The 10 best climbing games

Dumb Ways to Climb

6.0

0 Want

ActionEditors' Choice

I’ve always found climbing mechanics to be a tricky feature. When done poorly, the controls can feel overly complex and downright stressful. But when it’s done right, climbing can be one of the most fun things you can do in a game. It can deliver a satisfying challenge, give players a chance to explore and search forhidden areas and treasures, and in some cases, it can even be used to tell a fantastic narrative. Below, you’ll find ten of the best climbing games with the most rewarding climbing mechanics.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

8.5

0 Want

ActionRPGAdventureAssassin

Let’s face it: one of the best things about the Assassin’s Creed series is the ability to run and parkour across various objects. Scaling buildings to see more of the map and dropping from rooftops into various hidden spaces will never get old. Assassin’s Creed Mirage nails this through its beautiful rendition of ancient Baghdad. Making a flawless kill from that perfect ledge is what being a master assassin is all about.

DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT

8.5

0 Want

Sci-fiActionAdventureOpen World

Death Stranding is a post-apocalyptic game filled with evil human-eating monsters, but it’s also a pretty greatclimbing game! Not only do do you need to scale steep slopes and cliffs to complete deliveries, but you even use tools like a climbing anchor to stay safe while you’re mountaineering.. I was surprised by the climbing elements during my playthrough of Death Stranding, but it definitely added to the fun of my experience.

Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition

8.9

0 Want

Post-apocalypticRobotsSci-fiAction RPG

Climbing plays a pretty big role in Horizon Forbidden West. One of the best things that it does is use colorful paint marks on walls to signify where players can climb or where a rope may be. he ability to grapple up long vertical distances and use ledges as a launching point to climb even higher also makes traversing steep surfaces especially satisfying.

SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS

7.7

0 Want

ActionAdventure

Forget about climbing mountains; why not play a game that lets you scale your way up gigantic enemies. Shadow of the Colossus does a great job of making you feel so tiny compared to these roaming goliaths. Climbing on top of a massive beast, hanging on to them for dear life, and fighting your way to a well-earned victory is one of the most exciting parts of a fantastic game.

Only Up!

7.8

0 Want

CinematicLinearFirst-PersonAdventure

Only Up! has a simple premise: you need to run, jump, climb, and vault your way to the top of the map. It’s been criticized for its difficulty—there are no checkpoints, and if you fall, you start over—but the creativity in this title is undeniable. And though it’s no longer available it belongs on any list of best climbing games!

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

8.9

0 Want

This is the perfect title for those who happen to love both climbing and philosophy. Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is about a man in a cauldron who uses a hammer to grip objects and climb a steep mountain while making philosophical observations. One of the coolest things about this is that it’s relatively short; it can actually be beaten within two hours. Of course, with no checkpoints and a spike in difficulty as you get the higher up the mountain, it’s not necessarily make your way to the top of the mountain in that timeframe.

A Difficult Game About Climbing

10

0 Want

Psychological HorrorDifficultSurvivalAction

Everything you need to know about this one is in the title. Currently set for release in March of this year, A Difficult Game About Climbing requires youto control your climber’s hands using only a mouse. For some reason, using your legs isn’t allowed. Not only does it have unique climbing mechanics, but you also need to pull yourself up an enormous, treacherous mountain full of challenges and surprises. This indie title is definitely something climbing game fans shouldcheck out when it’s released.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (NS)

9.4

0 Want

ActionRPGAdventureOpen World

One of the core features of Tears of the Kingdom is exploring the massive open world of Hyrule to search for all sorts of goodies and treasures, and one of the best ways to do that is through climbing. And like in Breath of the Wild, nearly every surface is climbable. Tears of the Kingdom also gives access to superpowers that give you unique ways to climb. Like using telekinesis to make a floating staircase which makes unlocking the mysteries of Hyrule even more fun.

Jusant

9.5

0 Want

CinematicActionAdventureFantasy

Jusant’s expansive views and attention to detail immediately immerses you in a world of majestic mountains, precarious ledges, and captivating scenery. When I started playing, I fully expected to be bombarded with complex button combinations and intricate mechanics, but Jusant adopts a more intuitive approach. Climbing is the main action, and the controls seamlessly mimic the real-life motions of scaling a mountain. The use of triggers to simulate alternating hand movements adds a layer of realism that makes every ascent feel like an accomplishment. It’s a unique form of show-don’t-tell storytelling that uses climbing and the environment to get the narrative across.