is about...
    Stop Right There. Do NOT buy this game. It will be a painful waste of money.

    If you're looking for a challenge and hate yourself, buy this game and waste your life on it, please.

    The story? Meh. Common tropes about overcoming personal weakness. That makes it a standout game? Are you serious?

    Tight controls? Absolutely not! The more difficult levels (one screen is one level, typically) rely too much on luck to complete. You can find yourself rehashing the same jump attempt for 20 minutes. And when you succeed? You have no idea what you did different that time. That's luck. Not skill.
    Which means that the game is a Failure at developing skill in players via play.
    It also means the switch analog stick is a Horrible input method for performing such fine movements.

    The art? If you usually don't like pixelated art in games, this game is in no way going to change your mind. I hate pixelated graphics. I don't care if it takes more effort to make. It looks awful. And if you're going to be making players replay the exact same move over and over for over 10 minutes on the same exact screen until they get lucky, the screens should be beautiful to look at.

    The music? Actually very good. I bumped up my score a full point for music.

    The other 3 points are pity points. Some people worked very hard to make this title, and even though it galls me that a game this bad is one of the highest rated games on Switch, the fact that they made a game that some people seem to really enjoy is worth something.

    Mario games have charm and soul. This game is an ugly, repetitious bore that tricks players into thinking they've achieved something when success is too often dependent on luck.

    I can't help but wonder how many of these high scores were bought.    … Expand
  83. b00lpr0p
    Jan 9, 2019
    4
    A very overrated game with nothing too special. The great feature is the soundtrack, which is really good, but the rest of the game is just like any other indie shovelware. It would deserve a 6, maybe a 7, but I gave it a 4 because the saddest thing is that the game is hyped by the specialized media just because the political views and connections of the author, which is a very disgusting fact.
  84. lucinhagamer
    Aug 26, 2022
    0
    a very cheap looking game, you found no fun playing this hours and hours. very bad game
  85. draculax420
    Dec 22, 2018
    4
    Coming from games like Hollow Knight and The Messenger, I was pretty disappointed about spending $20 on this game(thanks hype machine!). Unlike HK or TM, this game controls like a turd. The graphics are nothing to write home about and neither is the music. You know modern gaming journalism is a joke when mediocre games keep getting high scores. If you are a thinking person who doesn't getsComing from games like Hollow Knight and The Messenger, I was pretty disappointed about spending $20 on this game(thanks hype machine!). Unlike HK or TM, this game controls like a turd. The graphics are nothing to write home about and neither is the music. You know modern gaming journalism is a joke when mediocre games keep getting high scores. If you are a thinking person who doesn't gets easily swayed by pathetic hyping, this is a hard pass. If you absolutely must play this game, just wait until it's on sale for like 10$ or lower… Expand
  86. NBMTX
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    I'm not really into platformers, but I liked this one for it's story and accessibility. Now I only wish there was more story to experience. I probably won't get around to the B sides and C sides myself, but if you're into platformers, know that there's more to this game than it's 6-8 hour story. The game is easy to play and does a good job of upping your skills as you go (assuming youI'm not really into platformers, but I liked this one for it's story and accessibility. Now I only wish there was more story to experience. I probably won't get around to the B sides and C sides myself, but if you're into platformers, know that there's more to this game than it's 6-8 hour story. The game is easy to play and does a good job of upping your skills as you go (assuming you don't have them going in); and it's soundtrack is pretty darn good as well, IMO. Celeste was definitely worth picking up.… Expand
  87. peropify
    Feb 20, 2018
    10
    The only retro-inspired platformer I've played I've enjoyed from start till finish since actual retro games were made. Highly recommend.
  88. Radioactivedude
    Jun 28, 2019
    0
    I hate myself for doing this and signing up to review something negatively where some people have invested a lot of time in it to create it, but...How the hell can this game be so **** overrated???
    So I have what we most have, a life, work chores, duties, hobbies, etc. one of the hobbies are video games, so I carefully pick the games I think I will enjoy and love most for the scarce time    I hate myself for doing this and signing up to review something negatively where some people have invested a lot of time in it to create it, but...How the hell can this game be so **** overrated???
    So I have what we most have, a life, work chores, duties, hobbies, etc. one of the hobbies are video games, so I carefully pick the games I think I will enjoy and love most for the scarce time I have for playing them. After all the hype around this game "great difficult platformer with a great story and music" and the great pixel art I thought: "hm, I loved SMB, this looks nice, and with a story!!"
    To keep things short, it is utter **** mechanics and the controls are soooo bad you want to kill yourself midway through chapter 1....as some already have said here: in SMB it is about precision and fairnes, you know why you screwed up, you know how to do it, now make it! And when you get it right it is so satisfying! In Celeste most of the time you think you know what you need to do, but you try and try and try that, and it doesn't work at all...in the most simple levels. "Am I retarded? I have 3 options, jump, grab and dash...only a rock here...." and after the 1000 time you make it, doing the same you have done before. So you have to be on the exact pixel, at the exact time and release it at........just NO! That is annoying, not satisfying since there is more luck involved than skill...I will play it through in cheatmode to see all the pixel art and music, but this game is bad as it gets. Only once I felt equally screwed by all the hype: Undertale. But there I already expected troll hype by the look of the game...
    Celeste looked very nice and the reviews credible but no, again, a **** game hyped to oblivion....    … Expand
  89. MarquisInSpades
    Feb 8, 2018
    4
    Hype machine in full swing. Suggest trying Towerclimb which is so much better and underated.
  90. Hangedman84
    Mar 19, 2020
    0
    This game is just a ONE BIG TURD! I dont have closest idea why so many people likes it and gives it a big score. First of all gameplay - is boring and repetitive and I dont have right words to describe how much BORING and REPETITIVE it is! Second graphic - I love games with cool pixel graphic but its not one of them. Graphic in Celeste so bad its makes you whana puke and become blind orThis game is just a ONE BIG TURD! I dont have closest idea why so many people likes it and gives it a big score. First of all gameplay - is boring and repetitive and I dont have right words to describe how much BORING and REPETITIVE it is! Second graphic - I love games with cool pixel graphic but its not one of them. Graphic in Celeste so bad its makes you whana puke and become blind or first become blind and puke after! Third the controls - are so bad you want to kill yourself or kill the person who makes it be so bad! All other game aspects are at the same level as the first three described above.

