Celeste

 Switch
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1137 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 969 out of 1137
  2. Mixed: 81 out of 1137
  3. Negative: 87 out of 1137
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  1. Kirby1094874
    May 16, 2019
    10
    Celeste follows the idea of simple 2D platforming mixed with a nice story with short cutscenes that don’t take away from the gameplay, nice music, good controls, simple idea and a quite difficult challenge curve makes this a game worth picking up especially for its price.
  2. Twanui
    Apr 22, 2019
    9
    This game is awesome.

    If you like 2d pixelated platformers then, this is the game is for you. The pixel art and graphics are beautiful even on the 720p Switch display. It offers a nice challenge for people who are playing this game for the first time. I got stumped on some of the early levels, as the game requires a lot of precision, and momentum. Some of the areas, (especially the end    This game is awesome.

    If you like 2d pixelated platformers then, this is the game is for you. The pixel art and graphics are beautiful even on the 720p Switch display. It offers a nice challenge for people who are playing this game for the first time. I got stumped on some of the early levels, as the game requires a lot of precision, and momentum. Some of the areas, (especially the end levels) require lots of focus, and skill.

    The game teaches its mechanics as you go, with each level introducing at least 3 new different mechanics. All of these mechanics will then be in the final level.

    Speaking of levels, the level designs are amazing as there is some much diversity in level design, You can't dazzle the audience with the same bell and whistles. And if you want more of a challenge, each level has a B-Side, and a C-Side, which makes the level harder, if you want a challenge. I had fun playing these sides, and it kept me playing for awhile.

    I'm not going to go into the story because I might spoil something for someone, but the story was good.

    The only reason it got a 9 was because some of the B-Side mechanics are a bit hard to pull off.

    For all those people who are saying "This game sucks because it is pixelated" or "This game is hard so it sucks." If you don't like it then don't buy it. OR bring up ACTUAL things to support your opinion.    … Expand
  3. sniderman89
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    Pros: charming story and graphics
    challenging platforming
    addicting desire to complete levels
    short levels and immediate respawn
    con: frustrating at times
    I completed the game which is a rare thing for me.
  4. M4thew
    Mar 30, 2019
    10
    What a great experience. This is honestly one of the best 2D platformers I have ever played. They must have put a lot of effort into the level design, because every stage is simply amazing. I think I don’t have to mention, that the music of this game is absolutely gorgeous. Deserves all the praise it gets in my opinion.
  5. JPac
    Mar 10, 2019
    10
    This game is nothing short of a masterpiece. While currently I have not completed the game 100%, i have completed the main story and a handful of the B-sides. It is one of the hardest platformers anyone will play, but it doesn't make it hard with artificial difficulty, it prepares you for what's ahead. And treats you to a sense of accomplishment for completing each section inside theThis game is nothing short of a masterpiece. While currently I have not completed the game 100%, i have completed the main story and a handful of the B-sides. It is one of the hardest platformers anyone will play, but it doesn't make it hard with artificial difficulty, it prepares you for what's ahead. And treats you to a sense of accomplishment for completing each section inside the chapters. My (personal) favorite game ever, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.… Expand
  6. JuanLuisGG14
    Mar 10, 2019
    10
    Incredible platform game, loved the message, the challenge and the soundtrack. Has a lot of side content after you finish the base game, a must!
  7. leetl1
    Mar 4, 2019
    10
    An amazing platformer with a great soundtrack and challenging (but satisfying) platforming challenges. One of the best indie games and modern platformers ever. Highly recommended.
  8. Neatqt
    Feb 25, 2019
    8
    Cast: 8/10
    Story: 8/10
    Fun: 9/10
    Gameplay: 10/10

    Recommended
    ----------------------
  9. smarf
    Feb 24, 2019
    10
    Beautiful game with a beautiful message. A challenging platformer in the game style as super meat boy. Awesome music!
  10. PaulHeidema
    Feb 10, 2019
    10
    Celeste is a surprising and delightful game. It has all the elements of a blockbuster game such as great gameplay, creative level design, gradual increases in difficulty, powerful story, and a wonderful soundtrack. I was awed by the captivating story that got darker and more impactful with each level. Overall, a great experience!
  11. nando_u
    Feb 5, 2019
    10
    Celeste é muito mais que um jogo, um desafio onde você internamente precisa se superar devido a dificuldade e exige atenção e reflexos rápidos do jogador... Uma bela obra de arte unindo gráficos e musicas muito bem feitos, as musicas dão um tom emocional ao jogo, junto com as cores que saltam aos olhos formando uma bela composição. Além de tudo ser muito bem construído o level-design éCeleste é muito mais que um jogo, um desafio onde você internamente precisa se superar devido a dificuldade e exige atenção e reflexos rápidos do jogador... Uma bela obra de arte unindo gráficos e musicas muito bem feitos, as musicas dão um tom emocional ao jogo, junto com as cores que saltam aos olhos formando uma bela composição. Além de tudo ser muito bem construído o level-design é incrivel, fazendo até os melhores jogadores ter que usar toda sua agilidade entre frenéticos niveis e plataformas após terminar o jogo. Celeste é incrível. Uma obra de arte!… Expand
  12. Notdumb
    Jan 20, 2019
    2
    Ha. Overhyped garbage. Story is an absolute cringe filled cliché infused tale about “mental illness”. Lol. Anyone that thinks the story is in anyway thought provoking is indeed mentally ill. Don’t get me started on the gameplay. Who’s genius idea was it to make it so when you die, you have to wait a couple seconds EVERYTIME for the levels obstacles to rearrange themselves so you canHa. Overhyped garbage. Story is an absolute cringe filled cliché infused tale about “mental illness”. Lol. Anyone that thinks the story is in anyway thought provoking is indeed mentally ill. Don’t get me started on the gameplay. Who’s genius idea was it to make it so when you die, you have to wait a couple seconds EVERYTIME for the levels obstacles to rearrange themselves so you can actually get through? Idiots and buffoons enjoy this game. WASTE OF MONEY. DO NOT BUY.… Expand
  13. epicboyblue
    Jan 18, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Celeste is a good game. The problem with this game is the movement. Sometimes I would want to dash in a up/down/left/right direction, but the game would give me a diagonal dash causing me to die from the environmental hazards. The narrative is lackluster. There's no subtlety with the "theme" of the game. This a bare bones video game. The movement does work well with the narrative, but there isn't any actual combat. It is just movement in the form of running. It works decently. It does kind of play into the narrative, but not well enough to the extent of it being a phenomenal game. The narrative itself is riddled with pacing issues, There's very little, then you get a multiple choice lore dump at some point. The final level is oddly difficult compared to the rest of the game because it does seem difficult at one point, but the finale dials it up to the White Palace level in Hollow Knight. I get it's the finale, but it did feel like like the difficulty didn't match the rest of the game. This game is good, but it doesn't do anything I haven't seen other games do better. I tried using the pro controller, but the dash issues I mentioned earlier were still present. That's all I got. Oh, the mental issues narrative isn't really good. I get it works because Madeleine is running away. It just doesn't work. The feather mechanic didn't work as well I thought it would, then it didn't matter because the game took it away. It might help people, but this kind of narrative has already been explored, and this game doesn't add anything to the conversation that hasn't already been said and it doesn't try to say anything in a different way.… Expand
  14. Gette
    Jan 18, 2019
    0
    The game doesn't deserve a 0, nor a 10, but I feel obliged to give it a low score to round up the odds.

    It plays just like another platformer so I'd give it a 6 if people don't hype it up to be the saviour of the industry. The graphics looks really horrid, and people compare it to PSX/Saturn games? No, the game looks worse than Mario 3 on NES when it's in a dark environment. Snow    The game doesn't deserve a 0, nor a 10, but I feel obliged to give it a low score to round up the odds.

    It plays just like another platformer so I'd give it a 6 if people don't hype it up to be the saviour of the industry.

    The graphics looks really horrid, and people compare it to PSX/Saturn games? No, the game looks worse than Mario 3 on NES when it's in a dark environment. Snow bros has better graphics than this.

    Looks slightly better when it's under day light but still much worse than Mario world on SNES.

    It's nowhere around the hype blind fanbois make up to be. Keep this in mind or you'll get disappointed.

    And people talk about when you buy AAA games, you look for demonstration. Innovation is where Indie capable of, except I don't see any innovation in most award winning indie games.

