Climbing is one of those actions in video games often left in the background. They are very common, yes, but it’s not usual that they get the spotlight gameplay-wise.
However, some titles have tried a different direction, giving more prominence to the act of vertical movement, making it feel more than just the means to traverse a map, and adding aneat sense of immersionthanks to well-adapted controls, mechanics, and environments.
Therefore, from imitating reality to exploiting the ultimate fantasy of motion, here you’re able to find the list of10 games with amazing climbing mechanics.
10A Short Hike
Two Hours Of Cute Hiking
A Short Hike
Independent games, sometimes without the burden of having to meet a set of expectations, can create specific and near-perfect experiences.A Short Hike, in a sense, is like that.
As the game only lasts a couple of hours, it rapidly develops its mechanics, which consist of climbing and gliding. Or, to be more accurate, graceful climbing and gliding thanks to fluent gameplay, beautiful scenery, and a lovely art style.
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It’s absolutely simple because most of the time you find yourself fascinated by talking with charismatic NPCs and exploring the island to find upgrades or collectibles, butits simplicity is what makes it fun.
9Prototype
When Fun Is Better Than Logic
If almost all the players who have triedPrototypeagree that it’s one of thefranchises that deserves to be resurrected, it’s because it does something right. In fact, it does a lot of things right.
Among them, Alex Mercer’s superpowers, and more specifically, his super speed, allow him to climb by running—and leaving destruction in his wake as he does. it’s got that ‘cool guys don’t look at explosions’ sort of vibe that we can all get behind.
Like with A Short Hike, it’s a basic system, but it works like a charm. Pressing only one button to reach the top of a skyscraper is a great, adrenaline-pumping experience.
8Getting Over It
Arcade Climbing At ItsPeak
Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy
A list with the best climbing mechanics that doesn’t mentionGetting Over Itis not, actually, a good list with the best climbing mechanics. That being said, Getting Over It’s climbing mechanics are actually pretty terrible. But that’s the point!
It may be more of a meme than a regular video game, but it’s undeniably fun and rewarding. It’s also undeniably frustrating and infuriating, and falling to the bottom after hours of work is devastating, but that’s what makes this one so memorable.
Even just the value of sharing its climbing exasperation with other players makes it worthy of this selection. With the correct amount of practice and patience,this Sisyphus-like journey is as punishing as it is satisfactory.
7Dragon’s Dogma
Climbing Combat
Dragon’s Dogma
One of the best things about climbing activities is that they don’t have to be used as a means of traversal. AsDragon’s Dogmademonstrates,climbing can also suit combat.
Believe me when I say this: there are few experiences as epic and fantastic as climbing onto a dragon in real time to stab them dozens of times. Or onto a cockatrice. Or a chimera. Or a Cyclops. You get the point.
Overall,Dragon’s Dogmais filled with awesome adventures, and most of them involve climbing onto massive mythological creatures—oneof the greatest of all time in my books.
6The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
If You See It, You Can Climb It
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, being the ad infinitum perfection of every system present inBreath of the Wild,has one of the best representations of climbing in all gaming.
The world of Hyrule is so engaging for the player to explore thanks to, among other things, the game’s great movement mechanics, which include resource management through stamina and tactical thinking through environmental analysis.
Climbing in Tears of the Kingdom has so much depth that it strikes aperfect balance between realism and fantasy, putting itself apart from other titles within the topic despite being one of thedensest open worlds.
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5Death Stranding
The Science Behind Climbing
Death Stranding
InDeath Stranding, instead of climbing for fun, you become a professional climber, as your survival depends on your vertical movement ability.
With ropes, anchors, zip lines, portable stairs, and other tools, you need to evaluate your surroundings carefully to ensure the success of every mission, especially because of the constant threats that pursue you.
It’s tense, methodical, and organically amusing. A primary focus of Death Stranding’s gameplay, but moreover, a primary focus of Death Stranding’s sensations, adding even more weight to some of themost beautiful gaming viewswe have seen in history.
4Assassin’s Creed Unity
Incomparable Spectacularity
Assassin’s Creed Unity
Assassin’s Creedas a franchise is based upon its parkour, andAssassin’s Creed: Unity, even after all these years, remains the greatest expression of the series’ climbing mechanics.
Because of its fluency and setting, using the walls and rooftops of Paris to reach your destinations is, to this day, a magical experience.
Despite being easy in terms of gameplay, the spectacular parkour of Assassin’s Creed: Unity holds a superb feeling that’s hard to match.
Possibilities feel endless as every surface seems climbable, and every sky seems reachable. A love letter to real-life climbers and parkour enthusiasts, and a worthy member of the Olympus ofbest video game climbing mechanics.
3Mirror’s Edge
Parkour’s Deity
Mirror’s Edge
Talking about parkour, we have here the best game of all time in said practice:Mirror’s Edge.
Through its first-person perspective, the level of immersion that Faith’s run achieves has never been replicated.
you may feel every corner climbed, every jump between building gaps, and every roll after a high drop, all while not even having an inch of HUD that interferes with your experience.
Regarding stimuli, connection with the character, and being captivated by everything, Mirror’s Edge plays in its own league as a masterpiece— an atypical treasure that beats the ‘have aged like milk’ allegations other contemporary titles suffer from.
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2Shadow of the Colossus
Majestically colossal
Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
For Dragon’s Dogma to run,Shadow of the Colossushad to walk… And climb numerous, massive, and fantastic 17-story-tall creatures.
Team ICO created a timeless classic in which climbing is a fundamental part of the equation, as every encounter relies on your capacity to stick to the back of a colossus, all the while feeling a sense of unbridled joy for even being able to witness the spectacle first-hand.
To climb moving and heavenly-shaped mountains is, for sure, an experience for a lifetime. However, Shadow of the Colossus is itself an example of a video game that can mentally scar you forever. You have been warned
The Tiny Sovereign of Climbing
Of all climbing-focused or climbing-related games, I’m sure you wouldn’t expect Don’t Nod’s indie gemJusantto be the best. But you should have.
From every grab to every jump, from every rock to every ledge, from every rope to every airflow, Jusant’s climbing is the most spine-chilling of them all.
Adrenaline, relaxation, patience, defiance, curiosity, fear, belonging, strangeness… Jusant makes you go through all kinds of sensations and thoughts due to its polished mechanics, marvelous audiovisual, and heart-wrenching narrative.
If you haven’t by now,you need to play Jusant, the true king of allclimbing video games.
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