Are you a fan of Celeste and its addicting mix of challenging levels, tight controls, and heartfelt story? If so, you’re in for a treat! I’ve put together a list of 20 fantastic games like Celeste that will keep your inner platformer enthusiast on their toes.
These games, each with its unique flair, will give you the excitement and emotion that Celeste brought to the table. Let’s explore these thrilling platformers that’ll make you feel like an absolute gaming champ.
Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!
Full list of games like Celeste
Hollow Knight
This masterpiece of a game transports you to the beautifully haunting world of Hallownest. You’ll step into the tiny shoes of a mysterious knight on a quest to uncover the kingdom’s secrets and protect its inhabitants from a deadly infection. The hand-drawn art style, atmospheric soundtrack, and engaging lore make it impossible not to get sucked into this gloomy world.
Gameplay-wise, Hollow Knight has a lot going on. It’s a metroidvania, which means you’ll be exploring interconnected areas, collecting new abilities, and unlocking shortcuts as you progress. The combat is super satisfying, with tight controls and a variety of nail (your weapon) upgrades to unleash your wrath on all those creepy-crawlies.
What makes Hollow Knight feel like Celeste? Well, it’s the challenge. Hollow Knight doesn’t pull any punches, and you’ll need to master the precise controls and enemy patterns to survive. Plus, like Celeste, it tells a deep, emotional story that unfolds as you progress. Though Hollow Knight leans more towards exploration and combat, its platforming sections will give you that satisfying Celeste-like challenge we all crave.
Super Meat Boy
Get ready for some fast-paced, finger-twitching action with Super Meat Boy! This classic indie platformer stars our squishy hero, Meat Boy, who’s on a mission to save his beloved Bandage Girl from the evil Dr. Fetus. Yeah, the story might be a bit wacky, but it’s all part of the game’s irresistible charm.
Super Meat Boy is all about speed, precision, and perseverance. You’ll be zipping through levels filled with deadly saw blades, spikes, and other traps that’ll turn you into minced meat if you’re not careful. The game’s tight controls make every jump feel precise, and the quick respawn times keep you coming back for more, even when the difficulty gets downright brutal.
If you loved the unforgiving challenge of Celeste, Super Meat Boy is right up your alley. While it may not have the same emotional depth, the sheer satisfaction of nailing a tough level will definitely bring back those Celeste vibes.
Ori and the Blind Forest
This visually stunning platformer tells the heartwarming tale of Ori, a guardian spirit, who must restore the dying forest of Nibel. With lush environments, breathtaking art, and a touching story, you’ll be captivated from start to finish.
Ori and the Blind Forest features a mix of exploration, puzzles, and platforming, all wrapped up in a smooth, metroidvania-style gameplay. As you progress, you’ll unlock new abilities that open up new areas and help you overcome increasingly complex obstacles. The platforming can get pretty intense, requiring precise timing and clever use of your skills to navigate the gorgeous but dangerous world.
So, how does Ori and the Blind Forest compare to Celeste? It’s all about the emotion and the challenge. The game’s heartfelt story will tug at your heartstrings, much like Celeste, while the demanding platforming sections will keep you on your toes. If you’re looking for a game that combines both beauty and challenge, Ori and the Blind Forest should definitely be on your must-play list.
Shovel Knight
Get ready to dig into some good old-fashioned platforming fun with Shovel Knight! This retro-inspired gem takes you on a nostalgic trip back to the days of 8-bit gaming, while delivering fresh and modern gameplay. You play as the titular Shovel Knight, on a quest to defeat the evil Enchantress and save your beloved Shield Knight.
Shovel Knight combines tight platforming with satisfying combat, using your trusty shovel to pogo-jump on enemies and dig up treasure. The game features a variety of themed levels, each with unique challenges, enemies, and boss fights. Along the way, you’ll collect relics that grant you special abilities, making your journey a little bit easier – or at least more fun!
What makes Shovel Knight feel like Celeste? The charming pixel art, catchy chiptune soundtrack, and platforming definitely remind me of Celeste’s retro vibes. Though Shovel Knight has a stronger focus on combat, its well-designed levels and tight controls will give you that Celeste-like satisfaction when you conquer a tough section. So grab your shovel and get ready to dig into this amazing adventure!
