Cirno! Lifts a Boulder

About

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder is a single player open world platformer game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Alexander Golke and was released on March 11, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Help Cirno get back into her home! A chill, bite-sized 3D platformer in which you explore a frozen Misty Lake and gain boulder-lifting strength.

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99%

Audience ScoreBased on 347 reviews

music24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Charming and cozy 3D platformer with a relaxing atmosphere and cute, expressive character animations.
Smooth and responsive movement mechanics with a gradual unlock of abilities that enhance exploration and platforming.
Lots of collectibles, Easter eggs, and Touhou references that add replayability and enjoyment for fans and newcomers alike.

The game is quite short and may feel shallow or lacking in content for some players.
Limited horizontal movement options and no momentum-based mechanics, leading to a somewhat basic platforming experience compared to classics.
Camera controls can be frustrating as it is fully manual without automatic adjustment following player movement.

music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
32%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its chill, relaxing, and cozy atmosphere, often described as a charming Touhou-inspired soundtrack that perfectly complements the gameplay and setting. While many find the tracks catchy and enjoyable, some note that the limited number of songs can feel repetitive during extended play. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the laid-back, immersive experience and is a highlight of the game.
- “As a fangame, there are a lot of references here and there; the covers of the original Touhou OST are very chill, fit the mood, and there is more than enough variety to last the game length.”
- “Combined with the gentle pacing of the gameplay, the music contributes to a cozy experience that feels almost like a playful winter stroll through a magical landscape.”
- “Soft background music accompanies the player during exploration, creating a calm and pleasant ambiance that fits the snowy setting.”
- “The only real complaint I have is the music is a bit repetitive, it's just three songs looped, but they're catchy enough to where I'm not too bothered by it.”
- “It controls well, the music is chill and relaxing (albeit repetitive as it's just the same 2-3 tracks playing over and over).”
- “Adding a few more soundtracks would definitely help (although easier said than done).”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by charming, fluid platforming mechanics centered around a collectathon progression system with rewarding movement abilities like flutter jumping and floating. While it offers a relaxing, exploration-focused experience enhanced by good music and neat references, some players find the gameplay simple, occasionally shallow, and less engaging compared to genre classics. Overall, it appeals most to those seeking a cozy, aesthetic platformer rather than a mechanically deep challenge.
- “A super fun and charming little 3D Touhou fangame with cool visuals, chill tunes, fluid yet solid platforming mechanics, plenty of hidden secrets and references, and achievements that provide a satisfying amount of replayability.”
- “Anyhow, the game is not only a fun 3D platformer with Touhou flavouring, but also offers a surprisingly deep reflection on the study of existentialism, realized through its multi-layered narrative and gameplay, which is greatly emboldened by the unyielding protagonist of the game Cirno, whose arduous journey through the game alludes to many literary works, like Dante's trek through the nine circles of hell, yet chief amongst them—to the character of the mythical Sisyphus, or perhaps rather, the Sisyphean archetype.”
- “Using the flutter jump and the float mechanics to get around and having the movement increase with more power was very rewarding, and having the game open up more helped encourage me to explore.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
52%
The game features charming, low-poly 3D graphics reminiscent of classic 64-era titles, creating a cozy and visually appealing world that complements its relaxed, exploratory gameplay. The art style is consistently praised for its cuteness, clear design, and atmospheric portrayal of snowy landscapes, enhanced by adorable animations and numerous detailed references. While simple compared to bigger platformers, the visuals effectively support the game's enjoyable, polished presentation and relaxing vibe.
- “The low-poly graphics reminiscent of the 64-era masterpieces and the atmosphere expressing the silence of winter are well-combined, and the existence of a "sit button" that lets you sit anytime will surely provide a moment of healing.”
- “Art style that feels like it just walked out of a PlayStation developer's dreams, cozy soundtrack, and so many wonderful hidden touches representing all facets of the Touhou Project franchise; there's just so much to take in wandering Misty Lake for those precious power items, appreciating all the little details referencing past and present Touhou entries.”
- “Although the graphics are relatively simple compared to larger platforming titles, the clean visual style helps the game maintain clarity and charm without requiring complex technical detail.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The game’s low-poly, nostalgic graphics and calming sound design create a cozy, relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes peaceful exploration and immersion. Players appreciate its charming, minimalist style combined with soothing music, making it an ideal experience for those seeking a calming, whimsical adventure. Overall, the atmosphere is frequently praised as the game’s standout feature, offering a comforting and enjoyable environment.
- “The low-poly graphics reminiscent of the 64-era masterpieces and the atmosphere expressing the silence of winter are well-combined, and the existence of a 'sit button' that lets you sit anytime provides a moment of healing.”
- “This approach allows players to immerse themselves in a relaxed atmosphere where exploration is the central focus.”
- “The sound design further enhances the game’s relaxed atmosphere.”
- “The game is pretty simple on its surface; it's essentially a 'find the objects' game. It helps you out when you get stuck, and the atmosphere around it makes it really cozy and chill.”
- “I wish Cirno had a slightly larger moveset, but I can easily look past that for the cute and cozy atmosphere.”
