Celeste Reviews

If you enjoy platformers, buy it. You won't regret it. Really nice gameplay. It is built around 2 moves, dashing and wall climbing and somehow the devs managed to stretch it to its max potential. Amazing music. Seriously, the soundtrack in this game is insanely good. Congrats to Lena Raine for achieving this, no wonder she got hired to make music for Minecraft. Lovely story. I am not gonna spoil it, but the story is revolving around anxiety and as someone who had this problem before, I can say it does a great job at portraying how it feels, how most of us try to get rid of it and how some of us manage to solve the problem that anxiety give us. In fact. Anxiety is not an emotion which you can simply get rid of. It will always be there. The cure to it is not courage, but curiosity, it's not an enemy, it's a twisted defense mechanism or an overcautious friend rather than a terrifying force. If you are an anxious person this game will 100% resonate with you and may even help you

Everything is fire. The music, the story, the art, and of course, the gameplay. Def recommend would play again

Madeline's journey of self-discovery is inspiring to witness and doesn't fall into over-sentimentality. Technically speaking the game is also very well designed. Completing the main story is challenging enough, but the developer added truly diabolical collectible challenges and bonus levels. I wasn't skilled enough to clear it all, but Celeste strikes a balance between charm, precision, and difficulty that compelled me to challenge myself more than other git gud games have done before. I'll also echo the appreciation other reviewers have of how the game doesn't punish you with undue lost progress or limited lives/attempts.

I could write a lengthy review about what technically makes Celeste an amazing game, from one of the best level design in any platformer, the memorable soundtrack, the masterful pixel art, to the accessibility that lets you set your own level of challenge. But what really resonated with me is on a much deeper emotional level. I felt like the creator was speaking directly to me, from someone that felt exactly how I felt. It's a story about mental illness, about depression, and how to overcome it, or at least try. Celeste and Madeline made me feel less alone, and this pile of pixels will forever keep a place in my heart for that. Madeline said: "I'm a trespasser in my own world". If you don't understand what she feels, I'm really glad for you. But I do. It gave me the push I needed to go back to therapy.

If you're seeking a platformer that’s as tough as it is beautiful, Celeste is your ultimate climb. But hold onto your controllers because this isn’t just a game—it’s an experience wrapped in layers of challenge, artistry. At its core, Celeste is about Madeline’s climb up the titular mountain, facing both literal and metaphorical obstacles. It’s a game about confronting personal demons, battling self-doubt, and trying to reach the summit of one’s own mind. The story, written with care and empathy, drips with emotional weight. Each platforming level feels like an external manifestation of Madeline's internal struggles—her fears, her perseverance, her triumphs. But let’s talk about the gameplay for a second. Celeste is hard, no question. It’s like it lures you in with the promise of smooth, satisfying movement and then smacks you in the face with a devious gauntlet of spikes, lasers, and gravity-defying platforms. It demands precision, but it rewards you with one of the most satisfying feeling of mastery in gaming. You get those moments of “I DID IT!” where everything clicks, and you realize you've just cleared a death trap in a flurry of jumps, dashes, and heart-pounding focus. The music? The soundtrack is chef's kiss perfect for the vibe of the game—electronic beats with a touch of dreaminess that sync perfectly with the highs and lows of Madeline’s journey. It feels like the emotional resonance of the game was crafted right into the tracks. Every beat is a shot of adrenaline that lets you power through tough sections, only to slow down and reflect during the quieter moments. And that difficulty? It's tough—but fair. The precision is part of the magic. Every time you fail (and you will fail), it's because you could've done better. The level design, with its hidden secrets and finely tuned progression, makes even the toughest sections feel rewarding. It's like the game takes your frustrations and smears a little bit of that mega glaze on it to make you appreciate the challenge. As you move through the game, you’ll unlock more than just stages—you’ll unlock self-reflection. Madeline’s struggle with her inner demons is mirrored in the way Celeste challenges you: If you’re patient enough, you'll find that the rewards are more than just the satisfaction of clearing a stage—they’re about conquering parts of yourself that you didn’t know were holding you back. Visually, the game looks like it could be a bedtime story come to life—pixelated charm that pops with color. The art is both minimalistic and gorgeously detailed, evoking nostalgia for the old-school platformers we loved while still feeling fresh and modern. So, yeah. Celeste isn’t just a game. It’s an emotional, rollercoaster of triumph, failure, and self-discovery. It’s challenging, it’s heartbreaking, it’s glorious—and it's all wrapped in nostalgia and finesse that makes it impossible to put down.

