Celeste Guide#
“Be proud of your death count. Be proud of the walls you’ve rammed into.” — Celeste
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Celeste |
| Developer | Maddy Makes Games / Extremely OK Games |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games |
| Release Date | January 25, 2018 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Engine | XNA |
| Length | 8-12h (main story) |
| Difficulty | High |
| Media Score | 92/100 |
| Series | Celeste (+ Farewell DLC) |
Why You Should Play Celeste#
Celeste is more than a platformer — it is a journey about self-acceptance and personal growth. Through precise level design and a touching narrative, the game turns every conquered obstacle into a genuine sense of achievement, and its story about anxiety and depression has resonated with players far beyond the platforming community.
Game Features#
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Precision platforming | Ultra-tight movement and dash system |
| Assist Mode | Fully customizable difficulty so everyone can finish the game |
| Moving story | A profound theme of anxiety, depression, and self-acceptance |
| Beautiful pixel art | A carefully crafted pixel-art style |
| Memorable soundtrack | An original score by Lena Raine |
| High replay value | B-sides, C-sides, and golden strawberry challenges |
Core Mechanics at a Glance#
| Mechanic | Description | Input |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Control Madeline’s movement | Direction keys |
| Jump | Jump with adjustable height | A |
| Dash | 8-directional dash, consumes stamina | X |
| Climb | Climb walls, consumes stamina | Grab |
| Air Dash | Dash in mid-air, refreshes on landing | X |
| Teleport | Fast travel in specific areas | Automatic |
FAQ#
How hard is the game?#
The main story is moderate difficulty; B-sides, C-sides, and golden strawberries are extremely challenging. Assist Mode can lower the difficulty.
How long to beat?#
The main story takes 8-12 hours; full completion takes 30-50 hours.
Is there DLC?#
Yes. The “Farewell” chapter is a free DLC with substantial content.
Does Assist Mode disable achievements?#
Yes — achievements are disabled in Assist Mode on Steam.
Is there a death limit?#
No. Death is part of the game and carries no penalty.
How do I unlock B-sides?#
Collect the cassette in each chapter to unlock its B-side.
How do I unlock C-sides?#
Complete the corresponding B-side to unlock its C-side.
What are golden strawberries?#
Special strawberries collected without dying from a chapter’s start to its end.
Does the game support controllers?#
Full controller support — playing with a controller is recommended.
Is there local multiplayer?#
Yes, up to 8-player co-op is available.
All 9 Chapters#
| Chapter | Name | Core Mechanic | Strawberries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forsaken City | Basic movement + dash | 17 |
| 2 | Old Site | Dream sequence effects | 20 |
| 3 | Celestial Resort | Moving platforms + grappling | 21 |
| 4 | Golden Ridge | Moving clouds + wind | 24 |
| 5 | Mirror Temple | Anti-gravity + teleporters | 21 |
| 6 | Reflection | Blizzard + chase sequence | 21 |
| 7 | Summit | All mechanics combined | 23 |
| 8 | Core | B-side and C-side challenges | 22 |
| 9 | Farewell | Flight + new mechanics | 16 |
Key Abilities#
| Ability | How to Get | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Dash | Default | 8-directional dash |
| Double Dash | Chapter 3 | Refills two dashes at once |
| Flight | Chapter 9 | Sustained flight |
| Wings | Chapter 9 | Temporary glide |
| Heart | Specific levels | Unlocks hidden areas |
B-Sides and C-Sides#
| Side | Difficulty | Features | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-side (Normal) | Medium | Standard level design | Progress to the next chapter |
| B-side (Challenge) | Very high | New mechanics + harder platforming | Unlocks the chapter’s C-side |
| C-side (Extreme) | Ultimate | No checkpoints + relentless difficulty | Unlocks golden strawberries |
Golden Strawberry Stats#
| Type | Count | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter Goldens | 9 | No deaths from start to finish |
| C-Side Goldens | 8 | No deaths across a C-side |
| Winged Golden | 1 | Chapter 7 without dashing |
| Moon Berry | 1 | Hidden room in Chapter 9 |
| Total | 19 | — |
Soundtrack#
| Chapter | Track | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Steps | Lena Raine |
| 2 | Checking In | Lena Raine |
| 3 | Resurrections | Lena Raine |
| 4 | Quiet and Falling | Lena Raine |
| 5 | In Her Hands | Lena Raine |
| 6 | An Unfinished Story | Lena Raine |
| 7 | Reach for the Summit | Lena Raine |
| 9 | Farewell | Lena Raine |
Game Statistics#
| Stat | Data |
|---|---|
| Total strawberries | 175 + 1 (Moon Berry) |
| Total cassettes | 8 (one per chapter) |
| Total crystal hearts | 24 (3 per chapter: A/B/C) |
| B-side levels | 8 |
| C-side levels | 8 |
| Death count | No limit |
| Speedrun world record | ~28 minutes (Any%) |
Assist Mode#
| Option | Default | Adjustable Range |
|---|---|---|
| Game Speed | 100% | 50%-100% |
| Infinite Dash | Off | On/Off |
| Invincibility | Off | On/Off |
| Assist Flight | Off | On/Off |
| Camera Follow | On | On/Off |
Characters#
| Character | Role | Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Madeline | Protagonist | Struggles with anxiety, courageous |
| Badeline | Another Madeline | Her dark side, ultimately reconciled |
| Theo | Friend | A warm supporter |
| Mr. Oshiro | Resort manager | A ghost, lonely |
| Old Lady | Summit resident | A wise elder |
Collectibles and Rewards#
| Collectible | Count | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | 175 + 1 | None (pure completion) |
| Cassettes | 8 | Unlocks B-sides |
| Crystal Hearts | 24 | Unlocks C-sides |
| Doll quotes | One per chapter | Story context |
| Golden strawberries | 19 | Pure challenge |
Advanced Movement#
| Technique | Execution | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Super Dash | Dash + jump cancel | Longer horizontal movement |
| Wall Bounce | Wall + jump + dash | Fast vertical climbing |
| Ground Dash | Ground dash + jump | Horizontal acceleration |
Related Games#
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder — an innovative 2D platformer
- Rhythm Heaven — a rhythm-based music platformer
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps — a beautiful hand-painted platform action game
- Cuphead — a hand-drawn hardcore platform shooter
- Hollow Knight — a metroidvania action game
Related Rankings#
Best Indie Games of All Time: Top 10 · Best Indie Games of 2026 · Best Roguelike Games
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, story analysis, all chapters, every strawberry, cassette and crystal heart location, B-sides, C-sides, the Farewell chapter, golden strawberries, speedrun routes, and achievements — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Celeste section.