Climbey
- January 8, 2022
- Brian Lindenhof
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Climbey" is a VR-only Simulation game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, supporting up to 10 players for online races. Its physics-powered climbing and jumping mechanics are easy to learn but challenging to master, and it includes 15 intro levels. With a level editor, workshop support, and custom skyboxes, the game provides outstanding replayability and plenty of humor, despite some bugs.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and fun climbing experience with intuitive controls that make movement feel natural.
- Multiplayer mode enhances the experience, allowing players to help each other and interact in creative ways.
- The Steam Workshop integration provides endless replayability with user-generated content and levels.
- The jumping mechanics can be inconsistent, leading to frustration when trying to make precise jumps.
- The graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to everyone, making the game feel less polished.
- Multiplayer lobbies can be empty, making it difficult to find other players to join for cooperative play.
- gameplay161 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by intuitive climbing and movement mechanics that provide a satisfying and immersive experience, particularly in VR. However, the jumping mechanics have received significant criticism for being inconsistent and frustrating, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite some graphical limitations and occasional glitches, the game offers a solid foundation for engaging gameplay, especially with community-created content and multiplayer options.
“The mechanics are really nice and smooth, and the game in general is just amazing!”
“The climbing mechanics are easy and intuitive, allowing for new players to grasp the game quickly while enabling more tricky maneuvers.”
“The gameplay and locomotion are great, and through the built-in level editor, you never run dry of content!”
“There comes a point where the mechanics of a game are bad enough for it not to feel very rewarding when you get the hang of them - because it feels like there's no rhyme or reason to it.”
“The jumping mechanic is some of the worst I've ever seen and as a climbing game, that is detrimental to the gameplay.”
“The jump mechanic is too difficult to execute and leads to continued frustration.”
- graphics64 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are consistently described as simplistic, minimalist, and often dull, primarily featuring a grey and white color palette that lacks variety. While many reviewers note that the visuals are below average and could benefit from improvement, they emphasize that the engaging gameplay and immersive experience more than compensate for the lack of graphical fidelity. Overall, the consensus is that despite the basic graphics, the game remains enjoyable and fun to play.
“Don't let the simple graphics turn you off; the immersion of height and distance you get from the game gives you that VR buzz, what it's like to climb.”
“Despite the simple graphics, it gives you the distinct feeling of being very high up and actually makes you nervous to make those big, daring jumps.”
“Yes, the graphics are simple, but the gameplay is awesome and so easy to pick up.”
“The game makes a pretty bad first impression with awful UI, outdated visuals, and poorly designed tutorials.”
“On top of that, the graphics are about as boring as you get, just white and grey boxes, and there's no music to speak of.”
“I was on the fence about this one for a while because the grey and white cube aesthetic is, in my opinion, quite dull to look at.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its robust workshop support and built-in level editor, allowing players to create and share an almost limitless variety of user-generated content. With frequent updates and a growing library of community-created maps, players can enjoy an ever-evolving experience that keeps them engaged long-term. Overall, the combination of multiplayer features and creative tools contributes to its reputation as one of the most replayable VR titles available.
“With legitimately unlimited replay value with Steam Workshop, and gut-churning heights, this game is a must-play, especially with friends.”
“The climbing part is just a small part of the fun with talented people creating unique and entertaining maps on the workshop, which is where most of the replayability comes from.”
“My favorite VR title so far, endless replayability due to the amount of workshop content and regular updates keep me coming back.”
“The game has the largest amount of user-created content of any Vive game out there and is infinitely replayable because new levels are created all the time.”
- music20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's music aspect is a mixed bag; while it features an in-game radio with a variety of stations that can enhance the climbing experience, navigation is cumbersome and the game lacks a dedicated soundtrack. Players often recommend streaming their own music to fill the silence, as the absence of original music can detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many find joy in customizing their audio backdrop while enjoying the gameplay.
“You can play at your own pace and listen to your own music on the in-game radio while you do it.”
“No other game has been able to match the level of fun that you can have when tuning into the same music station with a group of friends and just climbing for hours.”
“Can be challenging or just a nice relaxing climbing experience listening to music stations with the in-game radio feature.”
“On top of that the graphics are about as boring as you get, just white and grey boxes, and there's no music to speak of.”
“I suggest playing this with some music running in the background because it doesn't have any on its own.”
“This is fun and worth the price, but it needs some sound/music.”
- stability16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with some users reporting frequent glitches and control issues, particularly with climbing mechanics, leading to frustration. However, others appreciate the game's fun factor and creativity, noting that while it has bugs, many are embraced as features by the community. Overall, the game is considered enjoyable despite its early access status and occasional stability problems.
“This game is great, with very few to no glitches. You can create your own levels, play levels made by others, and many of them are of very high quality.”
“Climbey is an extremely fun game and runs great even if you have a system slightly below minimum requirements for VR Vive (like I currently do).”
“I hate using the trigger to climb; it's awful and glitches out every second.”
“One negative aspect is that the game freezes every few hours, which leads to loss of all progress you had. It's frustrating but a lot of fun and definitely worth it anyway!”
“It can be very buggy at times.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, with players enjoying the comedic elements of parkour challenges and the absurdity of their in-game mishaps. Many reviews highlight the fun of multiplayer interactions, where laughter often ensues from shared experiences and voice chat dynamics. Overall, the game's blend of funny scenarios and engaging gameplay creates a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players entertained.
“When I played the demo level, I found myself laughing and having a good time, and when I beat the demo level, I had a smile on my face.”
“I put my wife, who is absolutely terrified of heights, into this game and the first time she played, she fell from pretty high up and was crying/laughing for like five minutes straight.”
“The voice chat is nicely done; a player's voice gets louder when you're close to them, so there's a real sense of space and distance, and it's hilarious to hear people yell in despair as they miss a jump.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, featuring a built-in campaign that consists of courses without a storyline. While players appreciate the thrilling experiences and challenges within the missions, particularly the adrenaline-inducing vertical wall, the absence of a cohesive story may leave some users wanting more.
“Didn’t have that in the demo I tested, but in the full game it's another story...”
“Favorite part was in one of the first few missions; there is a huge vertical wall that angles you, eventually just hanging, and it gets my heart pumping so fast. I loved it.”
“There is no story.”
“It has a built-in campaign, which is just courses with no storyline.”
“In the full game, it's another story...”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its excellent optimization, featuring a low file size and minimal performance requirements, making it accessible even on low-spec systems. It is particularly well-optimized for index controllers, ensuring a smooth and satisfying experience, while also offering engaging multiplayer and integrated level editing features.
“It runs smoothly even on low specs; it's fun, and in multiplayer, people are very friendly. The integrated level editor and workshop are challenging, and best of all, it gives me the workout that I need.”
“The low file size and low performance requirements make this my go-to VR game when I'm trying to download something else.”
“This game is probably the most optimized for the Index controllers out there; it is very satisfying and I would recommend it!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the ability to use custom 360-degree images as skyboxes, allowing players to personalize their surroundings. This feature, combined with the level editor and drop-in multiplayer, contributes to a dynamic and engaging environment that encourages replayability.
“The level editor and drop-in multiplayer will keep you coming back, and the ability to change skyboxes (the background of where you're climbing) lets you completely alter the atmosphere of the game.”
“One thing I also need to mention is the possibility to use any 360-degree image as a skybox because it adds a lot to the surrounding atmosphere, and I would definitely recommend trying that.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
“Grinding can be a rewarding experience if you enjoy the journey of leveling up your character.”
“The grind is real, but it feels satisfying to see your hard work pay off in the end.”
“Investing time in grinding allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear that enhance your gameplay.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
