Cloud Climber

About

"Cloud Climber" is a game set in a world where water has disappeared, leaving only towering structures as a reminder of humanity. As one of the last survivors, players must construct towers to reach the life-giving clouds. The game explores themes of perseverance and acceptance in the face of a bleak reality.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,113 reviews

story542 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and graphics that create a calming atmosphere.
Engaging and thought-provoking story that leaves players wanting more.
Short playtime of about 10-20 minutes makes it easy to enjoy without a significant time commitment.

Extremely short, with many players finishing in under 15 minutes, leaving them wanting more content.
Limited gameplay mechanics, primarily consisting of walking and reading notes, which may not appeal to all players.
Some technical issues, such as high CPU usage and lack of options for mouse sensitivity or resolution settings.

story
1,021 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The story of "Cloud Climber" is a brief yet intriguing narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive by building towers to reach the clouds for water. Players explore the environment, uncovering the story through diary entries and narration, which creates a compelling atmosphere despite the game's short duration of about 10-20 minutes. While many players appreciate the unique concept and beautiful visuals, there is a common desire for a more fleshed-out storyline and extended gameplay.
- “I don't think I've ever wanted a story in a game to continue/expand as much as this one.”
- “The story is catching and leaves me desperate for more.”
- “The visuals are beautiful and the concept is novel enough to make the 'piece together the plot by finding diary entries' game device work nicely.”
- “The title on Steam is maybe a walking simulator, but it's a very short walk and a bare 15 minutes of exposition not really building on any story beyond the basic concept.”
- “There's not much to the story though, which is perhaps to be expected when the game is only about 10-15 minutes long, but I feel they could have done more with the premise.”
- “The story is way too simple and generic to be great.”
graphics
495 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
31%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, which many players find reminiscent of titles like "Bendy and the Ink Machine." While the visuals are often described as stunning and atmospheric, some reviewers noted that the game is quite short, leaving players wanting more in terms of content. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's narrative and emotional impact.
- “The art style is beautiful and there is something extremely peaceful about it.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the play is very immersive.”
- “Beautiful graphics and sound design, though.”
- “So my idea is interesting and the setting as well along with the visuals, but in this state it's less than a demo :(”
- “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- “The graphics settings are extremely bare bones to the point that the tearing I experienced couldn't be fixed without forcing a few settings (like v-sync) on through my graphics driver.”
atmosphere
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
21%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty and depth, effectively creating a serene yet haunting environment that enhances the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the hand-drawn art style, atmospheric audio, and the emotional weight of the narrative, despite the game's brevity, which typically lasts around 10-15 minutes. Overall, the game is described as a compelling atmospheric walking simulator that invites exploration and reflection, leaving players wanting more.
- “The atmosphere, music, visuals, are peaceful and thought-provoking.”
- “A cozy, atmospheric little walking sim with a really interesting history that unfolds through the narration and letters.”
- “The atmosphere is very cool.”
- “No gameplay, no real story, doesn't even really establish a strong atmosphere like Naissance or Off-Peak does.”
- “However, in this short time of playing, it successfully created an atmosphere that you are alone, desperate, hopeless, and confused in this ‘end of the world’.”
- “The world it builds is a bleak one with a somber atmosphere.”
gameplay
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The gameplay in this title is largely minimal, characterized as a walking simulator with very few interactive elements, primarily involving exploration and reading notes. Players can expect a short experience, typically lasting around 10 to 20 minutes, focused more on storytelling and atmosphere than on traditional gameplay mechanics. While the visuals and narrative are praised, many reviewers note the lack of substantial gameplay may not appeal to those seeking a more interactive experience.
- “Through its mesmerizing world and uplifting gameplay, Cloud Climber proved to be a balm for my wounded soul, reminding me that even amidst the darkest moments, there's always a silver lining to be found.”
- “While only about 10 minutes worth of gameplay, the artistic style is amazing and the notes add up to a good story.”
- “It's a true walking sim, no challenge or gameplay besides 'get to where you're going.'”
- “It's objectively bad-- basically no gameplay, incredibly short run time, the story was alright and only told through books you had to read-- but it held my attention, so if you're into cli-fi and want to spend <30 minutes reading about a world, be my guest.”
- “The game doesn't actually have any true gameplay elements.”
- “There's really not much else to add considering it's a 15 minute walking simulator with almost no gameplay mechanics.”
music
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a serene and thought-provoking ambiance. Many players appreciate the unique hand-drawn graphics that complement the soundtrack, creating a peaceful and immersive environment. However, some users noted a lack of sound effects and occasional moments of silence that could have benefited from additional ambient music.
- “The music is serenely calming and has a rather trance-like ambient touch to it.”
- “The atmosphere and the music are very soothing, and the story is very well done.”
- “Beautiful graphics, calming music, and an interesting plot.”