    Give yourself a favor dont waste your time on this overrated garbage, there is so many good games around, better go and play to something else or spare some free time with people you love.    … Expand
  91. EmCza
    Jul 2, 2020
    3
    This game is overrated and overhyped. For me it’s mediocre game with weak gameplay.
  92. Gette
    Jan 18, 2019
    0
    The game doesn't deserve a 0, nor a 10, but I feel obliged to give it a low score to round up the odds.

    It plays just like another platformer so I'd give it a 6 if people don't hype it up to be the saviour of the industry. The graphics looks really horrid, and people compare it to PSX/Saturn games? No, the game looks worse than Mario 3 on NES when it's in a dark environment. Snow    The game doesn't deserve a 0, nor a 10, but I feel obliged to give it a low score to round up the odds.

    It plays just like another platformer so I'd give it a 6 if people don't hype it up to be the saviour of the industry.

    The graphics looks really horrid, and people compare it to PSX/Saturn games? No, the game looks worse than Mario 3 on NES when it's in a dark environment. Snow bros has better graphics than this.

    Looks slightly better when it's under day light but still much worse than Mario world on SNES.

    It's nowhere around the hype blind fanbois make up to be. Keep this in mind or you'll get disappointed.

    And people talk about when you buy AAA games, you look for demonstration. Innovation is where Indie capable of, except I don't see any innovation in most award winning indie games.