    There is only connection made through social gatherings. Sucks AAA are repetitive and indie are flooded with another platformer or roguelike.    … Expand
  15. b00lpr0p
    Jan 9, 2019
    4
    A very overrated game with nothing too special. The great feature is the soundtrack, which is really good, but the rest of the game is just like any other indie shovelware. It would deserve a 6, maybe a 7, but I gave it a 4 because the saddest thing is that the game is hyped by the specialized media just because the political views and connections of the author, which is a very disgusting fact.
  16. TheGameIsALie
    Dec 30, 2018
    10
    Celeste acerta em absolutamente todos os pontos. Tem um audiovisual surpreendente, um gameplay inovador e um enredo inspirador. Quebra a quarta parede em vários momentos, trata de assuntos atuais e faz o jogador entrar em uma bela montanha-russa de sentimentos, por isso é tão imersivo. É indispensável para qualquer jogador.
  17. bl1rt
    Dec 29, 2018
    10
    Celeste is ridiculously hard, in a challenging and rewarding way. You have to figure out how to get through the course, and then do it with what feels like pixel-precision. It is frustrating at times, and I remember playing angry quite a lot. Yet, it's a fond memory, and making it through feels like an accomplishment. Story, music and atmosphere stay with you long after you finished theCeleste is ridiculously hard, in a challenging and rewarding way. You have to figure out how to get through the course, and then do it with what feels like pixel-precision. It is frustrating at times, and I remember playing angry quite a lot. Yet, it's a fond memory, and making it through feels like an accomplishment. Story, music and atmosphere stay with you long after you finished the game.
    I found it impossible to play with analog stick or the imprecise d-pad on the controller pro.    … Expand
  18. draculax420
    Dec 22, 2018
    4
    Coming from games like Hollow Knight and The Messenger, I was pretty disappointed about spending $20 on this game(thanks hype machine!). Unlike HK or TM, this game controls like a turd. The graphics are nothing to write home about and neither is the music. You know modern gaming journalism is a joke when mediocre games keep getting high scores. If you are a thinking person who doesn't getsComing from games like Hollow Knight and The Messenger, I was pretty disappointed about spending $20 on this game(thanks hype machine!). Unlike HK or TM, this game controls like a turd. The graphics are nothing to write home about and neither is the music. You know modern gaming journalism is a joke when mediocre games keep getting high scores. If you are a thinking person who doesn't gets easily swayed by pathetic hyping, this is a hard pass. If you absolutely must play this game, just wait until it's on sale for like 10$ or lower… Expand
  19. MaximisRulz
    Dec 22, 2018
    10
    This is a very refreshing, story driven platformer about overcoming inner struggles to achieve your dreams. I may be biased since i don't normally enjoy triple A titles, but I prefer this over Super Mario Odyssey. With a low price tag of 20$ this has an amazing sense of immersion and story. Though it is challenging, the main story should be doable by anyone, but you can turn on assist modeThis is a very refreshing, story driven platformer about overcoming inner struggles to achieve your dreams. I may be biased since i don't normally enjoy triple A titles, but I prefer this over Super Mario Odyssey. With a low price tag of 20$ this has an amazing sense of immersion and story. Though it is challenging, the main story should be doable by anyone, but you can turn on assist mode if you're having troubles. The sound track is great, the story even better, and the gameplay is amazing. Except the b-sides. Screw the b-sides. TIL there are c-sides.… Expand
  20. Javichuck
    Dec 10, 2018
    8
    Celeste uno de los mejores indies del 2018. Juego de plataformas 2D bastante difícil con muy buena jugabilidad, estética pixel, artísticamente bonito y con música 8bits a la altura. Lo mejor del juego la historia, la forma de contarla y el tema que trata: "la depresión". En resumen, buena jugabilidad (7), buen apartado artístico(7) y excelente narrativa (10).
  21. scuttlebug
    Nov 28, 2018
    9
    I'm gonna be honest, it's not a 10. I usually don't care about story or connect with characters, so lets just assume the story is good, and I won't dock any points on that. The controls are tight, and it's all fun and good... until you get to the hard stuff. I'm usually good at games, and have beat most stages. However, later on in the game's harder stages, rooms keep being the same. YouI'm gonna be honest, it's not a 10. I usually don't care about story or connect with characters, so lets just assume the story is good, and I won't dock any points on that. The controls are tight, and it's all fun and good... until you get to the hard stuff. I'm usually good at games, and have beat most stages. However, later on in the game's harder stages, rooms keep being the same. You attempt a long sequence of jumping and dashing, and you get no breaks, which is fine. The problem I found was that it was you had to do it pretty well. I kept trying the same jumps and changing one minor thing, until I get the correct set of inputs and pass the room. It's very grindy to pass a single room, and then it's the same for the next room. I'd keep trying to do the same things and every time I passed a room it would be really rewarding. The jumps take everything from your moveset, and there isn't really much creativity for the player on how to make them, just do what it needs you to do, and get to the next room. This tells my brain that I should dislike the nature of this game, but my brain disagrees. At the end of the day, I can't stop playing, because all the frustration from the stages is dwarfed by the huge sense of satisfaction when you complete it, which makes the game so great. GOTY? no. But it is a game you should try.… Expand
  22. brockcheese
    Nov 18, 2018
    9
    This is a really good game with an awesome art style. Very difficult but super rewarding.
  23. jeffbizloc
    Oct 26, 2018
    9
    I beat the game and the first B-side. Reminded me of a progression from Super Meat Boy.

    Pros: - Great controls and platforming - I like how each level added something a bit unique - Difficult but fair, I enjoy challenging games (B-side was probably too much for me from what I read) Cons: - Got lost a couple times can always use a map - I wanted to play B-sides but missed the    I beat the game and the first B-side. Reminded me of a progression from Super Meat Boy.

    Pros:
    - Great controls and platforming
    - I like how each level added something a bit unique
    - Difficult but fair, I enjoy challenging games (B-side was probably too much for me from what I read)