Best 2D platformer. Celeste is a model for difficulty curve design. Every step of the climb makes me feel stronger, giving me the confidence to spend as many deaths as needed to beat whatever level of challenge.

A very tight and fun precision platformer, quite enjoyable, has secret levels called B-side and even C-side, which adds a lot of additional unique content after you've finished the game, not to mention the absurd amount of strawberries as collectables. The gameplay also keeps evolving and adding more features you have to consider the further you go, which was a nice touch, as it does not stay samey for and every level adds some variety, a new mechanic that you have to make use of to procceed. The game also has some accessibility options for people that aren't very good at platformers in turn of disabling achievements, but its there. [b]It was nominated best game of the year on the VGA 2018,[/b] and it shows. Some say the dialogue is a bit corny and cringe, but i quite enjoyed it. [i]It's the story of a girl trying to surpass her inner demons and inner conflicts by attempting to climb the Celeste Mountain. for a sense of self-fulfillment [/i] i give it a 8/10. Great!

This game definitely goes into my all-time favorites. It's one of the best soundtracks with awesome storytelling. It took me more than a year to complete this game. As Madeline was struggling with her feelings, you struggled with challenging platforming. The way they have introduced different gameplay mechanics, other games should need to learn from this. Madeline and Badeline, are awesome characters that you can relate to throughout the game. I can talk all day about their struggles and how they relate to us. They have portrayed it with different soundtracks depending on Madeline's internal struggles. It's perfection. I won't spoil any story as you should experience it yourself.

Came for the trans memes stayed for the amazing gameplay, levels and story

I first beat this game in the winter of 2019, unaware of how much the world was going to change in a few short months. Coming from a background of playing competitive super smash bros, this game hooked me with its mechanics instantly. The platforming was so smooth and expressive, there was always a unique way to beat various levels. With the addition of some of the best video game soundtracks of all time, the thrill from completing a level was unmatched by any game I had ever played. The love put into the game can be felt in every second you play it. My favorite part of the game was definitely the story. SPOILERS AHEAD The themes of not giving up on yourself and embracing the anxiety inside you in order to grow from it is reflected so well in the struggle between the characters of Madeline and Badeline. Fighting against your negativity and ignoring it only for it to lash out and cause more problems highlights a common result of the desire to simply rid ourselves of the darker aspects in our lives. But we can prevent that by acknowledging our faults and learning to own it and do better. Once Madeline realizes her mistakes and welcomes Badeline back into her life, we are rewarded with a second dash that enables us to perform more difficult maneuvers. With other relatable characters in Theo and Granny who show various forms of encouragement and support, the journey to climb Mt. Celeste had a very meaningful impact on my life. Back then I was affected by a multitude of negative thoughts and pressures. This game helped me process everything and come out of the battle stronger. I knew that I had to keep my head up and stop taking the people around me for granted. I can confidently say this game helped me through the struggles I faced at the time. SPOILERS DONE The extra levels in this game include another layer of complexity and difficulty that while enjoyable, can be extremely frustrating. But the game is just so good at encouraging you and convincing you to keep climbing. The remixes that play during these levels do a big part in stopping you from quitting and can even be motivating at times. I managed to complete all the B-side levels and half of the C-side levels before putting the game down. I was disappointed that I was not going to attempt the Farewell level, but satisfied with the things I had accomplished with the game. Fast forward to today and once again I am struggling with some negative aspects of my life. It has inspired me to climb this mountain once more. I have missed the world of Celeste and the charming characters who have been waiting for my return. I am proud to say I have beaten the level I was last stuck on and will be attempting to beat the C-side levels and Farewell in order to help Madeline with her last chapter of closure. This game is probably gonna make me cry again if I ever beat Farewell; the main story was already so good. Wish me luck as I embrace the endless cycle of falling and learning while beating my demons in the real world. I'll see y'all at the top.