New Heights: Realistic Climbing and Bouldering

About

"New Heights: Realistic Climbing and Bouldering" is a game that brings realistic climbing and bouldering challenges to life with over 120 routes across European locations. Made by real climbers, the game features physics-based mechanics that simulate balance and grip, providing an immersive and thrilling experience. Players can elevate their skills and feel the adrenaline rush as they tackle tough climbing and bouldering problems in stunning real-world locations.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

New Heights: Realistic Climbing and Bouldering screenshot

+11

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Innovative climbing mechanics that closely simulate real-life climbing experiences, making it engaging and fun.
The game features a variety of routes and challenges, providing a rewarding experience for both casual players and climbing enthusiasts.
The developers are responsive and actively working on updates, showing promise for future improvements and additional content.

The controls can feel janky and awkward at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially for new players.
There are issues with texture and hold correlation, making it difficult to determine which holds are actually usable, resulting in trial and error gameplay.
The game is still in early access and has several bugs and optimization issues that need to be addressed for a smoother experience.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
52%
11%
The gameplay is praised for its innovative climbing mechanics that closely resemble real-life climbing, providing an engaging and immersive experience. While some users note a learning curve and clunky controls, the overall mechanics are considered fun and rewarding, especially after recent updates that enhance gameplay. Future updates promise to further refine the experience, making it a hidden gem in the climbing simulation genre.
- “Gameplay is engaging and the physics make a lot of sense, so those are really good points for a sim like this.”
- “I'm having a ton of fun, and they just had a great update with the dyno mechanic that is really well implemented.”
- “A really well implemented climbing mechanic that has a nice balance between feeling realistic and being fun.”
- “So on a basic level, the mechanics resemble real climbing with a decently fun implementation, although there are a few big holes in the controls (like not being able to move limbs in/out) and the UI is incredibly clunky.”
- “My main grumble at the moment is with the 'ragdoll' mechanics.”
- “The photogrammetry is completely wasted since the holds are not based on the rock features, so the gameplay is random trial and error.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the graphics of the game are praised for their quality, especially in ultra settings, with some users highlighting the impressive photogrammetry of real rock faces. However, there are concerns regarding optimization and the lack of detailed graphical settings, as well as a desire for more realistic visuals given the game's climbing focus. Despite these issues, the graphics are considered decent for an indie title, complementing the engaging gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics (in ultra at least) are amazing.”
- “The graphics and sound, in my opinion, are decent enough for an indie climbing sim, but I think the real selling point of this game are the climbing mechanics and the photogrammetry scans of actual rock faces.”
- “Graphics look nice, gameplay is fun, and the roadmap for early access makes me look forward to the future of the game.”
- “Graphics-wise, there should be better optimization, but I have faith that this will come sooner than later.”
- “There are no detailed graphical settings.”
- “The graphics are only decent for an indie climbing sim; they should look more realistic.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently in early access and users report that it is quite buggy, with frequent glitches that can detract from the experience. However, many find the bugs amusing and believe the game has a strong foundation, indicating potential for future improvements and content. Overall, while stability issues are present, they do not significantly hinder the enjoyment of the game.
- “Still very buggy but very fun nonetheless.”
- “Game is early access and it fairly often shows, but thankfully the glitches are generally very funny.”
- “On the downside, there are some glitches.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users noting issues such as unoptimized graphics and occasional lag spikes. However, some players report stable performance on lower settings, particularly on the Steam Deck, suggesting that improvements may enhance the overall experience in the future.
- “Could be 10/10 after better optimization and more challenges.”
- “Performance wise, I run this on Steam Deck and it runs steady at 40fps on lowest settings.”
- “Also tried it on my Steam Deck, runs smoothly on low graphics settings.”
- “Graphics-wise, there should be better optimization, but I have faith that this will come sooner rather than later.”
- “Very unoptimized with rare but random lag spikes.”
- “Performance-wise, I run this on Steam Deck and it runs steadily at 40 FPS on the lowest settings.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game shows potential for development, particularly in expanding mountaineering quests and equipment management. However, players express frustration with the current mechanics, suggesting that stamina should only drain after decisions are made rather than during the planning phase. Overall, while the narrative has promise, it requires refinement to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “It could be so easily solved if stamina only drained after you've made your decision, not while, and you could plot your movements instead of making them on the spot.”
- “Hoping it develops in terms of larger mountaineering quests with equipment and backpacks, but yeah... it's good.”
- “That's a different story.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game largely stems from its quirky physics and unexpected glitches, leading to hilarious situations, such as awkward character positions during gameplay. The comedic elements are enhanced by the game's early access status, which often results in amusing bugs that contribute to the overall fun.
- “I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I ended up in a figure 4 move on the second training climb, lol.”
- “This happens because the engine has to measure the rock and your own body, which creates some really awkward and funny positions as well.”
- “The game is in early access and it fairly often shows, but thankfully the glitches are generally very funny.”