    Cons:
    - Got lost a couple times can always use a map
    - I wanted to play B-sides but missed the cassettes and didn't want to play levels over or mostly over to find them    … Expand
  24. capedavenger
    Oct 7, 2018
    5
    Somehow, I can't get into many of those hypetrain games...at all. It's well made, the graphics are great, controls solid, but...it's not for me. I'm not the type of guy who likes to stare at a screen trying to memorise button combinations, trying stuff over and over and over... I'm sure it's an enjoyable challenge for some, but not for me.
  25. ssesses
    Oct 3, 2018
    10
    Wow. This game is stunning. Games like Shovel Knight brought retro games back into the spotlight... Celeste masters this. Gorgeous and detailed pixel art mixed with tear-jerking music make this game so absurdly immersive. The story is motivating, and the gameplay is as stressful as it is rewarding. A game about climbing mountains should be hard, but this game makes you want to quit atWow. This game is stunning. Games like Shovel Knight brought retro games back into the spotlight... Celeste masters this. Gorgeous and detailed pixel art mixed with tear-jerking music make this game so absurdly immersive. The story is motivating, and the gameplay is as stressful as it is rewarding. A game about climbing mountains should be hard, but this game makes you want to quit at every level. Everything is so hard and unforgiving, but there is so much motivation to beat the level and continue the story that we still finish this, and feel so rewarded when we do so. Then, after the main game, there are nearly impossible b-side levels that provide the most extreme challenges i had ever seen in a video game, until I saw the c-sides. This game is packed with so much quality gameplay that puts you to your limits. Absolute materpiece.… Expand
  26. curzon_dax
    Oct 2, 2018
    7
    Run, jump, air-jump, reset, repeat. It's a good game for its genre but its genre it relatively overdone lately and it's repetitive. If you are in for a platformer of the basic style with some modern touches here and there go for it but don't expect anything revolutionary or original or varying.
  27. aditya1101
    Sep 4, 2018
    10
    Wow. Truly one of the most incredible games I've played. The movement and overall platforming challenge of this game is by itself a marvel, and I spent countless hours traversing through this game's beautiful world. But on top of that, the story of this game is really impressive. First off, it's super well integrated into the world and the gameplay, and it does a really good job ofWow. Truly one of the most incredible games I've played. The movement and overall platforming challenge of this game is by itself a marvel, and I spent countless hours traversing through this game's beautiful world. But on top of that, the story of this game is really impressive. First off, it's super well integrated into the world and the gameplay, and it does a really good job of addressing a very serious topic (depression) in a way that is not only really nuanced, but that is also interesting and doesn't just restate what we've already heard from countless other stories/mediums. The whole idea of "girl combats her depression by climbing a mountain" obviously sounds super melodramatic at first, but this game does a really good job of not being hyperbolic and presenting depression in a light that makes it feel extremely heartfelt. Also, the speedrun for this game is pretty dope :D… Expand
  28. JordaoMemoria
    Aug 13, 2018
    8
    Jogabilidade inovadora. Fases bastante criativas. Narrativa que causa questionamento entre o jogador e sua consciência.
  29. metanaga
    Aug 6, 2018
    10
    Celeste is greater than the sum of it's parts. While the music, story and gameplay are amazing on their own, their emergence makes it almost an accidental masterpiece. It's a game about depression and challenging yourself that causes me panic attacks and propelled me do stuff I honestly though I was not capable of. It's a deeply emotional game that most be experienced.
  30. Kerr52
    Aug 5, 2018
    9
    Awesome platformer, one of the best on Switch right now. It starts incredibly well, the middle is a little bit boring and the final levels are great. C-sides are a bit too much though.
  31. RobGaiden
    Aug 3, 2018
    9
    Super B old style platform with accurate controls and very clever level design.
  32. VahNabooty
    Jul 29, 2018
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Celeste was very fun to play through but the story ended up being the worst part of the game. It starts out sort of interesting, playing as a character that has depression and anxiety, but the game ends up forgetting that and decides to have a bunch of fourth wall breaking stuff as every indie game does nowadays and the last moments of the game left me thinking about how I was going to end up dissatisfied (and I was). I really liked the music though, some of it was memorable. The gameplay controls very nicely but the level designs of the B sides are very bad and were not worth playing. Its just an average experience overall, and one I don't think I'll ever really want to go through again.… Expand
  33. MogwaiWaterPark
    Jul 24, 2018
    10
    I use Metacritic often. Certainly weekly. I have for years. It was not until my recent purchase and playing of Celeste that I felt compelled to write my first Metacritic review. Heck, I hadn't even registered an account until now.
    I'm a 37 year old gamer. I have 2 kids, 1 of whom is already playing games. I feel this is necessary information so readers can get a sense of how hard it    I use Metacritic often. Certainly weekly. I have for years. It was not until my recent purchase and playing of Celeste that I felt compelled to write my first Metacritic review. Heck, I hadn't even registered an account until now.
    I'm a 37 year old gamer. I have 2 kids, 1 of whom is already playing games. I feel this is necessary information so readers can get a sense of how hard it is for me, at times, to actually sit down with a game and enjoy it. It's certainly not easy for me to get addicted to a game these days what with the limited time I have to give them attention.
    This week, on a whim, I bought Celeste. I was hesitant because of the price tag, and graphically speaking, this game isn’t setting the world on fire. Upon my first boot up of Celeste, I found it incredibly hard to put down. While I have heard, and understand, constant comparisons to “Super Meat Boy”, I find Celeste to be both better constructed and more rewarding. The graphics, for those concerned, are a null point. While I’m not sure the retro edge was necessary for this game, it fits it just fine, and after a few minutes of gameplay, you’ll find yourself scoffing at the idea that you ever had issue with the graphical detail to begin with. The music? Lovely, Enchanting, Cute, Haunting – whatever it needs to be in the moment. But always appropriate. The gameplay? Highly addictive. The challenging stages as you climb Celeste are always inventive and offer new but not necessarily impossible challenges. Super Meat Boy saw me rage quit in frustration hundreds of times. I find trouble putting Celeste down, even if a stage is giving me problems.
    I have yet to complete Celeste, but it is all I want to play right now. All I think about playing. I have plenty of games to complete on PS4, Xbone, Vita, 3DS, and on and on, but I think only of Celeste. If you find yourself only able to buy ONE Indie title on the Switch, make it Celeste. The price is not too high. The presentation, even if you are uncertain on the surface, is flawless. The game is a masterpiece in a simple little package. Get on it.    … Expand
  34. kamhagh
    Jul 16, 2018
    10
    I loveeeee it!
    also the talking is the cutest thing ever!
    I don't usually like games like this! (2d pixelish etc) but this roooocks ! I mean there's already a ton of reviews but I'll try to tell what I think! the gameplay is fun as hell the Story is also nice :3 and it kinda teaches you a really good life lesson kinda. it's just nice ya know :3 the music is amazing! I    I loveeeee it!
    also the talking is the cutest thing ever!

    I don't usually like games like this! (2d pixelish etc) but this roooocks !

    I mean there's already a ton of reviews but I'll try to tell what I think!

    the gameplay is fun as hell

    the Story is also nice :3 and it kinda teaches you a really good life lesson kinda. it's just nice ya know :3

    the music is amazing! I loveee it

    This game's music art and all makes you really feel like you're kinda there I guess. It gave me a very special feeling that's hard to describe.

    like at times the music makes you hopeful! and you're like "YEAH I CAN DO THIS" then sometimes it's like it's basically showing and making you feel like it's all over and sad and you can't do it and all. it just good! the art music and all match each other very well! GJ to the creators!

    and also did I mention it's like 15$? IT'S WORTH IT HELLA worth it IMO!

    It's one of my fav games!

    oh and when you finished it check one of the tracks played in reverse :P it has a hidden message! Don't watch it now though, it's spoilerish!    … Expand
  35. SuperkenGaming
    Jul 16, 2018
    8
    Celeste
    A great game, just not for me
    Celeste is one of those ultra frustrating platformers where you play a girl named madeline trying to climb mount celeste for reasons unknown to her, the story focuses primarily on depression, anxiety, and will power… the latter 2 will definitely be tested if you choose to play celeste the way it was intedned to be played.. And in its intended state,    Celeste
    A great game, just not for me
    Celeste is one of those ultra frustrating platformers where you play a girl named madeline trying to climb mount celeste for reasons unknown to her, the story focuses primarily on depression, anxiety, and will power… the latter 2 will definitely be tested if you choose to play celeste the way it was intedned to be played..
    And in its intended state, I just don’t like it.. im not one of those people that enjoy dying 1 million times in a video game, I want to relax and enjoy my games, not be on the brink of going mad…
    Thankfully this game offers an assist mode to deal with this..
    I gave the game a shot for how it was meant to be, you get a single dash though crystals and strawberries will refill this gash, you can climb walls and it’s a bunch of dashing and doging spikes supermeat boy style..
    it didn’t take long for me to be like nah, im not doing this.. and played the rest of the game with assists on…
    at first with just infinite dodges, but this game my character some super saiyan pink hair to give the visual of clearly im cheating right now, so I thought might as well turn damage off too..
    so whats meant to be some ultra hard game for sadomasochists for me was an exploration game and I feel no shame in that, I got the story, I got to see every inch of celeste, collecting the baries, the crystal hearts, the cassetes to unlock the side b version of a chapter and better yet playing with assist doesn’t turn trophies off, and this trophy list is full of silver trophies for finding these collectables…
    Needless to say playing with assists does take away the satisfaction of completing chapters and areas..
    I got to get a feel for the games intention the most while trying to get a trophy for completing celeste on pico-8, that’s right, the devolopers are evil jerks.. I got to level 27 out of 30 before I gave up on the trophy and the platinum, so don’t think with assist mode this is all of a sudden some easy platinum trophy because it isn’t… mount celeste is going to be in your way of it one way or another..
    somehow nearly 25% of players have this trophy though, I don’t see how. The game must have only sold like 4 copies and the one person that got it is a developer or their parents just didn’t love them.
    jokes, im kidding..
    im just not one of those people that think, you know what would be fun?
    dying over and over and over and over and over and over until muscle memory and luck prevent me from doing so,
    Its not my thing…
    that being said I do again still see the greatness in this game, the brilliant level design, the brutal difficulty, the option to skip the difficulty and just explore, a great trophy list aside from the pico 8 bit..
    Celeste is a really great package for people that love retro games, stress, or trophies
    I give Celeste an 8/10    … Expand
  36. quanta
    Jul 15, 2018
    7
    It's a good game but rather overrated.

    Pros: Fun mechanics; good (but not great) level design; captivating, colorful visuals.
    Cons: Monotonous; shallow story (2nd grade level); some mechanics are tedious (e.g. when the wind blows against the character).
  37. Gloone
    Jul 12, 2018
    9
    This is an excellent platformer -- among the best ever -- and an excellent game.

    The dash mechanic is unique and fun. The additional mechanics are all great too. All of these mechanics are explored to their utmost, with perfectly crafted levels that steadily ramp up the challenge and provide great replayability with secrets and extra levels. I really have nothing more to say about the    This is an excellent platformer -- among the best ever -- and an excellent game.

    The dash mechanic is unique and fun. The additional mechanics are all great too. All of these mechanics are explored to their utmost, with perfectly crafted levels that steadily ramp up the challenge and provide great replayability with secrets and extra levels. I really have nothing more to say about the gameplay, it is simply perfectly executed and I take my hat off to the developers.

    The art and music is brilliant too.

    The story adds to the experience and complements it -- although for me it was just a little self-important and overdone. I think they could have done more with the story and also been a bit more subtle with it.

