Games (ACTUALLY) Like Celeste

[surtech5]

INTRO

Celeste did me dirty!

Tightly-crafted and beautiful beyond measure, the game served as my spoonful-of-sugar downright insidious and tragically-small world of precision platformers... And then it ended!
(rude)

I want more Celeste,
And in this, as other, similar posts have suggested, I am not alone.
However...
Most the suggestions filling (polluting) said posts are bafflingly wrong; at worst, sharing a meager 1 or 2 of Celeste's mechanics.

I have therefor taken it upon myself to set the record straight by creating:
'The Ultimate Celeste-Like Recommendation List'!!!

The quintessential collection for those attempting to fill a Celeste-shaped hole.
To guide you back to the garden, and to reveal the serpent's lies.

Potentially, some personal bias to follow...

EXPLANATION

The list is fluid, and by virtue of that fluidity, all-encompassing; Theoretically.
How so?
Observe the list's three distinct sections:

Celeste-Likes
(The Inheritors)

Hard-as-nails platformers where the player is guided toward mastery of the game's (deceivingly) simple toolkit through a series of incredibly-difficult, incredibly-short arenas.

To be more specific,
A single-player focused, 2D-platformer with no/minimal combat[/u], traditional puzzle solving, or metroidvania elements, but with emphasis on precise movement within tightly-crafted arenas, designed to promote raw skill and reaction-time over rewarding memorization and luck.

All games listed in this section are ones I have personally played, completed, and enjoyed. Irrefutably worthy of the slot they occupy; each and every one!
No game may enter this hallowed ground without first demonstrating to myself, personally, their undeniable Celeste-kinship; both in appearance and enjoyment.

Commentary for this section is therefor deemed unwarranted.
(My opinions are fact!)


Disqualified Titles
(The Deceivers)

False Celeste-Like recommendations (unjustly) posted elsewhere by tricksters and the mentally-unwell.

Disqualification does not equate to a negative opinion thereof!
Merely, that the nature of the title's existence is irreconcilably misaligned with that of Celeste's; a poor Celeste, or a golden stranger.

But then, would disqualification not therefor apply to every game in existence, save a meager few?
Certainly! As such,

A 2D-platformer featuring a single-player campaign and a jump button.
Anything less than that is far enough separated from the subject-material to be rejected from the list entirely.
Yes, rejected from disqualification...

Where some titles have been judged entirely through second-hand observation and educated conjecture, most have been evaluated personally. A not insignificant proportion of which played to completion; sometimes beyond even that.


Should you, while perusing the section, notice a title deserving of the honor that is being branded as a Celeste-like (a game carelessly disregarded or unjustly overlooked), feel free to comment such.
Please remember to include an explanation along with your hostilities, and be sure to address (at least some of) the points already listed.
If your argument is deemed by myself (the self-appointed authority) to have merit, then the title will be transferred to the third section for re-review.
(Please Note: Meat Boy is exempt from the above, as it is already exactly where it belongs... Thank you)


Under-Evaluation
(The Unknown)

Potential Celeste-like candidates, the likes of which I have yet to play/evaluate, but have every intention to do so... Eventually.

Suggestions from you, the readers, (those reviewed and found to be eligible) will be added to this section. From here, they will be evaluated by moi, the (one and only) true professional, and transferred to their appropriate section.

COMMUNITY ADDITIONS

Should you, after having thoroughly read through the list, notice the absence of a qualifying game, then please, carefully reread the list; in its entirety.
If the potential addition survives to the conclusion of your second study, then please, take a few quiet minutes to consider (carefully and objectively) the merit behind your scattering of thought.
If then still, your resolve remains, then (and only then) you should feel free to commence formulating an argument.

When commenting a potential contender, make sure to address both the points for and against your title's inclusion.
Should your comment prove worthy of consideration, it will be added to the section.

Successful submissions will earn you my respect; rapidly fleeting as it is.
Unsuccessful submissions will earn you nothing; the very same of which you contribute to society.