Dead Cells
If you’re craving a bit of action-packed platforming with a dash of roguelike elements, look no further than Dead Cells. Set in a sprawling, ever-changing castle, you’ll take control of a reanimated corpse trying to escape the clutches of a mysterious island. The game combines permadeath with procedural generation, so every run is a fresh, challenging experience.
Dead Cells shines in its combat and exploration. As you navigate the treacherous castle, you’ll collect a variety of weapons and abilities that help you dispatch your foes in style. The game’s tight controls and fluid animations make every fight feel incredibly satisfying. And with a multitude of branching paths and secrets to discover, you’ll never run out of surprises.
How does Dead Cells compare to Celeste? While it leans more towards action than pure platforming, the challenging gameplay and precise controls will definitely scratch that Celeste itch. Plus, the game’s roguelike nature means you’ll always have a new challenge waiting for you, much like Celeste’s ever-changing levels.
The End is Nigh
From the creator of Super Meat Boy, The End is Nigh is another tough-as-nails platformer that’ll have you begging for more. You play as Ash, a little blob-like creature, who finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. Your goal? To make a friend – literally – by collecting body parts scattered across the game’s numerous levels.
The End is Nigh is all about precision platforming, with over 600 tightly designed single-screen levels to conquer. The game is packed with hazards and tricky jumps, making each level a true test of skill. As you progress, you’ll unlock new areas, secret levels, and even mini-games to keep things fresh and exciting.
If you’re a fan of Celeste’s hardcore platforming, The End is Nigh is right up your alley. While it might not have the emotional depth of Celeste, the precise controls and challenging levels will definitely remind you of your favorite mountain-climbing adventure.
Guacamelee! Series
Looking for a platformer with a little extra spice? The Guacamelee! series is here to satisfy your cravings. These luchador-inspired games take you on a wild journey through the world of the living and the dead, as you play as Juan, a farmer-turned-superhero trying to save the world from the evil Carlos Calaca.
The Guacamelee! games are a unique blend of metroidvania-style exploration, fast-paced combat, and challenging platforming. You’ll battle foes using flashy wrestling moves, while unlocking new abilities that help you navigate the vibrant, Mexican-inspired world. The games also feature a healthy dose of humor, making them a blast to play from start to finish.
While the games lean more towards combat and exploration, their controls and platforming sections will definitely remind you of Celeste’s thrill. The vibrant art style and lighthearted humor provide a nice contrast to Celeste’s more somber tone, making the Guacamelee! series a great pick for gamers looking for a fresh twist on the platforming genre.
Cuphead
Welcome to the world of Cuphead, where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a 1930s cartoon. This stylish run-and-gun platformer stars Cuphead and his brother Mugman, who must repay their debt to the Devil by defeating a series of eccentric bosses. The game’s jaw-dropping hand-drawn art, accompanied by a jazzy soundtrack, truly sets it apart from the crowd.
Cuphead is known for its challenging boss battles, which make up the bulk of the gameplay. Each boss has multiple phases and unique attack patterns, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking to defeat. In addition to boss fights, there are also a handful of platforming levels where you’ll collect coins to purchase new abilities and power-ups.
Cuphead focuses more on combat than pure platforming, but the demanding gameplay will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Celeste’s difficulty. If you’re ready to take on some of the most memorable bosses in gaming history, Cuphead is waiting for you!
VVVVVV
Get ready to flip your world upside down with VVVVVV! This gravity-defying platformer has you exploring a treacherous, open-world space station as Captain Viridian, searching for your lost crew members. The game’s unique twist is that instead of jumping, you’ll flip gravity to traverse the environment, making for some truly mind-bending puzzles and platforming challenges.
VVVVVV features a minimalist, retro art style and a catchy chiptune soundtrack that’s sure to stick in your head. The game’s non-linear design encourages exploration and experimentation, as you uncover new areas, collect trinkets, and tackle increasingly difficult challenges.
While VVVVVV might not have the same emotional weight as Celeste, its unique gravity-flipping mechanic will scratch that Celeste itch. If you’re ready to defy gravity and explore a world filled with spikes and narrow escapes, give VVVVVV a go!
