Celeste

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"Celeste" is a narrative-driven platformer where players help Madeline climb Celeste Mountain, facing her inner demons and over 700 challenging screens. The game features simple yet expressive controls, with brutal B-side chapters and a touching story of self-discovery. It boasts stunning original music and offers over two hours of live piano and synth beats.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 46,276 reviews

story6,087 positive mentions

grinding136 negative mentions

story
11,311 mentions
54 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of *Celeste* is widely praised for its heartfelt exploration of themes such as anxiety, depression, and self-acceptance, resonating deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight how the narrative is intricately woven into the gameplay, enhancing the emotional impact of the protagonist Madeline's journey as she climbs the titular mountain. While some find the story simple or predictable, it is generally regarded as a touching and relatable experience that complements the challenging platforming mechanics.
- “Celeste is an incredibly rewarding experience, balancing challenging platforming with a meaningful story of self-discovery.”
- “The story about anxiety is told perfectly through the gameplay and music.”
- “The story of Madeline’s climb up Celeste Mountain is not just a physical journey but an emotional and personal one, exploring themes of self-discovery, mental health, and perseverance.”
- “Absolute dogshit of a repetitive and tedious experience with an amateur story that a kid could write in 5th grade.”
- “This is like presenting a story in a movie without explaining anything, and the entire audience is lost.”
- “Madeline is a depressed, anxious girl, alright, but the story seems to be there just for the sake of it.”
music
7,802 mentions
68 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in *Celeste*, composed by Lena Raine, is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, perfectly complementing the game's narrative and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the atmosphere of each level, with tracks that range from calming to intense, reflecting the protagonist's journey and struggles. Many players find themselves listening to the soundtrack outside of the game, underscoring its impact and memorability.
- “The music is beautiful and perfectly complements the visual experience.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Lena Raine, is a masterpiece.”
- “The music throughout all the levels, b and c sides, and especially farewell, is absolutely gorgeous, and is the main reason I didn't throw my controller out the window while playing this game.”
- “The only downside, apart from the insane difficulty of this game, especially in the DLC and the B&C-side levels, is the fact that the music gets kinda annoying and I would much rather listen to Spotify towards the end of the game.”
- “The music felt jarring at many times, and I had it turned down to 1 for most of my playthrough.”
- “The soundtrack is a certified hood classic.”
gameplay
7,641 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Celeste* is widely praised for its tight controls, challenging yet fair mechanics, and innovative level design that introduces new gameplay elements in each chapter. Players appreciate the fluidity and responsiveness of the movement, which allows for a satisfying experience as they navigate through increasingly complex obstacles. The game effectively intertwines its emotional narrative with gameplay, making each victory feel rewarding and meaningful, while also offering a variety of challenges and collectibles that enhance replayability.
- “The mechanics, hitboxes, and timings feel very natural and come to the player like second nature.”
- “Not only is it a masterful platformer with brilliant music, it has the most satisfying gameplay and the most insane challenges.”
- “The gameplay is very tight and difficult but resets are fast, so you get to strive for perfection.”
- “The gameplay is extremely difficult if you want to complete everything without assist mode, but, as you progress through it, you will realize your 'normal gameplay' is actually the same as what you used to consider 'absurdly hard' in other levels.”
- “The gameplay, while frustrating at times, is absolutely fantastic. The mechanics are simple, yet give so much depth and variety the more that you play.”
- “The gameplay is hard, it requires you to learn to execute very specific movements. It's a game about overcoming personal challenges, both in gameplay and in story.”
graphics
2,914 mentions
63 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Celeste* are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively creates a vibrant and immersive atmosphere that complements the game's emotional narrative. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the level design and the unique aesthetics of each chapter, noting that the visuals are both beautiful and functional, enhancing gameplay without overwhelming the player. The combination of stunning graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and a heartfelt story contributes to the game's overall appeal, making it a standout title in the platforming genre.
- “The blend of graphics and colors creates the perfect atmosphere for the story.”
- “The level design, the soundtrack, the art style, everything is with such a level of detail, that the love and passion of the developers for video games is noticeable.”
- “The graphics are very colorful and cartoonish pixel-art, that fit the story incredibly well.”
- “The graphics are simple, yet still complex and beautiful (and that might sound contradictory but I really mean it).”