"CELESTE-LIKES"

(listed in order of enjoyment/recommendation; not similarity)

Sunblaze
Mechanically speaking, the hidden beauty is near clone of Celeste.
And honestly? My preference between the two; again, mechanically speaking.
(pls no ban, mods)

The player's toolkit and protag's overall feel are near identical to that of its inspiration.
And yet, I prefer Sunblaze's gimmick/arenas over Celeste's for one simple reason:
The gimmicks in Sunblaze offer the player less utility, but the arenas demand much tighter precision than in Celeste; simpler controls for harder levels.

No mid-level story segments or metroidvania backtracking to slow down a playthrough,
Just you and a series of varied and rage-inducing levels; with collectibles to boot.

More of a game as opposed to a narrative experiance.
(an fwb as opposed to a traditional relationship)


10 Second Ninja X
I would never call the mechanics (movement, gimmicks, or arenas) a pure copy of Celeste's. But I will say that the movement has a welcome familiarity to it; as too does the sense of accomplishment upon victory.

There is admittedly some light combat, yes. But, violence aside, the action itself is used like any other gimmick; another tool in your kit as opposed to a fighting system.

Feels like a spin-off more than a clone; a DLC as opposed to a sequel.
But I still dig it.


Milli & Greg
Despite having the same basic toolkit (double jump, wall jump, and dash), the movement is significantly removed from what Celeste offers. In fact, the protag is quite slidey; as if the platforms were made of ice.
If you ever played the OG arcade Mario bros, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Potentially the hardest game on the list (with a near non-existent difficulty curve) and the only one that seems to revel in tormenting the player.
It also sports the shortest campaign; shortest, not short.
The game moves at a lightning speed, with each gimmick swapped out before it has time to really piss you off.
Plus, some of the collectibles are absolutely brutal, with one in particular taking me more time than any level ever did.

With all that said,
An absolute blast from start to finish!

Duck Souls+
This one gets in on a technicality, less a Celeste-like and more a Milli & Greg-like... But strangely not made by the same people.

A budget, micro-game that ends before its (admittedly limited) mechanics have a chance to wear.
That said, for what it is, the sub 1-hour playtime and low price tag leave almost nothing to complain about.

Love it or forget it, or harm no foul.
fowl


Slime San
Okay, so... Visually the game is, well... Let's say, "hard to look at"...
Beyond that, it shares quite a lot in common with Celeste (and Super Meat Boy... But mainly Celeste). The levels are tight and dense. The characters are a welcome and non-intrusive distraction, and the in-game shops allow you to modify the game in a frankly shocking amount of ways.
Credit to the mad lad devs who went above and beyond with that

Though I (personally) have only just scratched the surface, it is easy to see the game's potential right from the get-go... It is also pretty upfront with some red flags. For example:
- The level starts moving before you do, easily allowing the obstacles to become desynced with the 'optimal pattern'.
- Levels are somewhat arbitrarily stitched together, allowing one 'bad apple' to pollute the experience of three or more others.
- When you have a second jump and/or dash available is quite hard to discern from a glance.

Beyond those three 'issues' (and the eye scarring art style), the gameplay is still fast paced and rewarding; tickling the same areas as Celeste and it's kin.
With the issues above only mildly aggravating a casual playthrough; though they may become a nightmare for completionists and speed-runners.


TowerFall Ascension
It is literally just Celeste, only with bow & arrow instead of an everything else.
It was made by the same devs a couple years before Celeste.

Funnily enough, I played this when it came out and thought to myself:
"Man, I love this so much... Except I hate the auto-aim arrow and the randomness of the enemy spawns! I wish those two things were just gone... I want this, but Mario."
Didn't get Mario... But I also didn't get disappointed.

