Celeste

I have played many difficult platformers in my life, many of which felt overly difficult and in the end I lost interest. There was something about Celeste that kept bringing me back for more. Whether it was the feeling of “look what I can do” or “I know I can do this” or the reward of feeling accomplished when making a difficult jump. Through it all, I never lost interest. I just kept trying until I was able to complete a stage

On top of that, there is a great story that addresses themes of depression, self-discovery, and ultimately perseverance, which can be applied to both one’s personal life and the experience one has in general when playing a difficult game. You may get mad at a few points, but that peak is always there waiting for you, within reach, and is something we should all strive for, whether it is in-game or not.

Celeste is a surprise masterpiece. Its 2D platforming is some of the best and toughest since Super Meat Boy, with levels that are as challenging to figure out as they are satisfying to complete. Hidden throughout those levels are a wealth of secrets and collectibles, some of which push the skills it teaches you to the absolute limit, along with enough end-game content to keep you playing for dozens of hours.