Axiom Verge
Sci-fi fans, get ready to dive into the mysterious world of Axiom Verge! This metroidvania-style game puts you in the shoes of Trace, a scientist who wakes up in an alien world after a lab accident. Your mission? To uncover the secrets of this strange land and find a way back home.
Axiom Verge is heavily inspired by classic games like Metroid, with a sprawling, interconnected world to explore, various weapons and abilities to acquire, and challenging boss fights to overcome. The game’s pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack create an eerie, otherworldly vibe that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish.
While the focus is more on exploration and combat, the gameplay and challenging platforming sections will resonate with Celeste fans. If you’re looking for a sci-fi adventure with a retro twist, Axiom Verge is a must-play!
Limbo
Step into the dark, monochromatic world of Limbo, a haunting puzzle-platformer that’ll send chills down your spine. You play as a nameless boy searching for his sister in an eerie, dreamlike environment filled with twisted creatures and deadly traps.
Limbo’s gameplay is centered around solving environmental puzzles and navigating treacherous platforming sections. The game’s minimalist art style, combined with its subtle audio design, creates a tense, immersive atmosphere that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
The dark emotional narrative will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Celeste. While Limbo is more focused on puzzles than pure platforming, its precise controls and nail-biting challenges will give you that Celeste-like thrill. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey through the shadows!
INSIDE
From the creators of Limbo, INSIDE is another atmospheric puzzle-platformer that’ll keep you guessing till the very end. You control a young boy navigating a dystopian world, avoiding deadly hazards, and solving intricate puzzles to progress.
INSIDE builds upon the foundation set by Limbo, with more elaborate puzzles and platforming sequences that require precise timing and quick thinking. The game’s striking art style and moody soundtrack create an unsettling atmosphere that perfectly complements its mysterious, dark narrative.
INSIDE leans more towards puzzles than pure platforming, but its emotionally-driven story will resonate with Celeste fans. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking, spine-tingling adventure, don’t hesitate to step INSIDE.
Katana ZERO
Slice and dice your way through Katana ZERO, a stylish, fast-paced action-platformer that’ll make you feel like an unstoppable assassin. You play as a samurai hitman, armed with a deadly katana, who must navigate a gritty, neon-lit city filled with dangerous foes.
Katana ZERO’s gameplay revolves around one-hit kills and instant respawns, creating a frantic, high-stakes experience that requires precision and strategy. The game features a time-slowing mechanic, allowing you to dodge bullets and plan your moves in the heat of battle. The engaging story, told through dialogue sequences and mysterious flashbacks, adds another layer of depth to the experience.
The intense and precise controls will definitely appeal to fans of Celeste’s difficulty. While Katana ZERO focuses more on combat than platforming, its fast-paced action and skill-based challenges will give you that adrenaline rush you crave.
Fez
Enter the colorful, mind-bending world of Fez, a charming puzzle-platformer that’ll challenge your perception of reality. You play as Gomez, a small creature who receives a magical fez that allows him to rotate the 2D world in 3D space. Your goal is to collect mysterious cubes and uncover the secrets of your world.
Fez’s gameplay is centered around its unique world-rotating mechanic, which lets you explore the environment from different perspectives and solve a variety of puzzles. The game features vibrant pixel art, a soothing soundtrack, and a non-linear design that encourages exploration and discovery.
While Fez leans more towards puzzles than pure platforming, its innovative mechanics, and charming atmosphere will undoubtedly resonate with Celeste fans.
Spelunky
Prepare to embark on a thrilling, ever-changing adventure with Spelunky, a roguelike platformer that’ll test your skills and keep you coming back for more. You play as a treasure hunter exploring a series of procedurally generated caves, filled with deadly traps, hidden secrets, and valuable loot.
Spelunky’s gameplay is all about learning enemy patterns and adapting to the constantly changing levels. The game features permadeath and randomly generated environments, ensuring that no two runs are the same. With a variety of unlockable characters, items, and secrets to discover, Spelunky offers endless replayability.
