Games like Celeste: 8 tight, beautiful platformers to play

If you want games like Celeste, start with Super Meat Boy for pure precision, then Hollow Knight or Ori and the Will of the Wisps for exploration. They all share what makes Celeste so strong: perfect controls, a fair challenge and real feeling behind every jump. Here are 8 games that bring back the joy of finally clearing the screen that killed you a hundred times.

Why Celeste is so special

Released in 2018 by Extremely OK Games, Celeste follows Madeline's climb to the top of Celeste Mountain and her fight with her inner demons. The gameplay comes down to three moves: jump, climb and dash. From that, the game builds hundreds of increasingly clever screens. Dying costs almost nothing, you're back instantly, so you never want to stop.

According to players on IGDB, the story takes about 10.5 hours, around 21.5 with strawberries and secrets, and 54.5 to finish everything, B-sides and C-sides included. And if it gets too hard, Assist Mode lets you tune the difficulty with zero shame.

How to choose after Celeste

If you want even more precision, go for Super Meat Boy or Jump King. If you'd rather explore a big connected world, metroidvanias like Hollow Knight and Ori are for you, and we have a whole list of metroidvanias. And if the emotion is what got you, Gris plays on the same heartstrings. More ideas in our indie essentials.

1. 

   1. Super Meat Boy

   2010 · Main story 12 h

   Celeste's direct ancestor in ultra precise platforming. You leap through very short levels full of saws and traps, die, and restart in a split second. The final replay showing every attempt at once is a treat. For anyone who loved the B-sides and C-sides.

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2. 

   2. Hollow Knight

   2017 · Main story 15.5 h

   A huge metroidvania set in a ruined insect kingdom. Jumping matters less than in Celeste, but some platforming areas are brutal, and boss fights ask for the same precision. The mood is melancholy and gorgeous. If it clicks, check our games like Hollow Knight.

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3. 

   3. Hollow Knight: Silksong

   2025 · Main story 17 h

   The sequel to Hollow Knight, starring Hornet, faster and more acrobatic than the first game. Its snappy movement brings back the joy of chaining dashes in Celeste. The world is rich, demanding and full of secrets. The perfect pick if you want precision and exploration together.

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4. 

   4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

   2020 · Main story 15 h

   A stunning metroidvania where movement is everything: double jump, dash, grapple, bouncing off enemies. Its escape sequences are some of the best in the genre. The story is moving and the art is beautiful. For anyone who loved Madeline's fluid moves and the emotional weight of her climb.

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5. 

   5. Gris

   2018 · Main story 3.5 h

   A gentle platformer with no death, where a young woman moves through her grief across watercolor worlds. The challenge is light, but the feeling is strong, like Celeste's quieter moments. It's short and gorgeous. The right pick if you want to breathe between two tougher games.

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6. 

   6. Animal Well

   2024 · Main story 6 h

   A pixel art exploration game packed with secrets on several layers. You use strange items to move forward, and some hidden puzzles kept the community busy for a long time. The platforming is calmer than Celeste, but the sense of discovery is intense. For secret hunters.

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7. 

   7. Jump King

   2019

   One goal: climb to the very top. You charge your jump, let go, and if you miss, you can fall very, very far. It's cruel, funny and weirdly addictive. If you loved climbing Celeste Mountain but found the checkpoints too generous, here's your punishment.

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8. 

   8. Hue

   2016 · Main story 3.5 h

   A puzzle platformer where you change the color of the background to make obstacles appear or vanish. Every level asks for a bit of logic and a bit of timing. The story, told through letters, is touching. A lovely find if you like indie games built on one simple, strong idea.

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FAQ

What game is most like Celeste?

Super Meat Boy is the closest, with its ultra precise platforming and instant respawn after every death. If you also want a touching story, Ori and the Will of the Wisps offers very fluid movement and plenty of emotion, in a bigger world to explore.

How long does it take to beat Celeste?

According to players on IGDB, Celeste's story takes about 10.5 hours. With strawberries and some secrets, expect around 21.5 hours. To complete everything, including B-sides, C-sides and the final chapter, you'll need about 54.5 hours.

Is Celeste too hard?

Celeste is demanding but very fair: you restart right before the obstacle without losing progress. Assist Mode also lets you slow the game down, add extra dashes or become invincible. So anyone can reach the ending, at their own pace.