    But that's my only minor criticism. This game is close to perfect.    … Expand
  38. IanLeBruce
    Jun 26, 2018
    10
    The best of it's kind. You can see how much passion and effort went into the level design, something that can't really be improved upon. I expected a simple platformer but what I found was so much more. An engaging story and incredible soundtrack. 10/10
  39. the80srobot
    Jun 25, 2018
    6
    A beautiful game, but the difficulty is a little over the top. I wish games like this would be smarter about difficulty: having a high skill ceiling is great, but you should not make your game inaccessible to people who are not hardcore gamers. I play games to relax, not to be frustrated - if I could refund the game, I would. This way I just won't buy the next one from this studio.
  40. jikflet
    Jun 22, 2018
    10
    One of the best platforms I ever seen. beautiful pixel art, incredibly accurate controls, beautiful music and a compelling story. this game has it all. but only for platforms lovers. if this is your thing, is a must buy!
  41. tohmais
    Jun 21, 2018
    10
    Celeste is wonderful, tight, and brutal platformer that's interesting and has an engaging story from start to end. I'll try to avoid spoilers, because this game's story is interesting and emotionally deep. It's characters are relatable. The gameplay is amazing. Its art style is wonderful to look at. The music is masterpiece after masterpiece. And runs at 60FPS.
  42. bbcbreno
    Jun 20, 2018
    10
    [TL;DR]
    Celeste is charming in almost every way, alias, Celeste SURPRISES in almost every aspect. Score: 10.0
    [Gameplay] The moviment is fluid and Madeline is moving at a good speed (not as fast as in SMB and not as slow as N+). What surprises here is that the game brings obstacles and unique moves in each world. This left the game very creative and ends up with the chances of finding    [TL;DR]
    Celeste is charming in almost every way, alias, Celeste SURPRISES in almost every aspect. Score: 10.0

    [Gameplay]
    The moviment is fluid and Madeline is moving at a good speed (not as fast as in SMB and not as slow as N+). What surprises here is that the game brings obstacles and unique moves in each world. This left the game very creative and ends up with the chances of finding the game repetitive and annoying, since the whole gameplay is changing.

    Just a note here: Celeste is a binary game (with 8 directions, up, down, left, right and diagonals), so the ideal is to play Celeste in a d-pad. However, the Joy-Con Dpad is not very good for this purpose, and the Joy-Con analog is not very helpful, so be prepared to frustrate a bit.

    [History]
    I was surprised by this game to present a story and excellent dialogues between one chapter and another, since generally this type of game focuses only on the game and gives us a very empty story. Here Madeline has other battles, battles of which we identify.

    The narrative tells the story of a girl with the goal of climbing a mountain. On the way to the peak she finds a person warning of the dangers of this climb. Until then it's a clichéd little story giving any purpose for the game, because the protagonist does not even know the reason she wants to climb. However, in the course of the game we discover that these dangers are inside her, where she faces herself, bringing a deep and reflective narrative, making it one of the most important points of the game. Madeline wants to climb, but at the same time she thinks she's stupid enough to do something so impossible for her.

    [Sound]
    The soundtrack plays according to the action of the moment. I found the track to be fantastic with the scenery and challenges of each stage. In addition to the track, the game delivers a great set of sound effects, it seems every note has been carefully selected, each character even has its own "8-bit timbre" and this I thought was great!

    [Challenge]
    Celeste is a difficult game, some phases we look at and think: it can not, without the condition of going from there. But we try, try and try and you can. The game is very conducive to trial and error because dying does not bring any punishment and in less than 3 seconds you are already there trying that stretch again. Also, the stages are short, I would say that in 20s you can go through each phase (not considering the deaths), one or the other is a little bigger.

    Another positive aspect here are almost unique challenges, the game don't keep putting the same obstacles and the same solutions all the time, so the repetitive gameplay is practically zero.

    [Duration]
    The main campaign can finish in a thing from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., it depends a lot on your performance in each stage. But the collectibles turn those 6h into more at least 25h, and can reach 50h. So if you seek to do everything in the game, you will need a lot of time and patience.

    [Graphics]
    The graphics are good, it has good special effects, but there is nothing extraordinary here. I feel that the team has the ability to deliver something bigger in the graphics just as they surprised the other aspects of the game, but this was to be desired.

    [Conclusion]
    10/10! Celeste is by far the best platform game of recent times. It's a must play!    … Expand
  43. AllySky
    Jun 15, 2018
    10
    Perhaps the best platformer ever made, this is a Heart-Wrenching Masterpiece, and belongs in every gamers collection.
  44. Zeriel
    Jun 14, 2018
    7
    I hate the word overrated but there's just no other way to describe this game. I keep hearing people calling it the best game on Switch! I mean it's a good game but It has been blown way out of proportion. Celeste is a hard as BALLS platformer, that's it. If you enjoy platformers but find they're too easy then you will enjoy this game. However, it can get really repetitive, (seriously I'veI hate the word overrated but there's just no other way to describe this game. I keep hearing people calling it the best game on Switch! I mean it's a good game but It has been blown way out of proportion. Celeste is a hard as BALLS platformer, that's it. If you enjoy platformers but find they're too easy then you will enjoy this game. However, it can get really repetitive, (seriously I've died like 500 times so far) but the game makes you keep trying out of frustration. The story is charming and the main character is likeable but there's not much else.

    Side note, the developer is a bit of an arrogant **** on the forums. He's an Anita Sarkeesian fan and likes to delete threads or anything that even mentions her. I don't let this affect my score of the game but he's definitely not a friend of gamers and I won't support his work anymore.    … Expand
  45. auditbadger
    Jun 2, 2018
    8
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  46. quwip10
    May 24, 2018
    10
    This is the first game I have ever given a 10/10. It has the tightest, most responsive controls I have ever experienced. The game is fairly straightforward from a gameplay perspective, but it does not hold your hand. It leaves you to figure out your own path. Madeline is a great heroine and the view into her inner struggles is intimate and emotional; something unexpected for a puzzleThis is the first game I have ever given a 10/10. It has the tightest, most responsive controls I have ever experienced. The game is fairly straightforward from a gameplay perspective, but it does not hold your hand. It leaves you to figure out your own path. Madeline is a great heroine and the view into her inner struggles is intimate and emotional; something unexpected for a puzzle platformer. The puzzles throughout the game are extremely fun and varied. It never feels stale. The most challenging rooms are typically found when trying to collect the optional strawberries, mix tapes, and other secrets, but even going straight through the levels is challenging. Even in the most difficult rooms after dying hundreds of times, I rarely found myself frustrated. The respawn is so fast and the puzzles always feel achievable even if they look impossible. It was in these moments of finally clearing a challenging area that I would feel a swell of pride. This game is very challenging, but it is engaging, fun, and rewarding. I plan to go back through it to try to find the secrets and get 100%… Expand
  47. jerkface910
    May 23, 2018
    6
    I was enjoying this challenging 2D platformer quite a bit, but the Joy-con controls just aren't up to the task. I've probably died twice as much just due to the controls, which is frustrating. If you have the Pro controller use that, or get it on PS4, but either way this game needs a D-pad!
  48. avoidingfern207
    May 10, 2018
    8
    Very fun platformer with some fun characters, great music, solid controls, and a pretty decent story. The game is also gorgeous.
  49. sluderk1983
    May 6, 2018
    10
    Incredible. The music is really immersive and responds to your progress through each world. Controls are excellent. Punishingly difficult in some parts.
  50. kmorri09
    May 1, 2018
    10
    Celeste has become one of my all-time favorite games, if not #1. 30 hours in, and I am just as absorbed with the entire package as I was at the start. It gets 100% across the board (incredible and varied gameplay, bumping soundtrack, visual style, and relatable story/characters).

    This game drives you constantly to improve, and you do so without even realizing. Before you know it, you    Celeste has become one of my all-time favorite games, if not #1. 30 hours in, and I am just as absorbed with the entire package as I was at the start. It gets 100% across the board (incredible and varied gameplay, bumping soundtrack, visual style, and relatable story/characters).

    This game drives you constantly to improve, and you do so without even realizing. Before you know it, you can return to previous levels and fly through sections that were terribly frustrating before. There is so much end-game content that this continues almost indefinitely. This is a game that I will definitely be revisiting for years.    … Expand
  51. MarsCorialanus
    Apr 29, 2018
    10
    This is some Yukon Gold if i've ever seen any. The story of Celeste and Theo from Seattle, great platforming fun, uplifting music. An instant classic in my books.
  52. Adubis27
    Apr 26, 2018
    9
    8.9/10. Top 5 side-scroller of all time? This game is a must-have for any fan of platformers.
  53. memus
    Apr 20, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a wonderful game:
    +It tackles a topic of human psychology and fears in a really smart way
    +That's the first rogue-like game that I finished and actually enjoyed. The learning curve is done well and in the end I felt that my skill at playing this game was amazing. +Finally, I'm happy to own Switch. This game fits portable format just perfectly. +Additional kudos to Matt    Celeste is a wonderful game:
    +It tackles a topic of human psychology and fears in a really smart way
    +That's the first rogue-like game that I finished and actually enjoyed. The learning curve is done well and in the end I felt that my skill at playing this game was amazing.
    +Finally, I'm happy to own Switch. This game fits portable format just perfectly.
    +Additional kudos to Matt (developer) for making the second awesome game in a row (after Towerfall)

    Not a ten because:
    -In the end story gets too cheesy and repetitive
    -The secrets feel underdeveloped (I don't collect them anyway)
    -Sometimes the game was too tough for me (especially clouds and feathers sections)    … Expand
  54. MoondogJapan
    Apr 17, 2018
    4
    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with all these rave reviews maybe you should buy it and see what all the fuss is about... Stop Right There. Do NOT buy this game. It will be a painful waste of money. If you're looking for a challenge and hate yourself, buy this game and waste your    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with all these rave reviews maybe you should buy it and see what all the fuss is about...
    Stop Right There. Do NOT buy this game. It will be a painful waste of money.