- “Something that funny would push this game to a 12/10 for me, but even with the mediocre horizontal movement, this game is still definitely worth the price for the atmosphere and music alone.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Replayability is a mixed aspect for this 3D Touhou fangame: achievements, hidden secrets, multiple endings, and collectibles add layers of replay value for completionists, but the core gameplay may feel limited and short for many players. While some appreciate the content and challenge runs, most are likely to play through only once, making replayability moderately satisfying but not extensive.
- “A super fun and charming little 3D Touhou fangame with cool visuals, chill tunes, fluid yet solid platforming mechanics, plenty of hidden secrets and references, and achievements that provide a satisfying amount of replayability.”
- “The achievements and Easter eggs provide enough replayability to make up for it, so I am satisfied after 100% completion, getting all achievements and finding the little Easter eggs.”
- “While these collectibles are not essential for completing the main objective, they add a layer of replayability for players interested in achieving full completion.”
- “I'll be honest, it's a collectathon that feels empty and has no real replayability.”
- “I wish it had more mobility options and more replayability to it, but to have some more media of your beloved characters is such a privilege that I am grateful for.”
- “There is some replayability in that there are technically multiple endings, there are things to find that you might not find on a single playthrough, and there is even a challenge type of run that few will probably consider doing, but I would be surprised if people give this more than one run on the majority.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is charming and intentional, blending playful movement mechanics with cute, funny characters and references. Its lighthearted tone emphasizes curiosity and whimsy over tension, making for a delightful and amusing platformer experience.
- “Well worth it with a lot of cute and funny references in it.”
- “Cirno’s mischievous personality and determination to solve her problem give the adventure a humorous tone, emphasizing curiosity and determination rather than danger or dramatic conflict.”
- “Really fun hour spent, you can tell the creator understands how your movement options let you move around in funny ways and your access to items feels very, very intentional.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The story is minimal and lighthearted, primarily serving as motivation for exploration, centered around themes of overcoming challenges and cherishing life's joys and friendships. Though simple, it has potential to be expanded into a fuller narrative experience.
- “Lifts a boulder is a story about conquering impossible odds and doing whatever you can to improve while reminding oneself what it means to live in the first place; the joys of creation, the friends you've made along your journey, and frogs.”
- “The game’s story is intentionally minimal, serving mainly as a lighthearted motivation for the exploration that follows.”
- “Baka lifts a boulder, end of story.”
- “I ought to replay the game sometime to see if there were any signs of that plot development unfolding.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game is stable and polished, running smoothly without bugs or softlocks, and delivering a satisfying, well-paced experience. While the "terrain expert" achievement is notably challenging and may require exploiting glitches or extensive practice, overall performance and gameplay remain solid and enjoyable.
- “I give it a thumbs up because it is exactly as the store page portrays it, and the game is very polished in terms of options, graphics, sound, music, and being generally bug free, and I encountered no softlocks either.”
- “Also runs great on my laptop.”
- “It runs great, plays great, the movement is awesome, the progress feels rewarding and not too slow, the map is big and also has a sense of progression to it, music is chill, art direction is great and all the small details add up.”
- “The 'terrain expert' achievement is legitimately frustrating since I could not imagine completing it without exploiting bugs and glitches, which took hours of trial and error. It's unclear if this is intentional to nod towards retro-gaming glitch techniques and speedrunning, but it feels like the game replicates that experience.”
- “Trying to go for the terrain expert achievement is pretty difficult, though manageable without glitches, and the aerial section of the map is a major pain to navigate since even with max draw distance you can't see far enough to know where you're going.”
- “The achievements are straightforward, but the terrain expert challenge requires repeated precise movements and controls, making it feel like it involves hours of repetitive trial to get a perfect finish.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its wholesome and adorable emotional experience, evoking genuine feelings, including moments of joy and heartfelt triumph. However, some players also felt a sense of emptiness after completing it.
- “Absolutely adorable and wholesome game.”
- “I cried when she finally lifted the boulder.”
- “Wholesome and fun little 3D platformer.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game can become tedious, especially when collecting everything toward the end, although the short overall playtime helps mitigate this. Some players appreciate unique mechanics like the terrain expert approach, but wish for more movement options to reduce repetitive running and more varied upgrades beyond initial stamina boosts.
- “The level is very large and having a dash or something to make running around less tedious would've been nice.”
- “My only two issues are collecting everything gets a bit tedious by the end (which isn't much of an issue, the game’s only an hour long) and that there aren't any upgrades past the first few you get besides more stamina.”
- “Terrain expert while tedious was a really cool way to approach from a different angle and show how versatile the frozen platform can be.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder is a open world platformer game with fantasy and anime themes.

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder is available on PC, Steam Deck, Windows and Linux.

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder was released on March 11, 2026.

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder was developed by Alexander Golke.

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its replayability.

Cirno! Lifts a Boulder is a single player game.

Similar games include Cavern of Dreams, Tinykin, Grow Up, Poi, Lunistice and others.

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