Trying to get all the golden skulls is like playing one of Celeste's B-tracks, only, every 20 seconds you have to roll a D6, with two inverting your controls and one killing you outright...
(It will give you PTSD)

The true fun comes from its included time trial mode; a mode that removes enemies entirely!
The difficulty there is based more around routing and shooting your arrow than on the platforming itself... A shame.
Additionally, the times required for a good ranking are tighter than the collar on a rescue pit.

But, c'man!
It's still the Celeste art-style and movement!


Micro Platformer
As minimal as minimalist gets... And with that simplicity, a satanic level of difficulty.

The game consists of 5 short level packs, each one exponentially more challenging than the last. With the first four taking around half an hour to complete, and last and final pack demanding near frame perfect movement to survive; leading to hours and hours of attempts.

Beyond the base level packs, the game offers a DIY mode, with the option to play the creations of others.
With that said, the game opens with a warning from the Dev that the game is being phased out for a newer project.
Play it while you can...


VVVVVV
A metroidvania that is less metroidvania and more open-world exploration, and also, there is no jumping; the toolkit and gimmicks instead built around the protag's ability to invert their gravity.
Admittedly, that doesn't sound much like Celeste...
However!

The open-world is (mostly) comprised of self-contained, linear hallways which themselves are comprised of smaller arenas; arenas that act as temporary save points to facilitate repeat failure.

Items collected are either strictly to advance the story, or pure collectibles for the sake of added challenge; zero effect on the game's toolkit/gimmicks. There are no locked doors or blocked paths you will need to abandon, only to return later once you collected the proper item/ability.
As a result, what little backtracking you are required to do is there only for filling in the (wonderfully helpful, Godsend of a) map; exploring the optional branches you passed previously.

Tragically...
A disappointing percentage of the puzzles are based around memorization.
The game would have, in my (correct) opinion, benefited from swapping the open world with a simple level select.

That, and the movement really is a far-cry from what a Celeste-like should have.
(hence the inclusion being down here at the end of the list)

DISQUALIFIED TITLES

(Listed purely in alphabetical order)

A Clone in the Dark (series)
Short arenas split across a series of 'gimmick zones', sure... But that's everything!

Your movement is slow and limited, with the difficulty built near exclusively around stealth; around biding your time. All-in-all. the platforming itself is quite forgiving, implying (to me) that navigating the environment is not a challenge, per se, instead only another tool for your (stealth based) kit.

But don't get me wrong! Both entries in the series are gems in their own right!
But Celeste, they were not!


Axiom Verge
Admittedly one I haven't played... But c'mon, that's clearly Metroid.
(The first tag is literally metroidvannia)


Cuphead
Loved the game!
Got all the trophies! (Played on PS4)
Excited for the DLC!
Great game!

... What does it have to do with Celeste!?


Dadish (series)
Adorable, original, and well designed, the Dadish games are an absolute joy to play from start to end... But more Mario than Celeste.

Arenas are (typically) short, with the longer levels offering checkpoints to mitigate frustration. Each collection of levels (each hub) forcing you to take what you have already learned and re-implement it to overcome the new set of challenges.
Plus, the end of level dialog is always great!


Dustforce DX
A strong emphasis on combat with gameplay more fitting a rhythm game than a precision platformer.


FEZ
No...
Just no...
(a fishy suggestion)


Gravity Duck
Small precision based arenas with gravity altering mechanics akin to VVVVVV, but somehow even further away from Celeste.

The campaign is quite short, but painfully drawn out via the (constant) inclusion of noob-traps and objects (including some enemies and hazards, all teleporters, and sometimes even the end goal) failing to load.
Even worse, when the game is working and allows you to see the hazard before it is too late to avoid, the journey to the end is still a painful one. Miss-aligned hit-boxes, desynchronized obstacles, and just plain boring level design work together to strip away what sense of fun might remain.

(Whereas I strive to keep the synopses of this list relevant to a game's Celeste like qualities while avoiding becoming a review hub... I feel that the sheer absence of quality on display warrants an exception)


Iconoclasts
A rough around the edges metroidvania set in a wonderfully inventive world, filled with characters as interesting as they are unique.
The bosses all suck and the story really drops the ball toward the end, but all-in-all, a really solid experience! One clearly designed with love by a group of talented and inspired artists.