    If you're looking for a challenge and hate yourself, buy this game and waste your life on it, please.

    The story? Meh. Common tropes about overcoming personal weakness. That makes it a standout game? Are you serious?

    Tight controls? Absolutely not! The more difficult levels (one screen is one level, typically) rely too much on luck to complete. You can find yourself rehashing the same jump attempt for 20 minutes. And when you succeed? You have no idea what you did different that time. That's luck. Not skill.
    Which means that the game is a Failure at developing skill in players via play.
    It also means the switch analog stick is a Horrible input method for performing such fine movements.

    The art? If you usually don't like pixelated art in games, this game is in no way going to change your mind. I hate pixelated graphics. I don't care if it takes more effort to make. It looks awful. And if you're going to be making players replay the exact same move over and over for over 10 minutes on the same exact screen until they get lucky, the screens should be beautiful to look at.

    The music? Actually very good. I bumped up my score a full point for music.

    The other 3 points are pity points. Some people worked very hard to make this title, and even though it galls me that a game this bad is one of the highest rated games on Switch, the fact that they made a game that some people seem to really enjoy is worth something.

    Mario games have charm and soul. This game is an ugly, repetitious bore that tricks players into thinking they've achieved something when success is too often dependent on luck.

    I can't help but wonder how many of these high scores were bought.    … Expand
  55. zainosk03
    Apr 15, 2018
    10
    Celeste is a stunningly beautiful game with a deep and meaningful story. It is an amazing 2d platformer with great mechanics. I finished the main story today and it's the best 2d platformer I've played, my favourite game of the year so far and possibly one of the best games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. A not to miss game on switch.
  56. Winko
    Apr 6, 2018
    8
    Good:
    - Fun and fluid platforming bridled with great level design
    - Great use of simplistic controls - Fantastic soundtrack - Plenty of collectibles to find and challenges to complete after the credits roll - There’s a ton of gameplay variation and each level is filled with multiple new mechanics to explore - Characters are fleshed out nicely and are overall very likable - The game    Good:
    - Fun and fluid platforming bridled with great level design
    - Great use of simplistic controls
    - Fantastic soundtrack
    - Plenty of collectibles to find and challenges to complete after the credits roll
    - There’s a ton of gameplay variation and each level is filled with multiple new mechanics to explore
    - Characters are fleshed out nicely and are overall very likable
    - The game is very transparent with letting the player know that collectibles don’t hold any actual value. Completionists will have a field day but casual players won’t have to tear their hair out over collecting everything to unlock in-game items or progression
    - The final stretch of the game is challenging and reaching the end feels very rewarding
    - Animal Crossing-esque sound effects for dialogue

    Mixed:
    - Minor pacing problems throughout the story
    - One level near the end of the game doesn’t have collectibles, disincentivizing people from exploring and kind of breaking the flow. Regardless, it’s still a very well crafted area.
    - The long nature of some of the levels makes exploring for collectibles very time consuming, but the selectable checkpoints and the collectibles display does help alleviate this problem

    Bad:
    - Trying to move precisely using the Switch’s imprecise analog stick can add some unnecessary challenge and frustration
    XXX    … Expand
  57. RobinOW
    Mar 30, 2018
    10
    A gorgeous game with gorgeous graphics, gorgeous gameplay, gorgeous controls, and a gorgeous story. And on the Nintendo Switch?

    This game is simply gorgeous, no other way to put it. A must have for anyone who enjoys video games.
  58. eforall
    Mar 29, 2018
    9
    A great game with some truly difficult levels but a learning curve that will develop your skills before you know it. If you need an additional challenge the game provides it. For the price, there is not much better bang for your buck. Amazing platforming!
  59. kjenner
    Mar 28, 2018
    10
    Great game, really easy to get the hang of, mildly frustrating but super fair.
  60. Merc4Wrk
    Mar 21, 2018
    9
    Pretty great game, fun gimmick with the dash. The level design is all amazing, each of which all have quirks that set them apart. The only negative I can even think of is that the b slides are a bit of a grind. With level design that seems a lot more difficult rather then challenging. Even the narrative is a fun ride, and I didn't expect it to be on the level it is. Overall definitely 100%Pretty great game, fun gimmick with the dash. The level design is all amazing, each of which all have quirks that set them apart. The only negative I can even think of is that the b slides are a bit of a grind. With level design that seems a lot more difficult rather then challenging. Even the narrative is a fun ride, and I didn't expect it to be on the level it is. Overall definitely 100% worth picking up.… Expand
  61. Kitsun3
    Mar 17, 2018
    10
    I climbed a mystical mountain three times, I cried, I laughed, I'm still not finished.

    Seriously though. Celeste's level design is beautiful. The game is devilishly hard but very fair. No mechanic overstays it's welcome and future levels build on past levels mechanics. There is also a surprising amount of depth here; I wont spoil anything but for a completionist, one trip up the    I climbed a mystical mountain three times, I cried, I laughed, I'm still not finished.

    Seriously though. Celeste's level design is beautiful. The game is devilishly hard but very fair. No mechanic overstays it's welcome and future levels build on past levels mechanics. There is also a surprising amount of depth here; I wont spoil anything but for a completionist, one trip up the mountain is about 10% of your total playtime, if that.

    This isn't to mention the beautiful and well presented story which resonates with me and so many others in modern society. It discusses serious topics of mental illness in a more delicate, poetic and understandable way than most of the best literature does.

    If you don't care for completion or for story based games than there may not be a lot here for you. But if you do want to 100% a challenging game, or to enjoy an emotional tale than I cannot recommend Celeste highly enough. 10/10.

    (Oh and how could I forget - the music is outstanding and been on repeat in my household for weeks now.)    … Expand
  62. themacmeister
    Mar 13, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I must admit up-front that I really enjoy difficult platformers, such as Super Meat Boy and Dustforce DX.

    The first thing you will notice is the music, which is superb, and does not get too much as you retry the more difficult rooms over and over. The remixes are also great, and the music is clearly one of the highlights of the experience.

    Stage design is superbly weighted, becoming progressively harder... to the point where hundreds (and even thousands) of deaths in a stage is not unheard of. Some of the more advanced movement tech is not clearly explained... but that is what online forums are for (wall dash-jumps are a prime example).

    Graphics are eye-wateringly beautiful... and only a few times did I accidentally walk into death because the background was too busy/colourful.

    Movement is fluid and exact... perfect for a puzzle platformer. Puzzles are clearly laid out, and with correct planning should be achievable by any casual gamer.

    Finding hidden objects (exploration) is the key to finding the (way) more difficult B-sides (and eventually C-sides) cassettes, which are harder remixes of previous levels, with remixed music to go with them. Strawberries are an added bonus for completionists, and those looking to enhance the "easier" main game.

    If you ever doubted the platforming pedigree of this game, check out the 33 minute (YES, 33 MINUTE) speedrun of this game on Youtube. It may even be lower at this point. I have been speedrunning this game for 3 days, and have gone from 3hr20min down to 1hr22min... in three days. To play the game casually, there are 40 hours PLUS of challenge... my main save has 33hrs already, with the same amount left to go.

    My original game is about 50% complete, with 3 B-sides completed and some blue hearts too... but I have 11,900 deaths so far... admittedly 2000 of those were in a single room, where I was using an incorrect strategy with a feather (which allows for limited flying) and trying to navigate through a tight opening (which you were meant to dash through) - sigh - live and learn!

    This game transcends Super Meat Boy and Dustforce with its story, which keeps you interested and motivated to finish. The movement tech is deep and satisfying, and the difficulty curve is perfect for the casual up to the hardcore platformer. If you are easily frustrated, you may wish to skip this game... but for those with the desire and skill, you will be rewarded handsomely.

    The only real issue I have with this game is the joycons, they are not designed for this level of game. My hands are an aching mess after even 30min play, and longer sessions are a recipe for carpal tunnel damage. The controllers are simply not ergonomically designed. I thoroughly recommend a Pro Controller for the D-Pad, and for the comfort. I have the PC/Mac version as well, from itch.io, and my wireless XBOX 360 controller is a pleasure to use.

