Game Overview
Developers: Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: Windows (reviewed), PS5
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Price: $20
Links: Steam | PlayStation Store | Official website
There’s a popular saying that emphasizes resilience: it’s not how many times you fall, but how many times you rise again. In my journey through the immersive yet challenging world of Baby Steps, I spent around 13 hours navigating its whimsical mountain landscape, during which I would estimate I stumbled more than 1,000 times.
Upon each fall, I managed to get back up 1,001 times, embodying the game’s central theme of perseverance.
When referring to my frequent tumbles, I do so literally. In Baby Steps, the primary challenge lies with the uneven terrain, which can easily send your chubby, middle-aged character, dressed in long underwear, sprawling to the ground. The control scheme is intentionally clunky; you maneuver the character using the shoulder buttons of your controller, each one tied to a corresponding leg.
Unlike most 3D games that allow for straightforward movement by tilting a control stick, here each step requires you to control individual legs by lifting one and carefully placing it to maintain balance. The gameplay resembles a more forgiving version of the classic Flash game QWOP, also created by Bennett Foddy, where the focus shifts from quick sprinting on a 2D track to the meticulous planning of each step on a 3D hike.
Initially, you might feel more like a stumbling toddler, frantically pressing buttons to make any headway. However, with practice, you’ll develop a rhythm—press, tilt, release while recentering, press the opposite trigger, and repeat countless times. While running isn’t an option, you can find a satisfying pace that feels much like a methodical march, akin to the careful movements of a courier in Death Stranding.
As you make your slow ascent, you might encounter other hikers. Their surprising ease with the mountain’s challenges becomes a humorous element in the game’s self-aware narrative. While I won’t spoil any specific moments, I found my character’s overall journey to be unexpectedly poignant, revealing subtle emotional layers.
The Challenge of the Climb
Just as you start to master the basics of hiking, Baby Steps ramps up the difficulty of its terrain. The initially gentle pathways give way to narrow boards and shaky bridges high above chasms, while smooth hills transform into cliff faces requiring careful navigation on the smallest of ledges. You’ll face various surfaces, including slippery mud, ice, and sand that force you to adjust your strategies and move cautiously.
Progress can feel fragile; a single misstep might lead you tumbling back down the mountain, erasing hard-fought advancements, setting you back from a few minutes to more than an hour. There are no reset options or save features to mitigate these setbacks, making each fall feel significant. The experience echoes the sentiment found in other challenging titles, where a single error can have you start over from square one; however, Baby Steps incorporates periodic checkpoints to provide some relief.
During my playthrough, there were several moments when I found myself grumbling at the screen, quitting in frustration after an unexpectedly severe fall. Each time, though, I returned more determined to refine my approach, often quickly improving with the advantage of gained experience and a clearer head.
Wandering through the game is encouraged, with no maps to rely on and deliberately deceptive paths that can hide routes critical to progression. The distinction between impassable walls and merely tricky shortcuts is often unclear. A careful observer can find nearly all obstacles avoidable by sidestepping them with patience.
Venturing slightly off the beaten path reveals intricately crafted, optional sites—from grand towers to eerie natural formations and miniature cities fashioned from boxes. While there aren’t explicitly stated rewards for exploring these areas, the enjoyment lies in the breathtaking vistas and the personal accomplishment of conquering challenges that were not necessary to the main quest.
Evaluating the Experience
So, is playing Baby Steps enjoyable? That’s not the first adjective I would choose.
There’s a distinct humor woven into its often-frustrating design. Many times, I found myself laughing even as I tumbled yet again down a muddy slope. The allure of quirky cut scenes serves as a motivating factor that helps players push through some of the game’s more daunting sections.
More than simple fun, my experience felt meaningful in ways few games manage to achieve. Underneath the humor and challenging mechanics lies a deeper message about the importance of resilience and determination.
This title stands in stark contrast to many contemporary gaming trends. Baby Steps doesn’t guide players with obvious hints or assistive features. Instead, you cannot level up or equip items that make the journey easier. Progression is solely based on learning to navigate the intricate movement system and expertly traverse increasingly difficult terrains.
The structure is at times punishing and tedious, leading to moments of frustration. However, these very challenges produce profoundly satisfying feelings of accomplishment rare in modern gaming experiences.
The essence of this adventure mirrors the long journey it represents—starting with a hesitant first step and continuing onward despite setbacks. It’s a tale of persistence, climbing metaphorical mountains simply for the sake of the challenge. It’s about falling countless times and rising to meet each challenge anew.
What more can one ask for in the end?
