Cloud Climber is a short yet enjoyable venture by Two Star Games, a one-person outfit perhaps known for previous atmospheric-horror projects My Beautiful Paper Smile and My Friend is a Raven. Cloud Climber takes some notes from the other games’ graphical style. It is populated by a charming series of hand-drawn set pieces that build and maintain the atmosphere.

While the color palette is pretty bleak, it soon becomes clear why. This works for the story as it unfolds, matched well with a pleasantly contemplative soundtrack and competent soundscaping to build in environmental noise. The controls themselves are straightforward, essentially assembling a point-and-click walking simulator, similarly offering a good match for the slow and thoughtful pace of play.

It does bear mentioning, however, that movement can feel a little clunky at times. Additionally, the field of view can feel a little dizzying when turning corners or climbing stairs. This might be deliberate to prop up the sense of scale and verticality central to the game’s story, but it’s nonetheless a heads-up I might have appreciated before trying Cloud Climber out.

The narrative set-up, such as it is, mostly gets unpacked through collectible documents and the occasional voice-over. This is a one-character game, so there’s not much to go on for how conversations feel. Despite this, the speech of the playable character is mostly convincing, though there are a few hiccups arising from the difficulty of making necessary exposition sound believable and human.

The journal entries you find along the way have distinct tones that form a clear picture of who each NPC is, even as you never encounter them in the flesh, which is a nice touch. As mentioned, Cloud Climber is a short venture, clocking in at around 10-15 minutes. It is clearly designed to provoke thought rather than provide challenges as such.

It works for what it is, and there’s something pleasantly surprising about a take on post-apocalyptic fiction that’s more interested in human ingenuity and attempts at survival than in horror fare or violence. Especially from a developer whose previous ventures fit more closely into the horror genre.

Admittedly, Cloud Climber‘s brevity and straightforwardness don’t make much room for replayability. All things considered, I don’t think it needs to. If you’re after something that’s at once thought-provoking but gentle on the nerves, I can confidently recommend Cloud Climber for your perusal.

The game is accessible through Steam or the developer’s Itchio page, as is the rest of Two Star Games’ oeuvre to date. It is available for free on both platforms, offering a no-cost avenue to switch gears and wind down in the midst of an undeniably hectic window of time.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Cloud Climber

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Charming art style
• Pleasant soundtrack
• Simple controls
• Clever approach to familiar story

Cons

• Field of view is a little vertigo-inducing
• Movement feels a little clunky at times