    If the game was still crashing on saves (end of levels) I would take off a few points from my rating, but this has been fixed with the latest patches (along with some softlocks), so I give this highly addictive platformer a 10 out of 10.    … Expand
  63. Ukokira
    Mar 13, 2018
    10
    Absolutely loved it

    Tight controls that never bugged out on me, fun evolving level design that never felt unfair, and a suprisingly engaging story.
  64. formulas666
    Mar 11, 2018
    0
    I don’t understand the hype. It is one of the most boring and repetitive games I have ever played. I am also really getting tired of this ugly pixel graphics. Nothing special here.
  65. deepspace
    Mar 9, 2018
    6
    The game’s fantastic soundtrack and awesome style aside, this is an exercise in frustration and sameness. If each screen was interesting and gave you a reason to battle on, I’d probably persevere, but this game’s dynamic is just too one-dimensional. Maybe less of the one-trick pony of doing the same thing on each screen for the next one. But yeah, beautiful game and great style- and theThe game’s fantastic soundtrack and awesome style aside, this is an exercise in frustration and sameness. If each screen was interesting and gave you a reason to battle on, I’d probably persevere, but this game’s dynamic is just too one-dimensional. Maybe less of the one-trick pony of doing the same thing on each screen for the next one. But yeah, beautiful game and great style- and the mood is fabulous.… Expand
  66. night4
    Mar 5, 2018
    7
    It's good, it really is. But in absolutely no world does it deserve the scores it's getting.

    Pros:

    -Sound/music
    -You don't have to wait long after dying
    -Nice pixel art

    Cons:
    -Parts get a bit frustrating
    -"Story" is lame
    -Price is too high
  67. NJMC_
    Mar 3, 2018
    10
    I usually don't seek out or purchase many platformer games. Taking a change on Celeste, turned out to be one of the best decision I could've made. The graphics are simple, yet refined. Musical score accompanies the environmental in the best possible way. Collecting strawberries heightens the challenge of the game, but feels rewarding once you achieve the leap. Anyone who enjoysI usually don't seek out or purchase many platformer games. Taking a change on Celeste, turned out to be one of the best decision I could've made. The graphics are simple, yet refined. Musical score accompanies the environmental in the best possible way. Collecting strawberries heightens the challenge of the game, but feels rewarding once you achieve the leap. Anyone who enjoys platformers should definitely pick this one up.… Expand
  68. mcsw712
    Mar 1, 2018
    10
    Amazing. Retro gaming at it's finest. Plus cheat options for when you get stuck!
  69. Aynez
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    For me, this game is platforming perfection. It starts out quite easy. And as you go, you find the game more and more challenging, while on the other hand getting better and better at the game's simple, yet perfect mechanics. The core mechanics consist of jump, climb and dash. That's it. However, all the chapters utilize these mechanics in new and innovative ways.
    It took me about 45    For me, this game is platforming perfection. It starts out quite easy. And as you go, you find the game more and more challenging, while on the other hand getting better and better at the game's simple, yet perfect mechanics. The core mechanics consist of jump, climb and dash. That's it. However, all the chapters utilize these mechanics in new and innovative ways.
    It took me about 45 hours to clear all levels, B-sides and C-sides. After that, there's golden strawberries to collect by going from start to finish on each chapter (including B and C-sides), which are just madness! :)

    In my opinion, this really is one of the best games ever made!    … Expand
  70. Lamon
    Feb 24, 2018
    10
    Better than any 2D Mario I’ve ever played. The story is interesting and deep, the levels perfectly designed and the music memorable. Awesome
  71. ImSirEclipse
    Feb 23, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Celeste is game of the year so far in 2018, the simplistic controls mixed with the complex levels really make for a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience for the player. The game stays simplistic, building upon itself adding in different mechanics each chapter. The story is also incredible, following the tale of Madeline and her anxiety - using the metaphor of climbing a mountain and comparing it to dealing with anxiety. The contrast of difficult levels compared with the simplistic and consistent controls leaves the player with a rewarding game. The games is very good at creating atmosphere making the levels and game immersive to the player. The music is also great at being in the background, allowing the player to enjoy it, while also not distracting the player.

    All in all, Celeste is a masterpiece that can easily be replayed and enjoyed time after time that any gamer that enjoys platformers should get immediately.    … Expand
  72. SethpCecil
    Feb 23, 2018
    3
    To me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" wave of better games such as Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy. The gameplay loop becomes repetitive after the first world and the when you finally pass a particularly difficult area you get more a sense of relief that its finally over rather thanTo me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" wave of better games such as Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy. The gameplay loop becomes repetitive after the first world and the when you finally pass a particularly difficult area you get more a sense of relief that its finally over rather than accomplishment. I appreciate why some enjoy this game, but in no way is it a "best game of all time" game, this game isn't even in my top 10 of 2D platformer games.… Expand
  73. irrzir
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    Don't let the edgy internet contrarians fool you: the game is good. It's not perfect, but keeps you captivated for long enough to justify more than the 20 bucks it charges.

    Let's get the basics out of the way: the game is *full* of content. Superb level design, secrets for those that want them, and a crapload of levels. I'm guessing that the people who are complaining about the    Don't let the edgy internet contrarians fool you: the game is good. It's not perfect, but keeps you captivated for long enough to justify more than the 20 bucks it charges.

    Let's get the basics out of the way: the game is *full* of content. Superb level design, secrets for those that want them, and a crapload of levels. I'm guessing that the people who are complaining about the time-to-complete have probably not discovered the B-sides--which are disgustingly difficult chapters that use mechanics you learned about in the story. In addition, the B-sides also teach you advanced movement techniques which are used to speedrun the game.

    Moving on: the music is sublime, and the story is phenomenal (though a bit cheesy at times). The music for chapter two, and for the final bits of the storyline are among my favorites in gaming.

    My only substantial complaint with the game comes in the form of one of its mechanics in one of the chapters: wind. While most other mechanics seem to empower you to do crazier and crazier things, the wind mechanic is introduced for one chapter to basically slow the game down to a crawl, and overwrite the muscle memory you built up over the chapters. It's frustrating in a way that *is* technically fair, but it doesn't really feel fair. That mechanic persists for only one chapter, however, and isn't actually enough of a complaint to warrant docking a point. The game definitely deserves a 10/10 bar that silly mechanic, so that's what it gets.    … Expand
  74. Exstream
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    Wonderful game that takes the difficulty of platformers like super meat boy and adds a deep and motivating plot to it. This game is a must buy
  75. jasoncporter
    Feb 22, 2018
    10
    This game does something I have never seen before: present a compelling and emotional story in a platforming game. I'm sure there are others out there, but this hits the perfect sweet spot of storytelling and tight platforming that everything just fell perfectly into place. The music is absolutely phenomenal (Congrats Lena Raine on composing that masterpiece), the visuals are even prettyThis game does something I have never seen before: present a compelling and emotional story in a platforming game. I'm sure there are others out there, but this hits the perfect sweet spot of storytelling and tight platforming that everything just fell perfectly into place. The music is absolutely phenomenal (Congrats Lena Raine on composing that masterpiece), the visuals are even pretty breathtaking at times even though they're in an 8-bit style. Story heavily touches on mental health so if you've ever struggled with anxiety or depression, a lot of this will hit home to you. 10/10, didn't want it to end.… Expand
  76. peropify
    Feb 20, 2018
    10
    The only retro-inspired platformer I've played I've enjoyed from start till finish since actual retro games were made. Highly recommend.
  77. playerunknown
    Feb 20, 2018
    1
    Very difficult, frustrating, repetitive game. Poor graphics uglier than 8-bit consoles game graphics. This is unacceptable nowadays
  78. ScreenScraggy22
    Feb 19, 2018
    10
    Wow is the game just so good in almost every aspect possible. Fantastic and challenging gameplay really shines through in this beautiful game. Its fun enough to want to keep on playing no matter how hard it gets. The dashing mechanic in the game is not gimmicky and is a lot of fun. The soundtrack is very nice, and graphics are simple but good. Also a ton of replayability here with all ofWow is the game just so good in almost every aspect possible. Fantastic and challenging gameplay really shines through in this beautiful game. Its fun enough to want to keep on playing no matter how hard it gets. The dashing mechanic in the game is not gimmicky and is a lot of fun. The soundtrack is very nice, and graphics are simple but good. Also a ton of replayability here with all of the chapters having a harder mode to them, also with tons of collectables you can play this game for hours. Some of the best platforming gameplay I’ve ever experienced.… Expand
  79. Dukemang
    Feb 18, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a great game that far exceeded my expectations when I first saw it. To start, the art style mixed with the primarily pixel graphics suits the gameplay and story so perfectly; which adds a somewhat charming aspect to it. Now charming isn't what I would consider the story, but I will say that it is much more heartfelt than I thought it would be and really hits the mark whenCeleste is a great game that far exceeded my expectations when I first saw it. To start, the art style mixed with the primarily pixel graphics suits the gameplay and story so perfectly; which adds a somewhat charming aspect to it. Now charming isn't what I would consider the story, but I will say that it is much more heartfelt than I thought it would be and really hits the mark when talking about heavier topics that deal with anxiety or depression. The game definitely has some harder difficulty spikes, but due to the tutorials and the great level design that helps build up to some parts of the game, you'll be ready for just about anything the game throws at you and enjoy yourself at the same time.… Expand
  80. EdgarEM
    Feb 18, 2018
    9
    Los creadores de Celeste tienen un par de cosas que mostrarles a algunos desarrolladores de juegos Triple A, sin duda la respuesta de control es perfecta, una banda sonora acorde a lo que sucede en el juego.
    Cada movimiento tiene que suceder en un momento justo, jamas deberas pasar por alto nada y bien debes observar cada pieza en el entorno ya que juegan un papel importante para poder    Los creadores de Celeste tienen un par de cosas que mostrarles a algunos desarrolladores de juegos Triple A, sin duda la respuesta de control es perfecta, una banda sonora acorde a lo que sucede en el juego.
    Cada movimiento tiene que suceder en un momento justo, jamas deberas pasar por alto nada y bien debes observar cada pieza en el entorno ya que juegan un papel importante para poder terminar el nivel y donde si fallas sabes que no es por que el juego este mal diseñado, si no, por que te has equivocado tu y al momento en el que logras pasar un nivel que te tomo tiempo obtienes enseguida esa satisfaccion que muy pocos juegos te dan hoy en dia.
    Tiene esa extraña y fantastica mezcla en sus dialogos entre lo hilarante sin serlo demasiado y lo serio para mantener la trama del juego como debe ser, eso mismo le da una identidad especial al juego en si.
    Creo que el punto debil más marcado es que puede sentirse un tanto corto pero si eres de aquellos que le gusta superar su marca momento a momento lo disfrutaras cientos de veces y sera una joya en el speedrun.
    Si eres un jugador de plataformas de antaño sin duda te gustara este juego y esta debera ser un "must have", pero. si no sueles tocar o nunca jugste este genero te recomiendo que bajo tu propio riesgo lo compres ya que puede llegar a ser frustrante si no estas acostumbrado a morir de forma continua y empezar denuevo .
    Mi calificacion real es un 8.5    … Expand
  81. Cool968585
    Feb 18, 2018
    10
    Celeste is a love letter to people who love 2D platformers I hope it gets a game of the year award 2018
  82. bennyslen
    Feb 16, 2018
    10
    This game is amazing. It touched my soul.

