Peaks of Yore

About

Peaks of Yore is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Anders Grube Jensen and was released on October 26, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Peaks of Yore" is a 1887-set, first-person climber-adventure game that challenges you to ascend rugged mountains and boulders in The Great Gales. Utilize physics-based mechanics to tackle treacherous routes and overcome obstacles. Your progress will be evaluated by the Official Ascension Society, with each peak presenting a unique climbing experience and rewards for those skilled and persistent enough to conquer them.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 234 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and rewarding climbing experience, balancing challenge and enjoyment without being overly frustrating.
It features a well-paced learning curve, gradually introducing new mechanics and challenges that keep players engaged.
The atmosphere and level design are charming, providing a unique and immersive experience that feels satisfying upon completing climbs.

The game can become extremely challenging, especially in the later levels, which may lead to frustration for some players.
Certain mechanics, such as the behavior of birds and some physics interactions, can feel unfair or annoying, detracting from the overall experience.
There are occasional issues with controls and visibility that can lead to unintended falls, causing players to lose significant progress.

gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging and rewarding loop, featuring a well-designed progression of levels that effectively teach and challenge players with a variety of mechanics. Players appreciate the deep and satisfying climbing mechanics, which offer a good learning curve and a high skill ceiling, making each level feel unique and immersive. While some mechanics may feel under-explored, the overall experience is described as challenging yet enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on practice and mastery.
- “Engaging and rewarding gameplay loop with a lot of levels.”
- “The level design is insanely well made, teaching you new mechanics along the way while making it harder and harder, but never unfair, until you manage to master all mechanics and are left with the real mountain.”
- “My only gripe would be some mechanics feel under-explored, or don't add much, such as the level that takes place in a cave and visibility is somewhat of an issue.”
- “This has the potential to be such an amazing game, but it has some absolutely stupid mechanics holding it back.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly deep, with many different types of holds and tools the player has to contend with, in addition to a robust physics system you will have to grapple with and conquer to best the trickiest moments.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging music, charming scenery, and cozy feel, creating a captivating environment that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the balance between challenging gameplay and a lovely presentation, making it a standout title in the climbing game genre. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's enjoyment and appeal.
- “Aside from the amazing feat of the game on a technical level, the atmosphere is equally engaging.”
- “Fantastic first-person climbing game, atmosphere and presentation are really lovely and the difficulty curve and gameplay mechanics are well thought out.”
- “Easily one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played, amazing atmosphere, game mechanics, environment/level design.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The graphics of the game are described as simplistic yet stunning, with a charming aesthetic that enhances the immersive climbing experience. While some users appreciate the stylized visuals, others note that certain filters can hinder level readability. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, complementing its engaging gameplay.
- “Now I normally don't like games like this that make you pretty mad, but this one I love very much. The graphics are simplistic, yet the different levels look stunning, and the climbing just feels right. 9/10, I recommend.”
- “It is a frustrating game for sure, but while the graphics are very simple and somewhat stylized, the action itself is extremely immersive. When you finally figure out how to pull off some dangerous moves that you thought were impossible until the second you actually do it, it is quite thrilling.”
- “Fun climbing game with a nice aesthetic.”
- “The graphics options let you get rid of the rather quaint filters including dithering and monochrome; while they are charming for a time, they don't help with the readability of the levels.”
- “It is a frustrating game for sure, but while the graphics are very simple and somewhat stylized, the action itself is extremely immersive, and when you finally figure out how to pull off some dangerous moves that you thought were impossible until the second you actually do it, it is quite thrilling.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is described as lighthearted and charming, effectively complementing the gameplay without being overly complex. Players appreciate the emotional depth and variety in the narrative, alongside engaging voice acting and sound design. Overall, the story enhances the entertaining experience of the game, making it enjoyable despite some areas needing improvement.
- “The story you get is fitting while not overdone, the gameplay is interesting and the game is challenging in a good way.”
- “Everything about it is great, the (simple) story, the voice acting, the graphics, the sound design, the gameplay of course.”
- “The story touches are very nice and there's an unexpected amount of variety in the climbing challenges.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The music in the game is described as sparse but fitting, enhancing the lighthearted and charming atmosphere. While some players feel the game can feel empty without music, others appreciate its role in creating an engaging experience during gameplay. Overall, the inclusion of music is seen as beneficial, contributing to the game's ambiance and helping to maintain focus during challenging climbs.
- “The game is fun and the music really makes it atmospheric.”
- “Music is sparse but fitting where it shows up; the plot is lighthearted and charming, and the process of grabbing collectibles from the levels is actually relatively painless (once you've gotten something, you've gotten it; you don't have to finish the climb to keep it).”
- “The game feels a little empty without music; perhaps if there were some peaceful old-timey tunes playing while climbing, it would help ease the spirit.”
- “Music is sparse but fitting where it shows up; the plot is lighthearted and charming, but the overall experience could benefit from a more consistent musical presence.”
- “I don't have much patience, so I would sometimes put on some music to keep me focused and avoid getting too annoyed with the climb.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is noted for its ability to evoke feelings, though it is suggested that it does so in a more uplifting manner compared to similar titles, like "Getting Over It," which may leave players feeling more frustrated than moved.
- “It's like getting over it, but it didn't make me want to cry.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears.”
- “I felt a profound connection to the characters, which made the experience incredibly moving.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game exhibits some stability issues, such as occasional buggy hand movements that hinder gameplay, these minor flaws are overshadowed by its overall impressive performance and visual appeal.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its colorful NPC mountaineers who use a variety of climbing lingo, creating a lighthearted and engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate the smooth controls paired with witty dialogues that enhance the overall experience, making it feel like a tribute to climbing culture.
- “It feels like a love letter to the art of climbing in real life and early mountaineering culture; there's all sorts of lingo and related terms used constantly by the colorful and humorous NPC mountaineers you meet along the way.”
- “Smooth controls, funny dialogues.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the game's potential for infinite replayability could foster a more dedicated community, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging players to return repeatedly.
- “This would add an infinite level of replayability to the game, and it would create a more dedicated community around it.”