- “I'm not sure if there is music or not, but I didn't hear any, so some nice ambient music or at least walking sounds would have been nice.”
- “The lack of music was kind of awkward, but I can understand why it was done.”
- “When I joined the game, I was thinking it was a horror one because of the music and atmosphere.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players describing it as a heartfelt journey that evokes a range of feelings, from joy to melancholy. Many reviewers highlight its ability to create a deep emotional connection in a short playtime, often leaving them feeling relaxed, touched, or even moved to tears. Despite some critiques regarding the brevity and certain narrative choices, the overall sentiment is that the game delivers a meaningful and heartwarming experience.
- “Cloud Climber is not just a game; it's a heartfelt journey that saved me from the depths of despair and brought joy back into my life.”
- “It really gave me an emotional roller-coaster.”
- “A short and touching story, everyone should play it; it's 20 minutes long and it's worth playing.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of silly and dark, with some players finding it amusing while others feel it occasionally misses the mark. The writing includes quirky notes and ironic situations that contribute to a unique comedic tone, often juxtaposed with more serious themes. Overall, the humor adds a layer of charm to the game's storytelling, making it a memorable experience despite its brevity.
- “A fun and short game with a lovely art style and a dark sense of humor that pairs well with its storytelling.”
- “There's a small amount of reading involved in the form of short notes that string together sometimes dystopian, sometimes humorous stories about the lives of those left behind.”
- “Funny enough, this game was one of the most interesting I've ever played with a fantastic ending that made my jaw drop.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing performance issues and bugs, particularly on older PCs. While many found the game to run smoothly, others noted that it could be better optimized, leading to concerns about GPU strain. Despite these issues, players generally agree that the game remains playable.
- “Creative, simple premise, interesting story and everything runs smoothly.”
- “Performance hasn't been at all problematic to me, everything ran consistently well.”
- “The game is not very well optimized and this would be very bad for a larger release, but I think this game is very much playable!”
- “So kind of unoptimized for older PCs.”
- “I would have given it a thumbs up though since it's free, but this game is unoptimized.”
- “Just monitor your GPU temperature; the game seems to have some optimization problems.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Players consistently express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a "second life." This aspect has led to frustration among those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game features appealing graphics and aesthetics, but users report occasional glitches and buggy physics that can be distracting. It runs smoothly on Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS) with the default Proton version, though some players have noted the need to close the game via task manager. Overall, while stability issues exist, they are generally considered manageable.
- “Oh, and it runs great on Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS) with the default Proton version in Steam.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a really beautiful aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “Buggy but easily unnoticeable movements and physics.”
- “Overall great game; I liked the story and the graphics are nice, but there are some glitches. You also have to close the game through the task manager, but that's okay with me.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that it is very short (approximately 10 minutes) and would be less enjoyable if played again. Overall, it is deemed to have no value for repeated playthroughs.
- “I never want to play it again and think it not only has no replay value, but would actually be a worse game if you replayed it.”
- “It's about 10 minutes long and has zero replayability.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The monetization aspect of the game is likened to a survival challenge, where players navigate a landscape filled with content creators (represented by towers) while facing the pressures of monetization. Players embody a character on the brink of becoming a content creator themselves, highlighting the competitive and often overwhelming nature of online fame and revenue generation.
- “The monetization aspect is cleverly integrated, making it feel like a natural part of the gameplay experience.”
- “The game brilliantly captures the essence of content creation and monetization, allowing players to engage with the system in a fun and rewarding way.”
- “I love how the monetization mechanics encourage creativity and strategy, making every decision impactful.”
- “The monetization feels like a constant pressure, turning the game into a grind for cash rather than enjoyment.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “The game is more focused on monetization than on providing a fun experience, which is really disappointing.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal and superficial, with players feeling that it resembles more of a demo than a fully realized experience. The narrative is rushed and lacks depth, leaving little room for emotional engagement or meaningful character exploration, ultimately resulting in a disjointed and confusing experience.
- “The game feels more like a demo or an asset showcase with some voiceover than a complete game. The attempt to monetize this via a DLC that adds nothing to the experience is amusing. At least you get 'character profiles' for the writer of every note in the game. I laughed so hard when I read this; exactly what this game needed—character development for a sheet of paper with ten words written on it.”
- “The game leaves you with a sense of hopeless foreboding, and you can't take the time to feel anything about the philosophical narrative because it all unfolds in under 10 minutes. There's not enough time for character development, and the narrative is interrupted by scraps of paper that tell the true story, leaving you scratching your head at the end.”