    Pro
    -The gameplay is fluid and the puzzle are good.
    -The soundtrack is WONDERFUL
    -The "story" is lovely
    -The characters are nice

    Cons
    -When the game ended, and i realized all happened too fast
  83. vape
    Feb 16, 2018
    10
    buy this game it's so good. Just watch the dunk's video on this mastapiece.
  84. kickinbck199317
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    Celeste is one of those rare games that comes around that is excellent on every level. Such a joy to play. Besides an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia from its 8-bit style graphics, the game presents with:
    -fast, fluid, and fun gameplay!
    -tight/precise controls -a challenge to all players (assist mode for players unfamiliar to the platforming genre...or to get those pesky strawberries)    Celeste is one of those rare games that comes around that is excellent on every level. Such a joy to play. Besides an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia from its 8-bit style graphics, the game presents with:
    -fast, fluid, and fun gameplay!
    -tight/precise controls
    -a challenge to all players (assist mode for players unfamiliar to the platforming genre...or to get those pesky strawberries)
    -hours of challenges and strong replay value
    -a mysterious story that has you constantly questioning and keeps you coming back for more
    -one of the best soundtracks every assembled that perfectly blends with each environment    … Expand
  85. Flyinryan
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    Loved this game so much it gave me sore thumbs! The story is amazing and the game-play is the best combination of challenge and reward.
  86. Comet625
    Feb 12, 2018
    10
    I bought this game and played it until I beat it. The main story that is. The soundtrack is just so good and I love how in every chapter it introduces a new mechanic or obstacle. The controls are also very good, only consisting of 3 buttons, yet you use them in such diverse ways and I never felt that when I died that it was the game's fault. I knew that all I could do was practice and getI bought this game and played it until I beat it. The main story that is. The soundtrack is just so good and I love how in every chapter it introduces a new mechanic or obstacle. The controls are also very good, only consisting of 3 buttons, yet you use them in such diverse ways and I never felt that when I died that it was the game's fault. I knew that all I could do was practice and get better. This is definitely on of the best platformers I have ever played. 10/10 - Masterpiece… Expand
  87. Xcaliber
    Feb 12, 2018
    10
    This is definitely one of the greatest platformers ever made! the gameplay is so tight and it has amazing difficulty! the story is also great and makes you feel for the characters. this is a must have for switch!
  88. pikby
    Feb 12, 2018
    9
    Celeste is a beutifully crafted game that not only provides a sloo of surprises for platforming veterans,with unique and intresting mechanics everwhere you look , but also provides one of the best narratives ive seen in a video game in quite some time, with the best depiction of mental illness ive seen in a video game ever as an added bonus, this game is simply a masterpeice, and ifCeleste is a beutifully crafted game that not only provides a sloo of surprises for platforming veterans,with unique and intresting mechanics everwhere you look , but also provides one of the best narratives ive seen in a video game in quite some time, with the best depiction of mental illness ive seen in a video game ever as an added bonus, this game is simply a masterpeice, and if history forgets this game, then **** history.

    97%    … Expand
  89. Gwz
    Feb 11, 2018
    9
    Celeste is near perfect. The retro 2d graphics does its work and is not overly gimmicky. The controls are SUPER TIGHT, one of the best I've touched on a modern game. The story is relevant and easy to follow. Sure, there's a lot between the lines and the symbols are a bit on the nose, BUT they are not pretentious and feels genuine and drawn from experience. It's about depression but not inCeleste is near perfect. The retro 2d graphics does its work and is not overly gimmicky. The controls are SUPER TIGHT, one of the best I've touched on a modern game. The story is relevant and easy to follow. Sure, there's a lot between the lines and the symbols are a bit on the nose, BUT they are not pretentious and feels genuine and drawn from experience. It's about depression but not in a way that validates trigger warnings though it doesn't pull any punches, which takes us to the difficulty level! Celsete is HARD, like oldschool-learn-by-doing-and-failing hard. It fits with the theme of getting over your real or imagined limits. After a frustrating but rewarding first level the game just keeps ramping up. You level up by learning to play. The design is a marvel of pedagogic teaching in game mechanics. Coming back to the first level you will be struck by how easy it suddenly is.
    Bottom line about the difficulty: I've never, ever played a game that was still fun to play even after dying so many times. I cursed like a sailor in mud but I felt that it was fair and if it was to frustrating it was a sign for me to quit and try again later.
    I give Celeste a solid 9 but that is only because I leave the 10 for my 3 top games of all time.    … Expand
  90. playeronereport
    Feb 9, 2018
    9
    This game means so much to me as a person who struggles to feel I am succeeding sometimes. Madeline has showed me that you don't have to shut out emotions that may stop you, but work with them. Celeste is a game that just gets it from every angle. I had a feeling I was going to love this one, but I can't believe I loved it for the reasons I did. The more I talk about this game the more IThis game means so much to me as a person who struggles to feel I am succeeding sometimes. Madeline has showed me that you don't have to shut out emotions that may stop you, but work with them. Celeste is a game that just gets it from every angle. I had a feeling I was going to love this one, but I can't believe I loved it for the reasons I did. The more I talk about this game the more I believe it is damn near perfect. Matt Makes games created a game that bleeds with charisma and speaks to me so much. Celeste taught me so much and I implore everyone to play this game.… Expand
  91. setuis
    Feb 8, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Dash is awesome but also annoying, I am good at planning jumps and how to do everything but the game limits me due to Dyspraxia as i accidentally press wrong buttons why can't the game have a planning jump function where you can type in commands and what point to execute the next command at least then it would feel like I accomplished something - Lucky i can use the assist mode for Immortality but once on it was like why even bother to turn it off I got to the end of chapter 3 just before the hotel guy became a boss and I died 1500 times on chapter 3 before giving up with the repetitive nature of the last room due to the terrible jumps near the end, long rooms should have a mid way check point to reduce the frustration but i guess an Immortality mode allows you to get to the end of the game at the cost of feeling no accomplishment what so ever. The chapter 3 end boss would have killed me for sure with stupid charges etc had Immortality mode not been on, the game will become to punishing for a majority of players and games that have to use Immortality mode built in cheats are therefore badly balanced. Positives good mechanics , negatives no way to remap controls not having the option to hover for a moment when using dash so you can move directions correctly and not constantly smash yourself into the stuff that kills you. Will now finish game with cheats on cause its to hard for me to complete otherwise, I won't feel any sense of accomplishment from it through and accomplishment is a big part of the game.

