Celeste, released in 2018, is a platform game created by indie game developer, Matt Makes Games. The objective of the game is to help the game’s protagonist, Madeline, who suffers from anxiety and depression, climb Celeste Mountain.

Gameplay

Celeste is a 2D game where the main character, Madeline, can run, jump, climb walls for a limited time, jump off walls, and dash in mid-air in eight directions. There are certain items that can enhance Madeline’s abilities, such as green gems that refill her dash ability without the need to land on safe ground. Other objects like “dream blocks” can be dashed into to transport Madeline from one side to another, while moving blocks can transfer their momentum to Madeline when she jumps off of them. There are also bubbles that move when dashed into and platforms that only activate after Madeline dashes. Players can use the “Assist Mode” setting to make the game easier by changing the game speed, allowing unlimited use of the dash ability, or granting Madeline invincibility.

Story

Celeste is set in a fictionalized version of Celeste Mountain, which comprises various locations, such as an abandoned city and resort, and appears to be haunted by several strange events. The protagonist of the story is a young woman named Madeline, who decides on a whim to climb Celeste Mountain to regain her confidence and determination. Despite numerous obstacles, Madeline persists until she reaches the mountain’s peak. Upon arriving at the base of the mountain, Madeline meets Granny, an elderly woman who advises her against climbing the mountain. However, Madeline ignores her and proceeds to the abandoned city, where she meets Theo, a traveler from Seattle who is obsessed with social media. In the following section, Madeline has a nightmare in which she comes face to face with her anxiety and depression personified as “Badeline,” who pursues her out of the area and casts doubt on Madeline’s ability to climb the mountain successfully.

How long is Celeste?

When it comes to the main goals, Celeste takes about 8 and a half hours to complete. If you’re a gamer who wants to experience every aspect of the game, it will probably take you around 37 hours to achieve 100% completion.

Reception

Upon its release, Celeste received high praise from critics. They commended the game, using words such as “magnificent”, “excellent”, or “special”. Additionally, numerous reviewers claimed that it was a game that they would highly recommend to anyone.

According to reports, Celeste sold more than half a million units in 2018, with the Nintendo Switch version being the most in-demand. In anticipation of the release of Farewell, the game’s creator, Thorson, stated that Celeste was nearing one million copies sold, and by March 2020, it had reached that milestone.