- “The graphics are ultra retro, but that's absolutely perfect, the soundtrack is amazing and helps keep you motivated as you slowly gain new abilities and confidence in your footing, and there really is almost no end to the layers of additional challenge and depth, should you want to keep coming back for more.”
- “The graphics, while eight bit, are still really amazing.”
emotional
1,695 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Celeste" is widely praised for its heartfelt narrative that explores themes of mental health, self-discovery, and perseverance. Players often describe the story as touching and relatable, with many expressing that it resonated deeply with their personal experiences, leading to moments of genuine emotional reflection and even tears. The combination of challenging gameplay, beautiful visuals, and a stunning soundtrack enhances the emotional journey, making it a memorable and impactful experience for many.
- “The story of Madeline’s climb up Celeste Mountain is not just a physical journey but an emotional and personal one, exploring themes of self-discovery, mental health, and perseverance.”
- “Celeste is a beautiful, tough platformer with an incredibly touching and relatable narrative.”
- “The story is touching and engaging, and the characters are very likeable and they grow on you to the point that you will miss them when it's time for you to move on to the next game.”
atmosphere
406 mentions
64 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *Celeste* is widely praised for its captivating blend of beautiful pixel art, immersive sound design, and a poignant soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the game. Players appreciate how the music complements the gameplay and narrative, creating a unique and engaging experience that balances challenge with a comforting ambiance. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as heartwarming, enchanting, and deeply resonant, making it a standout feature that elevates the entire gaming experience.
- “The blend of graphics and colors creates the perfect atmosphere for the story.”
- “Celeste has a beautiful atmosphere with the awesome art, music, and story perfectly in sync with each other throughout the game.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, and the gameplay of the chapter all work together to form a wonderful chapter.”
- “Don't like the atmosphere, too grim; also, visuals, art looks very ugly to me personally, gameplay is mid.”
- “The greatest and most immediate issue with the game, however, is how void it really is of atmosphere.”
- “But the graphics just have no sense of atmosphere.”
replayability
370 mentions
52 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous collectibles, challenging b-sides and c-sides, and a vibrant modding community that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the game's tight controls and level design, which encourage repeated playthroughs to master mechanics and achieve personal bests. While some note a finite amount of content, the overall consensus is that the replay value is immense, making it a favorite for both casual and hardcore gamers.
- “The game features a phenomenal soundtrack, an insane amount of levels, a ton of replayability, and a super relatable story that uses the struggle of climbing a mountain to tackle the difficult topic of mental illness.”
- “Despite its short story, it boasts extensive replayability, with an emphasis on perfecting your runs and mastering the systems of movement provided to you in each stage.”
- “Celeste's story is incredibly touching and wonderful, the gameplay is the best in platformers, and the replayability is pretty much infinite, considering the incredible amount of extra challenges, collectibles, and the very active and competitive speedrunning community for the game, as well as the many mods for post-story challenge.”
- “The game has tonnes of replayability - once you learn your new moveset you realize it can be applied to the levels you've already done, and the game is played in a completely different way.”
- “The game offers replayability with collectible items (strawberries and other stuff) which gives you an extra goal and challenge to achieve.”
- “After the main story is completed, extra strawberries, cassette tapes, crystal hearts, and b-side levels provide hours and hours of replay value and extra content, which I really appreciate because the game is so good that I needed more.”
humor
307 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its ability to evoke genuine laughter through witty character interactions and amusing dialogue. The comedic elements are often intertwined with deeper themes, making the humor both relatable and impactful, particularly in the context of the game's exploration of mental health. Overall, players find the humor to be a significant and enjoyable aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “The laughing in particular is almost a highlight of the game for me, as it's rare for games to get an out-loud laugh from me, but that made me genuinely 'lol.'”
- “The story was funny, heartwarming, and especially relatable for me as a person with anxiety who also loves climbing; I teared up a bit at the summit of Celeste.”
- “Madeline is sassy, hilarious, and real, and the game is laugh-out-loud funny at multiple points.”
- “However, the story is poorly written, annoying, unfunny, and takes complex emotions and events and oversimplifies them, which could work if the story was more vague or had better characters, but in the end, they completely fail.”
grinding
212 mentions
1 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
64 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in later levels and side content. While some appreciate the challenge and rewarding nature of the gameplay, others feel that the extensive grinding required for collectibles and achievements can lead to frustration and burnout. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but can become excessively grindy, especially for completionists.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The game is a good level of difficult but rewarding, but the end game bonus stuff is long, hard, and tedious.”
