Cloud Climber

About

Cloud Climber is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Two Star Games and was released on January 14, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

Explore the last monuments of humanity, as one of the only people alive, while coming to terms with the bleak reality that lies ahead.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,133 reviews

story552 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and calming atmosphere.
Interesting story that provokes thought about humanity's struggles.
Short gameplay (10-20 minutes) makes it a quick and enjoyable experience.

Extremely short, leaving players wanting more content.
Limited interactivity with minimal gameplay elements.
Narration can feel flat and doesn't add much to the experience.

story
1,039 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The story of "Cloud Climber" is a brief yet poignant narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive by building towering structures to reach the clouds for water. While the game is short, typically taking around 10-20 minutes to complete, it effectively conveys its themes through environmental storytelling and scattered notes, leaving players intrigued and yearning for more depth and expansion of the lore. The combination of beautiful visuals and a melancholic atmosphere enhances the storytelling experience, making it a compelling, albeit brief, journey.
- “Melancholic and sparse, but telling a decent story in a tiny amount of time, with beautifully drawn graphics, good voice acting, and a poetic vibe.”
- “I am giving it a positive review because it has an amazing story and interesting lore that needs to be expanded on in some way!”
- “The story was really good as you follow the last man on earth as he contemplates the reasons for building the tower and the futility of it all, all helped by notes scattered throughout the game.”
- “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.”
- “The story could've been more explored as it is pretty simple.”
- “The gameplay is minimal, the story is average, but it's free so okay.”
graphics
509 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, which effectively conveys a melancholic atmosphere and enhances the minimalist storytelling. Many players appreciate the unique aesthetic reminiscent of titles like "Bendy and the Ink Machine," noting that the visuals contribute significantly to the overall experience, despite the game's short duration. However, some users found the graphics to be decent but not exceptional, with a few expressing disappointment in the lack of gameplay depth.
- “The art style is gorgeous, evoking a sense of scale and desolation that perfectly supports its minimalist storytelling.”
- “The graphics are absolutely astonishing and the idea behind the game is pretty good.”
- “The visuals are stunning and the atmosphere is great.”
- “The graphics are passable but nothing worth talking about.”
- “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
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
22%
1%
The atmosphere of "Cloud Climber" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, creating a serene yet melancholic experience that captivates players in its brief runtime. The hand-drawn art style, combined with soothing music and thoughtful storytelling, immerses players in a rich, atmospheric world that encourages reflection and exploration. Despite its short length, many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and a sense of wonder, making it a recommended experience for fans of atmospheric walking simulators.
- “Cloud Climber delivers a hauntingly beautiful and thoughtful experience in under 15 minutes, and somehow still manages to feel rich in atmosphere and lore.”
- “The atmosphere is unmatched, and the story holds it together.”
- “A beautiful atmospheric little game that forces one to reflect about building your life for other people.”
- “The atmosphere is a little depressing, and the story is a little sad, but, in the end, it's a fine work of art, and most definitely worth the time.”
- “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
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The gameplay of this title is predominantly a walking simulator, offering a very short experience of around 10-20 minutes with minimal interactive elements, such as collecting items and navigating simple obstacles. While many players appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn graphics and engaging story, they note the lack of substantial gameplay mechanics, making it more of an atmospheric narrative experience than a traditional game. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a brief, relaxing escape rather than challenging gameplay.
- “The gameplay takes around 10-15 minutes, but thanks to the hand-drawn graphics and story, I decided to download it and even played through multiple times.”
- “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.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's a nice, short walking sim exploring an interesting idea for a setting.”
- “There really is no gameplay, even by walking sim standards.”
- “The gameplay is minimal, the story is average, but it's free so okay.”
- “It's a very short game with very little gameplay (your options are walk, read some notes, and occasionally open a door or place some wood).”
music
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with soothing soundtracks that complement the visuals and narrative. While some players noted a lack of ambient sound effects or music in certain moments, the majority found the soundtrack to be beautifully crafted, evoking a sense of peace and nostalgia. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive atmosphere.
- “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.”
- “The lack of music was kind of awkward, but I can understand why it was done.”
- “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.”
- “When I joined the game I was thinking it is a horror one because of the music and atmosphere.”
emotional
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its poignant storytelling and ability to evoke deep feelings, with many players describing it as a touching and heartwarming experience. Despite its brevity, the narrative effectively explores themes of isolation and human resilience, leaving players with a sense of calm and joy. Overall, it is regarded as a beautiful and impactful journey that resonates long after the game is completed.
- “The narrative is simple yet emotionally resonant, subtly exploring themes of isolation, collapse, and human persistence.”
- “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.”
- “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 a mix of silly and dark elements, often conveyed through quirky notes and character interactions that can be hit or miss. While some players found the writing amusing and appreciated the unique art style, others noted that the humor sometimes fell flat, though it contributed to an overall enjoyable experience. The inclusion of playful references and ironic situations adds a layer of charm, making the game both funny and thought-provoking.
- “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 high GPU usage, particularly on older PCs. While many found the game to run smoothly without significant problems, others noted that it is poorly optimized, suggesting that improvements are needed for a better experience.
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Players consistently express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment 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.”
- “If you like everything explained to you and wrapped up like some tedious Marvel movie, then keep on walking.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game features appealing graphics and aesthetics, but players have reported occasional glitches and bugs, including issues with closing the game. Despite these stability concerns, it runs well on Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS) using the default Proton version on Steam. Overall, while there are some stability issues, they are generally considered minor and do not significantly detract from the experience.
- “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 that replaying it would diminish the experience rather than enhance it.
- “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
100%
150%
The game's monetization is likened to a survival mechanism, where players navigate a landscape filled with content creators (represented as towers) while facing the challenges of monetization. Players embody a character on the brink of becoming a content creator themselves, highlighting the pressures and dynamics of online fame and revenue generation.
- “The water represents monetization, the towers symbolize content (videos), and the people are YouTubers and TikTokers.”
- “You play as the last cringe guy who's about to do the same, but then the monetization hits and you live/survive.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, turning gameplay into a constant push for in-game purchases.”
- “It seems like the game prioritizes monetization over player experience, making it hard to enjoy without spending money.”
- “The reliance on monetization is overwhelming, with essential content locked behind paywalls.”
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 full game. The fact that it tries 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 don't have time to feel anything about the philosophical narrative. The sum of it is all done in under 10 minutes, leaving no room for character development. The narrative is interrupted by scraps of paper that tell the true story, and at the end, you are left scratching your head.”