    There is only connection made through social gatherings. Sucks AAA are repetitive and indie are flooded with another platformer or roguelike.    … Expand
  93. Notdumb
    Jan 20, 2019
    2
    Ha. Overhyped garbage. Story is an absolute cringe filled cliché infused tale about “mental illness”. Lol. Anyone that thinks the story is in anyway thought provoking is indeed mentally ill. Don’t get me started on the gameplay. Who’s genius idea was it to make it so when you die, you have to wait a couple seconds EVERYTIME for the levels obstacles to rearrange themselves so you canHa. Overhyped garbage. Story is an absolute cringe filled cliché infused tale about “mental illness”. Lol. Anyone that thinks the story is in anyway thought provoking is indeed mentally ill. Don’t get me started on the gameplay. Who’s genius idea was it to make it so when you die, you have to wait a couple seconds EVERYTIME for the levels obstacles to rearrange themselves so you can actually get through? Idiots and buffoons enjoy this game. WASTE OF MONEY. DO NOT BUY.… Expand
  94. Nintendist
    Jun 30, 2022
    0
    boring gameplay with no good story. the gameplay is so boring that made me sleep.
  95. playerunknown
    Feb 20, 2018
    1
    Very difficult, frustrating, repetitive game. Poor graphics uglier than 8-bit consoles game graphics. This is unacceptable nowadays
  96. formulas666
    Mar 11, 2018
    0
    I don’t understand the hype. It is one of the most boring and repetitive games I have ever played. I am also really getting tired of this ugly pixel graphics. Nothing special here.
  97. vicenteragalch
    Oct 18, 2019
    10
    One of the best platformers available for the Switch, and one of the best games i've ever played.
  98. karco
    Jan 30, 2018
    9
    Celeste is platforming masterpiece. This is the first platformer that implemented very good story and infuse it with great gameplay. Controls are tight. levels are very creative and secrets are well hidden. Better than all recent Mario games and even Super meat boy. Bravo, Matt.
  99. MediaFreak
    Feb 7, 2018
    7
    I'm a big fan of pure platformers, but I felt this particular game just tried a bit too much to be something special.

    The story mode was great playing it through took about 5-6 hours and I really loved it. But I wanted some replayability and for me this game doesn't really have that. I enjoyed going back to the first world to get collectibles I'd missed and doing the bside and any other    I'm a big fan of pure platformers, but I felt this particular game just tried a bit too much to be something special.

    The story mode was great playing it through took about 5-6 hours and I really loved it. But I wanted some replayability and for me this game doesn't really have that. I enjoyed going back to the first world to get collectibles I'd missed and doing the bside and any other bsides id stumbled on along the way, but alot of the worlds just arent fun to explore. I dont want to have to jump into every part of every wall on ever level, well also being chased by something that will kill me if there isnt a hidden area there. Too much of the games best content is hidden away and most will get bored trying to find it.

    Would have been a better game if you could just pick your level like super meat boy and if things werent hidden.    … Expand
  100. sniderman89
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    Pros: charming story and graphics
    challenging platforming
    addicting desire to complete levels
    short levels and immediate respawn
    con: frustrating at times
    I completed the game which is a rare thing for me.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2018
6
#6 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
9
#9 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. COGconnected
    Oct 10, 2018
    93
    It tells a surprisingly deep and emotional story featuring a relatable main character and it all blends uniquely together to make one of the finest gaming experience of the year. Celeste might not look it but, just like the mountain Madeline is so determined to conquer, it towers above the rest quite easily.
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  2. Video Chums
    Aug 25, 2018
    80
    As most indie-keen gamers already know, Celeste is a phenomenal 2D platformer. Almost everything about it comes together to make a satisfying and challenging game that'll thoroughly put your skills to the test.
    Read full review
  3. DarkZero
    Jun 12, 2018
    100
    My hands actually hurt from gripping the Switch but I couldn’t stop, and when I finally landed on the other side of one of the many gauntlets that Celeste wears like a medal, I felt both relief and curiosity as to what it would throw at me next. It’s a rewarding experience and a game that I’m honoured to issue a perfect score.
    Read full review
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