- “I changed my mind, I don't recommend this game anymore... it got too tedious and repetitive, and the actual ending is hidden behind basically 100% completion, with 90% of the challenges being strung together concepts of the same old challenges repeated hundreds of times.”
- “This is a very well-designed game with a lot of polish, but unless you're into massive amounts of repetition with tedious and precise platforming, you're going to get frustrated and bored with this game fast.”
character development
94 mentions
60 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and relatability, particularly through the protagonist Madeline's journey of self-acceptance and overcoming personal challenges. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue and emotional resonance, which enhance the overall narrative experience. The character designs are also noted for their charm and effectiveness in conveying the story's themes, making the character development a standout aspect of the game.
- “Through the dialogue and character development, players watch Madeline grow as she learns to accept her imperfections and face her fears head-on.”
- “The themes throughout the game and character interactions are touching, with Madeline's character development being phenomenally relatable and touching on a deep level.”
- “With a compelling story, amazing character development, breathtaking level design, beautiful music, and tight controls, it is a true masterpiece.”
- “The story and character development would be enough for me to recommend this game to anyone.”
- “Overall, I 1000% recommend Celeste for its platforming, story, character development, and themes among many other things... I honestly think anyone who hasn't experienced it is missing out.”
- “All is stitched in with a plot about depression and the climbing of the mountain as the symbol of overcoming it; there will be some plot twists but nothing jaw-dropping. Overall, it was an interesting original take on the genre, but it's more of a character development over time than a proper story.”
optimization
41 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Overall, "Celeste" is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly even on low-end hardware and providing a seamless experience with minimal bugs or performance issues. However, some players noted frustrations with controller support and specific gameplay mechanics that felt less optimized. While the game excels in performance, there are still areas identified for potential refinement, particularly in terms of player experience and control responsiveness.
- “Celeste features incredible pixel art, giving a nostalgic feel while also balancing modern day performance.”
- “The game is extremely well optimized for how good it looks; my laptop is quite old and still runs the game at a high framerate while looking stunning.”
- “Nearly every screen is optimized so that when you die, you either feel 'I died too quick, I can do better!' or 'I was so close, let's do it again!'”
- “Played on controller, but felt as though some sections were optimized for keyboard, which was frustrating.”
- “Another issue I found was performance; I don't know what was happening in the background, but this game, while running, utterly consumed my RAM.”
- “Performance feels a bit clunky and not smooth at all.”
stability
29 mentions
28 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
62 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting solid performance and minimal bugs. However, some users have encountered occasional glitches, particularly during specific minigames or cutscenes, and a few have experienced significant issues like crashes or freezing. Despite these concerns, the majority of players find the game to be well-optimized and enjoyable, especially on various platforms.
- “The game also runs great and I didn't encounter any bugs or other issues.”
- “Everything is very polished, no glitches, and your success rate is entirely determined by your skill.”
- “Runs great, best running game I own and I mostly play 2D games.”
- “Only complaints are that the gondola cutscene feather minigame can be buggy at times, sometimes not loading the feather sprite or crashing (I've only experienced the crash twice, and the feather bug seems very rare), and that the default keybinds are bad.”
- “The game is probably great on other platforms... but on Steam, this game is a buggy mess.”
- “The game won't launch at all; it just freezes my computer and I need to reset.”
monetization
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
Celeste is praised for its generous monetization model, featuring no intrusive microtransactions or paywalled content, which allows players to fully engage with its creative gameplay and storytelling. In contrast to many modern games that rely on cash grabs, Celeste offers a pure gaming experience that respects players' time and investment. Overall, it stands out as a refreshing example of how to prioritize player experience over profit.
- “In an era where many games are bogged down by relentless monetization and uninspired designs, Celeste stands as a shimmering example of what happens when creativity and dedication take the lead.”
- “It’s a breathtaking journey that combines tight gameplay, heartfelt storytelling, and a refreshing approach to content and monetization.”
- “From the get-go, this game embraces a refreshing ethos: no intrusive monetization schemes, no DLCs locked behind paywalls, just pure content that respects the player’s investment of time and emotion.”
- “No filler, no microtransactions, no painful gimmicks, no spotty controls, and doesn't overstay its welcome.”
- “Controls feel super clunky, especially no mouse support in the menu, feels like a cheap PC port made as a cash grab.”