The roguelike nature of the game will definitely appeal to fans of Celeste’s difficulty. While Spelunky focuses more on exploration and treasure hunting, its addictive gameplay and unforgiving challenges will give you that Celeste-like thrill.
Braid
Time to turn back the clock with Braid, a groundbreaking puzzle platformer that’ll make you rethink the way you play. You take control of Tim, a man on a quest to rescue a princess from an evil monster. The twist? Tim has the power to manipulate time, allowing you to rewind, slow down, or even create parallel timelines to solve puzzles and navigate the game’s beautifully hand-painted levels.
Braid’s gameplay is all about mastering its time-manipulation mechanics, which vary from world to world, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. The game also features a thought-provoking narrative, revealed through collectible books and subtle environmental storytelling.
The unique mechanics and emotional narrative will undoubtedly resonate with fans of Celeste. While Braid focuses more on puzzles than pure platforming, its clever level design will give you that Celeste-like satisfaction when you overcome a difficult challenge.
Hyper Light Drifter
Venture into a mysterious, neon-drenched world with Hyper Light Drifter, an action-adventure game that combines fast-paced combat and exploration with a haunting, atmospheric narrative. You play as a Drifter, a wanderer afflicted by a deadly illness, who must traverse a forgotten land in search of a cure.
Hyper Light Drifter’s gameplay revolves around agile movement and melee combat, with a variety of weapons and abilities to discover and upgrade. The game features a gorgeous pixel art style, a mesmerizing soundtrack, and an open-world design that encourages you to explore its hidden corners and piece together its cryptic story.
The mysterious atmosphere will appeal to fans of Celeste’s difficulty and emotional depth. While Hyper Light Drifter leans more towards combat and exploration, its engaging mechanics and captivating world will keep you coming back for more.
The Messenger
Embrace your inner ninja with The Messenger, a retro-inspired action-platformer that’ll take you on an epic time-traveling adventure. You play as a young ninja tasked with delivering a sacred scroll to save his cursed village. Along the way, you’ll face a variety of foes, unlock new abilities, and even journey between the past and the future.
The Messenger’s gameplay combines tight platforming with fast-paced combat, using your trusty sword and a range of ninja skills to defeat enemies and navigate the game’s cleverly designed levels. The game starts as a classic 8-bit platformer but later transforms into a 16-bit metroidvania, offering a unique twist on the genre.
The retro-inspired aesthetics will definitely remind you of Celeste’s thrills. While The Messenger focuses more on combat and exploration, its well-crafted levels and engaging mechanics will give you that Celeste-like satisfaction as you master each new challenge.
Gris
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of Gris, an artful platformer that explores themes of grief, loss, and self-discovery. You play as a young girl named Gris, who navigates a world brought to life by her own emotions. As Gris gains new abilities, she also overcomes her personal struggles, unlocking new areas of the game.
Gris features hand-drawn art, enchanting animation, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that make it a true work of interactive art. While the platforming challenges are less demanding than those in Celeste, the game’s emotional narrative and stunning visuals will resonate with fans of Celeste’s storytelling.
If you’re looking for a more contemplative platforming experience, Gris is the perfect choice. Its unique blend of art and gameplay will leave a lasting impression on anyone who ventures into its world.
Rain World
Survival is the name of the game in Rain World, a challenging and atmospheric platformer that places you in the role of a small, slug-like creature known as a “Slugcat.” Separated from your family, you must navigate a treacherous, post-apocalyptic ecosystem filled with deadly predators and scarce resources.
Rain World’s gameplay revolves around exploration, stealth, and quick reflexes as you traverse its vast, interconnected world. The game’s AI-driven ecosystem means that each playthrough is unique, with creatures adapting to your actions and evolving over time. The game’s striking pixel art and haunting sound design create an immersive, unforgettable atmosphere.
While Rain World focuses more on survival and exploration, its brutally challenging world and engaging mechanics will give you that Celeste-like thrill as you evade predators and fight to stay alive.
There you have it – 20 games like Celeste that’ll keep your platforming cravings satisfied. Whether you’re looking for intense, hardcore challenges, innovative mechanics, or emotionally-driven narratives, there’s something on this list for every Celeste fan – who knows, you might just find your next favorite game!
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