What genre is Celeste?
Celeste is a precision platformer: a 2D side-scrolling action game where almost everything depends on exact jumps, mid-air dashes and wall climbing. It was released in 2018 by the small studio behind TowerFall (now Extremely OK Games), led by Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry. It also has a strong narrative element, following Madeline's climb up Celeste Mountain as a story about anxiety, depression and self-acceptance.
What makes it a precision platformer
- Small, tight move set: jump, climb and one dash in eight directions that recharges when you land. Every screen is a puzzle built from these three moves.
- Short, dense challenges: levels are split into single screens, so a failed attempt costs only a few seconds.
- Instant respawns: the game expects you to die many times and makes retrying painless.
- Optional difficulty layers: strawberries, hidden B-side and C-side versions of chapters, and golden strawberries for deathless runs.
- Assist Mode: you can slow the game, add dashes or turn on invincibility, which makes it accessible to players who want the story without the hardest platforming.
Structure and length
The main story has eight chapters, plus an epilogue and the free post-game Chapter 9, "Farewell," added in 2019, which is much harder than the rest. Finishing the story usually takes around 8 to 10 hours. Collecting everything, including B-sides, C-sides and Farewell, can take several dozen hours, depending on skill.
FAQ
Is Celeste a roguelike or a metroidvania?
No. Progress is linear and chapter-based; there is no random generation or ability-gated open map.
How many chapters does Celeste have?
Eight main chapters, a short epilogue and Chapter 9, Farewell.
Is Celeste hard?
The core story is challenging but fair; B-sides, C-sides and Farewell are among the hardest content in modern platformers. Assist Mode lets anyone tune the difficulty.
What does the name Celeste mean?
It is the name of the mountain Madeline climbs; the word comes from the Latin for "heavenly."