Mountain

About

"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

+19

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,812 reviews

music157 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

music
716 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
76%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and ambient qualities, creating a soothing backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Players enjoy the ability to interact with the game by using their keyboard to create music, which can trigger various effects and events within the game world. While some 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.
- “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.”
- “The ambient soundtrack complements the meditative atmosphere, providing a soothing backdrop that enhances the sense of tranquility and introspection.”
- “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 to watch a rotating mountain do its own thing and you could play some music notes by hitting certain keys on the keyboard, and occasionally there's some 'thoughts' that'd appear at the top and random events happen which includes seasonal changes, weather changes, random items falling from the sky, major catastrophic events that might or might not kill the mountain that might or might not result in a 'restart' losing everything you've accumulated throughout the gameplay.”
gameplay
361 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
7%
The gameplay in "Mountain" is largely non-existent, with many users describing it as a minimalist experience that lacks traditional mechanics and objectives. While some appreciate its ambient atmosphere and introspective qualities, others find it boring and frustrating due to the absence of meaningful interaction or challenges. Overall, it appeals more to those seeking a meditative experience rather than conventional gameplay.
- “Gameplay: exhilarating!”
- “Intense, engaging gameplay”
- “The gameplay is amazing, controls are flawless, there is no disconnect between you and your mountain.”
- “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.”
- “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. Occasionally, there are some 'thoughts' that appear at the top and random events happen, which include seasonal changes, weather changes, and random items falling from the sky.”
- “The 'gameplay' in mountain is virtually non-existent, since the act of playing mountain is leaving it on in the background until you hear a sound and can view whatever new content pops up.”
graphics
323 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
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 stunning graphics make this one of my favorite games I've played in a long time.”
- “This is more of a graphics demo than a game.”
- “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
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
4%
The game's story is described as both inspiring and deeply philosophical, with many players appreciating its emotional depth and character development. However, some reviews note a lack of traditional narrative structure, suggesting that the experience is more about personal interpretation and reflection rather than a linear storyline. Overall, while opinions vary, many find the storytelling to be a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “This game has an inspiring storyline, 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 screensaver; you have to play through the game to figure it out. The story on 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.”
- “I wasted my money on a game called Mountain; I thought this game would somewhat have a story.”
emotional
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game "Mountain" 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 helps them confront loneliness and existential crises, others criticize it as overly sentimental or lacking depth. Overall, the game appears to resonate deeply with those who appreciate its unique ability to evoke strong emotions through its simple yet impactful design.
- “It is a tragedy that this, it can’t be called a film, but a transcendent emotional experience, will be inaccessible for most.”
- “Mountain taught me how to feel again after years of emotional numbness due to the pain of existing.”
- “This game is an emotional rollercoaster.”
atmosphere
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
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, making it an ideal backdrop for unwinding or as a desktop companion. However, some reviewers note that the lack of gameplay depth can detract from the overall experience, leaving it feeling somewhat hollow despite its beautiful atmosphere.
- “The ambient soundtrack complements the meditative atmosphere, providing a soothing backdrop that enhances the sense of tranquility and introspection.”
- “It creates a captivating atmosphere that encourages you to slow down and appreciate the intricate details of nature.”
- “The combination of audio and visuals creates a meditative atmosphere, providing a much-needed escape from the hectic pace of everyday life.”
- “We have a stupid, meaningless introduction, then a disjointed mountain, spinning in space, with some mystical atmosphere about it.”
- “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.”
- “I'd prefer it if you could remove the text comments, which for me tend to destroy the atmosphere a little.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is described as quirky and often absurd, with many players finding joy in its lighthearted moments and unexpected interactions. While some consider it a "hilariously pointless" experience, others appreciate its deeper philosophical undertones and the way it pokes fun at traditional gaming concepts. Overall, the game is recommended for its comedic value, making it a fun, albeit unconventional, choice for casual play or as a gag gift.
- “The game is funny and inspiring with moments that make you love it.”
- “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.”
- “It is a peaceful, lazy, laid-back experience, with a touch of philosophy and a sprinkle of peculiar humor added to the mix.”
- “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.”
optimization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it runs well in the background without significantly impacting other applications, while others criticize it as extremely unoptimized, with poor visuals and inconsistent performance. Many users express frustration over high resource consumption and technical issues, suggesting that the game could benefit from significant improvements in optimization. Overall, while there are some positive remarks about performance on certain systems, the consensus leans towards disappointment in its optimization quality.
- “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.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in meaningful rewards, with many describing the achievement system as bland and overly time-consuming. While some appreciate the game's unique charm and find enjoyment in the grind, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than a challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting its infinite replay value due to varied storylines and gameplay changes. While some mention limited replay value in certain aspects, the majority find it highly addictive and enjoyable, making it a standout choice for players seeking intense and engaging experiences.
- “The replayability is limitless...”
- “If you like intense, stressful, and action packed gameplay along with endless replayability, this is the game for you.”
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while the Linux version runs smoothly with no configuration issues, users report various bugs, particularly with achievements and some graphical glitches affecting the visuals. Despite these issues, players appreciate the dynamic weather and wildlife, which contribute to the game's charm.
- “I have been playing it on Linux; I have not tried the Windows client, but the Linux one is very lightweight, runs great, and I have zero configuration issues or problems.”
- “Achievements are buggy.”
- “There are some graphical glitches around the shadow texture, and it always makes the dark side of the mountain look ugly.”
- “Placeholder review: it's not good, also a bit buggy.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
13%
75%
The game has no microtransactions or DLC, which is commendable in today's market; however, many users feel it fails to deliver a genuine gaming experience, labeling it as a misleading product rather than a true game. Critics argue that it lacks interactivity and consider its sale as a form of false advertising, equating the purchase to a waste of money.
- “It has no microtransactions or DLC, which is a high bar for games these days.”
- “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.”
- “If you label yourself a 'gamer', you will philosophically regret spending what could've bought you half of a Bawls energy drink on this scam of a 'product'.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers consistently praise the character development in the game "Mountain," highlighting it as exceptional and unparalleled in the gaming landscape. The combination of a riveting storyline and dynamic gameplay further enhances the depth and evolution of the characters, making for a compelling experience.
- “'Mountain' has the most amazing character development I have ever seen in any video game.”
- “'Mountain' has the most amazing character development I have ever seen in any video game.”
- “The character development is truly insane, making the storyline even more riveting.”