    The characters are interesting and have charm, but some of the long rooms really dapper the game. Its a shame the jump and dash couldn't have be designed as a single button with a hover pause while in mid air to allow you better control over dash with your stick.    … Expand
  92. MarquisInSpades
    Feb 8, 2018
    4
    Hype machine in full swing. Suggest trying Towerclimb which is so much better and underated.
  93. MediaFreak
    Feb 7, 2018
    7
    I'm a big fan of pure platformers, but I felt this particular game just tried a bit too much to be something special.

    The story mode was great playing it through took about 5-6 hours and I really loved it. But I wanted some replayability and for me this game doesn't really have that. I enjoyed going back to the first world to get collectibles I'd missed and doing the bside and any other    I'm a big fan of pure platformers, but I felt this particular game just tried a bit too much to be something special.

    The story mode was great playing it through took about 5-6 hours and I really loved it. But I wanted some replayability and for me this game doesn't really have that. I enjoyed going back to the first world to get collectibles I'd missed and doing the bside and any other bsides id stumbled on along the way, but alot of the worlds just arent fun to explore. I dont want to have to jump into every part of every wall on ever level, well also being chased by something that will kill me if there isnt a hidden area there. Too much of the games best content is hidden away and most will get bored trying to find it.

    Would have been a better game if you could just pick your level like super meat boy and if things werent hidden.    … Expand
  94. NBMTX
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    I'm not really into platformers, but I liked this one for it's story and accessibility. Now I only wish there was more story to experience. I probably won't get around to the B sides and C sides myself, but if you're into platformers, know that there's more to this game than it's 6-8 hour story. The game is easy to play and does a good job of upping your skills as you go (assuming youI'm not really into platformers, but I liked this one for it's story and accessibility. Now I only wish there was more story to experience. I probably won't get around to the B sides and C sides myself, but if you're into platformers, know that there's more to this game than it's 6-8 hour story. The game is easy to play and does a good job of upping your skills as you go (assuming you don't have them going in); and it's soundtrack is pretty darn good as well, IMO. Celeste was definitely worth picking up.… Expand
  95. Theskullshammer
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    This game far surpassed my expectations. The controls are tight, the soundtrack is great, and the story is surprisingly good for a 2D platformer. There are some who'll find it to be a bit challenging so don't go in expecting it to be a cake walk, but I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for a challenge.
  96. Angel_Sigh
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    I love platformers - I think they're the most perfect expression of twitch gaming there is, and my favourite game growing up was Super Mario World on my old SNES. I was blown away by the creativity of the Mario Galaxy games. But 3D platformers have not been hitting the high points recently, not since the demise of the Wii and Nintendo's decision to turn away from the Galaxy games. Lately,I love platformers - I think they're the most perfect expression of twitch gaming there is, and my favourite game growing up was Super Mario World on my old SNES. I was blown away by the creativity of the Mario Galaxy games. But 3D platformers have not been hitting the high points recently, not since the demise of the Wii and Nintendo's decision to turn away from the Galaxy games. Lately, the best platformers have all been 2D examples, and, to pick one in particular, Super Meat Boy instantly barged its way into my top 10 Greatest Games OAT list.
    I'm a huge fan of the genre, and my Switch has been pretty much unplayed since I set the disappointing Mario Odyssey aside - then along came Celeste with its outrageous metascore...what else could I do? I downloaded it immediately and I've been playing nothing else since. It really is as good as everyone's saying, and when a new franchise appears, from a dev who's not world-famous either, and immediately gets a metascore like this, you can be sure there's something there to get excited about.

    I'll get my complaints out of the way first, because they're pretty minimal:

    1. The controls on Switch are not well-suited to split-second 2D platforming. It's just not practically possible to use an analogue stick to play something that demands such precision - it's far too insensitive - and the only other option you have is the Switch's 'd-pad'. The problem is that it's not really a d-pad; rather it's a four-button configuration that stands in for a d-pad, and this means your fingers often slip into the gap at the centre. This isn't a constant issue, but it happens enough for it to mess up some crucial moments in the game, which, like I say, requires absolutely perfect precision. The second problem with the controls, more minor perhaps, is that when you're playing on the big screen and the left and right joy-cons are detached, the left joy-con is simply too small for your hand to fit comfortably around it, and as a result you get the dreaded hand-cramp/-claw-cramp.

    2. The narrative is...well-meaning. It has occasional moments of Lynchian intrigue - birds appearing at particular moments throughout - and there are half-hearted attempts to imbue the whole climb itself with an air of metaphysical mystery, as though it might be some kind of dreamlike confabulation brought about by stress. But these elements don't join up well, and the writing ranges from mildly interesting, mildly amusing, to painfully worthy, anaemic stuff that feels like it was cribbed from a self-help book. There are lines about 'believing in yourself' and 'trusting in who you are', and subjects like anxiety attacks and lack of confidence and self-worth are dealt with clumsily. Some people have credited it simply for talking about these issues in the first place, but that's not really enough I don't think. This is a work of art, not a speech by a motivational speaker or a pamphlet on coping with depression, and as a result subjects like this need to be approached with some degree of nuance, and stitched properly into the fabric of the game, rather than awkwardly dumped on the player at the end of a level. It's incongruous, and over-earnest. It's a shame, because as a narrative device climbing a mountain is fertile ground. It has danger, obstacles to be overcome, a clear beginning and a very definite end. In Celeste however it never really feels like you're climbing a mountain at all except insofar as you're generally moving upwards.

    So those are the flaws, but they are rendered almost irrelevant by the platforming itself, which nudges up against perfection throughout. The warp and weft of the level design is better than anything you'll find in a 2D game outside of Super Meat Boy. It is an absolute joy to control, and the economy of the moveset(jump, dash, climb; that's it) means that the innovation instead comes in the form of certain structural gimmicks that run through each level.
    These are implemented with such skill, such invention, and are paced so well, that I finished a few of them and literally exhaled in awe. There are huge, diaphanous blocks which extend your dash as you pass through them; there are levels where ferocious winds extend your basic jump, or curtail it; there are levels in which platforms smash forwards whenever you dash; if this sounds confusing, trust me on this: it's all intuitive, and deeply satisfying to play. It's undeniably demanding, but crucially, and as with SMB, the restart time is so short that you can instantly throw yourself back into the level as soon as you die.
    I've completed it, and I died A LOT(just over i600 times!), but the design is so good there's never a doubt about why you messed up, or what you should've done; not once did I think 'forget this - this is just unhinged' as I did with the post end-game levels in SMB. Celeste's difficulty curve is gloriously smooth.

    In summary, this is the best platformer, 3D or otherwise, on the Switch. Seriously.    … Expand
  97. Buzzz
    Feb 5, 2018
    9
    A fantastic platformer, with solid controls, and a surprisingly good storyline.
  98. NintendoGamer1
    Feb 4, 2018
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing and fluid to play. Anybody who doesn't buy this game will be doing a disservice to themselves. 10/10
  99. Dannyxv8
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    I made an account just to say that the level design in this game is mind-blowing. Celeste has the best level design I've ever seen in a video game. Charming characters, amazing music, simple controls, challenging difficulty, this game is for anyone who loves every detail being perfect.
  100. MuffinMan369
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    this game was incredible, i loved it from start to finish. There are so many things to this game that make it great, the music, the game play, the story and some people might not like the art style but personally i loved it. I think it might be one of my favourite indies next to Stardew and Meat boy (i haven't played a lot of indie games)
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2018
6
#6 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
9
#9 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. COGconnected
    Oct 10, 2018
    93
    It tells a surprisingly deep and emotional story featuring a relatable main character and it all blends uniquely together to make one of the finest gaming experience of the year. Celeste might not look it but, just like the mountain Madeline is so determined to conquer, it towers above the rest quite easily.
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  2. Video Chums
    Aug 25, 2018
    80
    As most indie-keen gamers already know, Celeste is a phenomenal 2D platformer. Almost everything about it comes together to make a satisfying and challenging game that'll thoroughly put your skills to the test.
    Read full review
  3. DarkZero
    Jun 12, 2018
    100
    My hands actually hurt from gripping the Switch but I couldn’t stop, and when I finally landed on the other side of one of the many gauntlets that Celeste wears like a medal, I felt both relief and curiosity as to what it would throw at me next. It’s a rewarding experience and a game that I’m honoured to issue a perfect score.
    Read full review
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