"Nice review-But what does that have to do with Celeste?"
Nothing! Just like the game...


Katana Zero
Another I have (sadly) yet to play.
It is however on my wishlist, because the game...
Oh man, the game!

Looks beautiful!
Looks fast!
Looks challenging!

Beyond that? Not sure how anyone could get Celeste out of this.
Perhaps a halfway between Hotline Miami and Celeste, sure...
A 'hawk' is halfway between a 'rat' and a 'jet', but that doesn't mean you can ride it!


Mark of the Ninja
Nice (Celeste-like) movement... But...
The game is clearly designed for combat and stealth.

Drop the sword, streamline movement in the crawlspaces, and swap the enemies for obstacles. Do that, and then you have a proper Celeste-like.
(As well as an entirely different game)


Meat Boy (series)
That's right-I said it!

Alright so, admittedly, it pretty closely aligns with what all I said constitutes a Celeste-Like...
However!

The movement itself is incredibly (infuriatingly) slidey; with quite the start up at that.
The levels are long enough to really get your blood boiling when you make a mistake towards the end; note the usage of the word 'level' as opposed to 'arena'.
The difficulty seems to come less from mastery and reflex, and more from memorization, and worse, patience.
(for more information, please play Bloody Trap Land)

I am not saying it is a bad game. After all, I do wish to continue breathing.
Nor am I disqualifying it on the basis that I personally disliked it... Not at all!

Simply put:
Though the movement, toolkit, and level design might appear similar to Celeste's on the surface level, they are in fact radically different from each other on all counts!
(review funded by PETA)


Ori (series)
Metoidvania with heavy combat...
Next!


Owlboy
Like Iconoclasts above, but with somehow even less similarity to Celeste.
(perhaps the recommendation was based around having annoying side-characters)


Rabisco
A strange title with gameplay that evolves fast enough to make defining the genera something of a challenge in itself... Not a Celeste-like tho...

Seems like a cross between Chip's Challenge and The Impossible Game


Rayman Origins/Legends
Two of the best games ever made, bar none...
But also, decisively not Celeste.

Some of the levels contain sections of marginally challenging, platform-centric arenas; the challenge of which somewhat reminiscent of Celeste... But that's it!

Still, Celeste-like or not, play these if you haven't already!
(or even if you already have)


Shovel Knight
A 2D, retro-pixel game with a jump button.
And that is where the similarities end!
(behold, the bare minimum for entry)


Splasher
Another I haven't played, but from what I've seen:
Meat Boy, but you have a gun.

And maybe I'm wrong; I'll be the first to admit that possibility...
But Meat Boy similarities aside, I don't see much of Celeste at all.
If anything, it looks less Celeste than Meat Boy does.


The Messenger
Haven't played it!
Looks awesome!
Not like Celeste, but still awesome!


Thomas Was Alone
Fantastic writing with voice acting to match!

Celeste-Like?
No... Not at all...


Wings of Vi
A title based around beat'em-up combat and bullet-hell survival, with what precision platforming is on display appearing more like megaman or Velocity X than a proper Celeste-like.

UNDER-EVALUATION

(listed in order of assumed similarity)

N++
The aesthetic gives me flashbacks (flashbacks) to my Kongregate/Armor Games days. Beyond that?
Looks like it hits most the marks a Celeste-like needs to.


The End is Nigh
My initial impressions can summed up in just four words:
"Meat Boy But Grey"

Superficial relation to Meat Boy aside, what differences I do notice seem to lean the game in the vague direction of Celeste; if only slightly.


Scoot Kaboom and the Tomb of Doom
What appears to be (on the surface level) Bloody Trapland's 'gotcha difficulty' crossed with VVVVVV's semi-open world.

