No joke, probably the best platformer of all time. I don’t think anything else I’ve played even comes very close. The story is surprisingly good and even touching at times, but the gameplay is, obviously, where Celeste really shines. I’m not gonna get into technicalities (cause I’m not smart enough for that) and I don’t see the point in describing every aspect in broad strokes, so I’ll just say this – it is perfect. Everything about the gameplay is perfect. The level design, the jumping, the obstacles, the stage-specific mechanics that never overstay their welcome, the hundreds of collectibles, the difficulty curve, the hidden movement mechanics, the sound design – it’s all perfect. And the MUSIC, oh my fucking god the goddamn music.

Just make sure to play through all the B-sides and C-sides and the free DLC level that’s like 10 hours long. Trust me, the “main story” is like MAYBE a third of the game – and these more difficult, “bonus” stages are where Celeste truly hits its peaks (pun intended).