Mountain

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"Mountain" is a single-player fantasy RPG that lets you experience life as a unique, procedurally generated mountain, with masterful graphics, a soothing soundtrack, and a distinct lack of traditional gameplay. While things grow and die on your mountain, your only task is to reflect and collect your thoughts. This meditative and emotional game, described as an "existential nightmare" and a "nature simulation," has been praised for its hypnotic charm and redefinition of the video game genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,888 reviews

music79 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

music
360 mentions
22 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and ambient qualities, creating a soothing backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Players can interact with the game by using their keyboard to produce musical notes, which can trigger various effects and events, adding a layer of engagement. While some users find the music repetitive or lacking in variety, many appreciate its role in fostering a meditative atmosphere, making it ideal for relaxation or as a background accompaniment to other activities.
- “The ambient soundtrack complements the meditative atmosphere, providing a soothing backdrop that enhances the sense of tranquility and introspection.”
- “Soundtrack: it's like Beethoven and Mother Nature collaborated to create a harmonious masterpiece. Every bird chirp is a symphony, every wind gust a sonata.”
- “With its minimalist design, ambient soundtrack, and the quiet allure of observing the life of a mountain, the game stands as a meditative escape from the conventional gaming landscape.”
- “No music, which it really needed.”
- “And no, the soundtrack is not good; I would rather listen to someone jumping on a rusty trampoline accompanied by someone putting a thin piece of steel in a metal fan blade.”
- “Ultimately, all you do is watch a rotating mountain do its own thing, and you could play some music notes by hitting certain keys on the keyboard.”
gameplay
184 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Mountain" is largely non-existent, with players primarily observing a rotating mountain and occasionally interacting by playing music notes on the keyboard. While some appreciate its minimalist design and meditative qualities, many find the lack of traditional gameplay mechanics and objectives disappointing, labeling it more as an interactive art piece than a game. Overall, it offers a unique, serene experience but may not satisfy those seeking engaging gameplay.
- “The zen-like atmosphere and gameplay structure and their seemingly pointless nature are most likely very much intentional given the introspective commentary provided by the mountain and the gradual cluttering of the once beautiful mountain vistas.”
- “Released in 2014, the game offers a distinctive experience that combines art, philosophy, and relaxing and introspective gameplay mechanics.”
- “With relaxing gameplay, minimalist visual design, and an immersive soundtrack, the game offers an opportunity for reflection and introspection in a virtual environment.”
- “Unlike other idle games that have some small amount of gameplay, this has absolutely nothing.”
- “There is nothing to do, there is zero gameplay involved, and it is the most boring thing you will ever play in your life, trust me.”
- “Gameplay: none whatsoever, maybe grab some random objects and think about the philosophy of life?”
graphics
162 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning realism and aesthetic appeal, with many users highlighting the immersive environment created by the combination of visuals and sound. The minimalist art style effectively emphasizes the natural beauty of the landscape, while dynamic elements like weather changes and wildlife encounters enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that despite the impressive visuals, the game functions more as a screensaver than a traditional interactive experience, leading to mixed opinions on its value as a game.
- “The combination of visuals and sound creates an immersive environment that encourages players to immerse themselves in the world of the mountain.”
- “As you observe the mountain, you'll witness stunning and dynamic visuals, from the shifting weather patterns and day-night cycles to the growth of trees and the occasional encounter with wildlife.”
- “The graphics are amazing, 4K resolution, and very exciting!”
- “Although it's fine in terms of graphics and sound, there's just no gameplay beyond playing keyboard music.”
- “Disappointing graphics quality, especially considering it's a glorified screensaver!”
- “The graphics, for what little of a game it is, are unremarkable and look like something out of an early PS2 game, but were slapped together even less effectively than an actual PS2 game.”
story
140 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The reviews for the "story" aspect of the game present a mixed bag of opinions. Some players appreciate the game's ability to evoke personal reflection and philosophical thoughts, describing it as a beautiful and emotional experience, while others criticize it for lacking a traditional narrative or engaging plot. Overall, the game seems to encourage players to create their own stories through exploration and interaction, leading to a unique, albeit sometimes frustrating, storytelling experience.
- “This game has an inspiring story line, great deep characters, and a mountain to top it all off.”
- “The story is the best part of the game though, it creates a connection that is deeper than anything I have ever felt.”
- “Mountain is not just a screen saver; you have to play through the game to figure it out. The story in this game is beautiful; it will send you on a roller coaster of emotions. You will be happy, angry, mad, and by the end of the game, you will be crying.”
- “The story unfolds at a snail's pace.”
- “For storyline, there really isn't any either.”
- “Story: none whatsoever.”
emotional
74 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has elicited a wide range of responses, with many players expressing profound feelings of attachment and sadness, often leading to tears. While some reviewers describe it as a transcendent emotional experience that resonates deeply, others criticize it as overly sentimental or lacking substance. Overall, the game appears to evoke strong emotional reactions, whether through its aesthetic simplicity or the personal connections players form with the virtual mountain.
- “And especially at 6:34, that part was just so truly heart-touching; words cannot describe the series of emotions I felt.”
- “Mountain taught me how to feel again after years of emotional numbness due to the pain of existing.”
- “The death of my mountain was the end for me; I had grown emotionally attached to it.”
atmosphere
47 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and meditative qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals and soothing ambient soundtracks. Players appreciate the serene environment that encourages relaxation and introspection, often describing it as a beautiful escape from daily life. However, some reviewers note that the lack of gameplay depth can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a passive atmospheric simulation than an engaging game.