I have been unable to find a conclusive answer as to if the game possesses the Celeste-Like standard 'double jump' and/or 'dash' abilities. However, from the single video provided on the game's Steam page, we can see that the character has (or at least at one point will have) the ability to invert their own gravity.
So then, there is still the possibility that the bread and butter of Celeste's movement might make an appearance.

---

Update History
03/21/22
- Corrected formatting (Unbolded the bottom 80%; among other fixes)
- Added recommendations "Micro Platformer" (The water pupper :')), "Wings of Vi" (Kyller92 AKA Cinos), and "Dustforce DX" (TheGlecter)
- Added "Duck Souls+", "Gravity Duck", "Dadish (series)", and "Rabisco"

04/06/22
- Added recommendation "Scoot Kaboom and the Tomb of Doom" (Vadun).
- Promoted "Slime-San" (Under-Evaluation) to the rank of Celeste-Like.

[The water pupper :')]

Some people joked about Micro Platformer being a budget Celeste. The graphics are indeed very simple, there is no story and the game is free. However, I found the mechanics interesting and the gameplay is nice. If you want pure precision, try the levels Chipset or Chipset v2. Also, the dev is planning to do more in the future.

[Clantis]

i know this isn't really what the post is about, but if you truly do just want "more celeste" then you can get that. this game has a modding community.
everest is the modloader, olympus is the thing you use to install mods and install everest + like install ahorn or something, and you can just find the actual mods on gamebanana.

[Kyller92 AKA Cinos]

Did you try Wings of Vi ?

[1.2M | Missingno.]

I think some Super Mario World romhacks are worth considering here. Maddy Thorson was once a romhacker and Celeste definitely takes some inspiration from Kaizo design philosophies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsfi1rms6oU

[TheGlecter]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/65300/Dustforce_DX/

[Vadun]

Have you tried Scoot Kaboom?

[FastMasterBadassAssAssassinBass]

Thanks for the post, it was a fun read, and sorry I'm late. As a fellow fan of Celeste I'm always looking for games in a similar vein. Platformers that are actually platformers if you will, rather than exploration/combat games with some occasional platforming. As such, I'm surprised that no one brings up the Donkey Kong Country trilogy in relation to it. They were some of the primary influences on Celeste, and while they have enemies, (and the occasional boss) their focus is principally on precision platforming. I'd say the biggest way they differ from Celeste is in the lives department: limited lives and save points as opposed to Celeste's wonderful system of "good try, kiddo, why don't you take another go?" If you can get past that and some minor first-time player traps, they're some of the few games that have scratched that itch for me, with tight controls and a steadily increasing difficulty curve. The visual style is a bit different but, you can't really evoke SNES anymore than, you know, actually being on the SNES. Hope you give them a go. Meanwhile, I'll be off playing Sunblaze. :D

[Cuttyflame]

First of all, i hate how you call 10 second ninja a celeste spin off while it released 2 years before celeste. I also think super meat boy control can be mastered, and you just haven't and the game should be in the celeste like as well as the end is nigh. Anyway.

This is a late update but i found this thread through google and noticed multiple one missing.

Sockventure. Pretty similar to celeste in all it's mechanics beside ground pound, but room are a bit longer.

Archaeogem. Although there is a slight hint of puzzle, but imo, it's the same kind of puzzle as in chapter 9 where it's more about figuring out what to do.

Germinal. Different mechanics but overall really similar to celeste

Super magbot. This one is a maybe but its room based, and the control flow really well, if vvvvvv is in there, i think this one deserve it more.

Q- a neon platformer. A tight 2d platformer.

Alkali. a bit different since you have to collect things to stay alive.

Hayfever. level are also a bit longer but checkpoint inside them. jump and dash

Finding xavier. Also a maybe. metroidvania ish where you find ability, but you can only have a certain number of ability equipped at the same time.

Seraphim. Movement are really fast but felt similar to celeste.

Never played so under evaluation

"We are eva" "Mantle"