- “The ambient soundtrack complements the meditative atmosphere, providing a soothing backdrop that enhances the sense of tranquility and introspection.”
- “The combination of audio and visuals creates a meditative atmosphere, providing a much-needed escape from the hectic pace of everyday life.”
- “What stands out initially is the beautifully layered and color-changing atmosphere of the mountain floating in space.”
- “The zen-like atmosphere and gameplay structure and their seemingly pointless nature are most likely very much intentional given the introspective commentary provided by the mountain and the gradual cluttering of the once beautiful mountain vistas.”
- “Other than that, there's nothing to this game other than to provide a relaxing atmosphere.”
- “Mountain falls apart at the seams once you realize you've exhausted these gameplay elements (and I use that term loosely), since the only progression in the game is the passing of time, the weather and seasons in your little bubble of an atmosphere, since zooming out will reveal your mountain is floating in space for reasons I still can't figure out.”
humor
37 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and often absurd, with players finding joy in its silly moments, such as destruction achievements and goofy interactions. While some consider it a lighthearted experience that can be both funny and relaxing, others view it as lacking depth or purpose. Overall, the game is recommended for its amusing elements and as a humorous gift, appealing to those who appreciate its unique brand of humor.
- “I found the destruction achievements to be the most funny to trigger, but as a whole there were tons of funny little moments.”
- “It's a peaceful, lazy, laid-back experience, with a touch of philosophy and a sprinkle of peculiar humor added to the mix.”
- “There's a lot of goofy items that will periodically crash into your mountain as you leave the program running and your mountain will often present these funny faux-deep statements about its existence; this effectively works as a way of the game poking fun at its artistic ambitions.”
- “Honestly... this game brought me to tears... not because it's bad, nor because it's such an amazing game; it's just not funny.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and fall flat, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes were stale and the punchlines predictable.”
grinding
13 mentions
8 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often describing it as requiring a "second life" to fully engage with. While some appreciate the sense of achievement that comes from grinding, many feel that the tasks are more monotonous than rewarding, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Despite the grind, some players still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it can be a relaxing background activity.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The only bit I got into are the achievements, but these are a bit tedious to obtain.”
- “The secrets are meh and the achievements are bland and grindy for no real reason.”
- “My only complaint is the achievements are more tedious than challenging.”
optimization
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it runs well in the background and offers decent price/performance, while others criticize it for being poorly optimized, with inconsistent performance and high resource consumption. Overall, many feel that despite its visual shortcomings, the game could benefit from significant improvements in optimization to enhance the overall experience.
- “To sum my feelings up, I actually liked it; it's not a bad experience, and the price/performance is also nice.”
- “The game is well optimized at least, so you can run it in the background without worrying about its impact on other games.”
- “It is a slight better performance on the AMD machines, but that might be just me.”
- “It cannot and should not run at idle; in fact, it should not be on here at all as an unoptimized piece of trash.”
- “My only issue with it is its poor optimization, but I feel like the developer gets a pass because of the beauty it provides to our man-caves.”
- “Game for now is extremely unoptimized.”
replayability
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting its infinite story variations and engaging gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some mention limited replay value, the majority agree that the combination of intense action and evolving gameplay makes it a highly addictive experience worth revisiting.
- “Amazing story with lots of replayability.”
- “The infinitely varied story and the suspense, while a bit slow initially, makes this game one of the most replayable games in my library.”
- “If you like intense, stressful, and action-packed gameplay along with endless replayability, this is the game for you.”
- “Long-term value and replayability.”
stability
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report smooth performance on Linux with no configuration issues, others experience bugs, particularly with achievements and graphical glitches affecting the visual quality.
- “I have been playing it on Linux, and I have not tried the Windows client, but the Linux one is very lightweight, runs great, and I have zero configuration issues or problems.”
- “Placeholder review, it's not good, also a bit buggy.”
- “Achievements are buggy.”
- “There are some graphical glitches around the shadow texture, and it always makes the dark side of the mountain look ugly.”
monetization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is notable for its lack of microtransactions or DLC, which is rare in the current gaming landscape. However, some users criticize it as a misleading product that fails to deliver any interactive gameplay, labeling it a cash grab rather than a legitimate game experience.
- “It has no microtransactions or DLC, which is a high bar for games these days.”
- “If you label yourself a 'gamer', support Intel's pulling of ads from a pretentious games industry site, and love your games to actually *be* games, you will philosophically regret spending what could've bought you half of a Bawls energy drink on this scam of a 'product'.”
- “This is literally not a game; you cannot interact in any way with the program. The fact that it is being sold as a game is blatant false advertising.”
- “Mountain is not a game, screensaver, political statement, or cash grab.”
character development
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and complexity, with many users highlighting it as the most impressive they've encountered in any video game. Coupled with a riveting storyline and stunning visuals, this aspect significantly enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The character development in this game is absolutely riveting, making the storyline even more engaging.”
- “'Mountain' features the most amazing character development I have ever seen in any video game.”
- “The insane character development truly elevates the overall experience of the game.”