Available on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck)
Disclaimer: This was written before the DILLYDALLY mini-update!
There have been plenty of online co-op games in recent years, ranging from horror games like R.E.P.O. to 3D Platformers like Chained Together. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really enjoying these games that some folks have dubbed “friendslop.” The term is meant to be an insult because there’s this belief that all co-op games are quick cash grabs, that they’re simply churning out games for a quick buck. And what better way to do that than to ensure multiple people will be playing the game? There’s also this notion that the games have no heart in them, but I don’t think that’s true for some of these. Dismissing all online co-op games simply because they require or allow you to play with other people robs you of so many good experiences.
In this day and age, where people form many meaningful connections with others from various parts of the world, games like these offer a chance to strengthen and a little fun to these bonds. Having another way to make memories with friends is always a win in my book.
And that brings us to Peak by Aggro Crab and Landfall Games.
In Peak, you play as a scout whose plane crashes into an island. The goal is simple: climb, go UP, and reach the peak! Get off that island!
I have played this game only a handful of times, some solo and some with friends. At first, there was a little bit of a struggle. Especially once I realized that there’s not just ONE mountain to climb, but several of them per run. It felt incredibly daunting to think about having to do that every single time. And while I do hope they release a game mode where you have a choice in the number of mountains you want to climb, I think it’s still an incredibly fun game.
I definitely prefer playing it with friends. Speaking of, you can only play with friends. There’s no online matchmaking, so there’s no need to worry about some random person ruining your experience.
There’s strategy, hijinks, luck, and pathing, but honestly? You just generally have a blast traversing the maps. They change daily. So if you wanna give the map another go to see if you can reach the peak some other way, you’re free to do so! You can set your own difficulty, and there’s no shame in only really going for the easiest level. After all, the only thing you’d miss out on are some cosmetic items.
One thing I’m really enjoying is how the devs are listening to the players and adjusting the game. There are options for accessibility, like color blindness and bug mode (they turn into little bingbongs, the game’s mascot).
Currently, they’re working on new biomes to add to the game, giving it more variety! I’m definitely looking forward to what else their team cooks up for the game.
There are spoilers ahead! If you want to experience the game fully firsthand, then you can skip this part.
And speaking of what the devs have cooked up for the game, let’s talk about what exactly you’re getting into when you play Peak. In this section, I’ll be discussing what I’ve encountered in the game. Both solo and with friends. Some of the information here can also be found in the scoutmaster’s manual and notes!
To start, there’s the hunger status. As you go through the game, your hunger will slowly take over your stamina bar, and it’ll be a detriment to your climbing. So you will want to keep an eye on that and have some snacks in your inventory. In multiplayer, if you get hungry enough, you can actually eat one of your friends! They’ll start appearing as cooked chicken to you, and you can devour them in a single moment without anyone knowing what happened but you (provided you don’t tell anyone you were hungry, of course). If you’re not a fan of this, then you can toggle off that option in the settings. I haven’t had a chance to eat anyone in my own runs because we end up finding food before I get to the point of hunger when it activates, but it’s a running joke with us that we “become Hannibal Lecter”.
Some food can give you energy. Energy is a limited resource. Think of it like an extra boost outside of your stamina, but unlike your stamina, it doesn’t recharge after resting. You can only get it through eating certain types of food. And while we’re on the topic of food and energy, you can boost the effects of some of the items and food you gather by cooking them! This extends to bandages, med kits, and some other items. But not all items get boosted. Some of them lose their purpose once cooked (like rope, chain, cannon, etc.). So don’t just cook everything you have! This has saved my runs more times than I can count! The extra boost is super helpful when you find yourself in a pinch.
Be careful of the food you find! Not everything is edible; you can do trial and error to figure out which ones are safe to eat and which aren’t. Just be careful you’re not near the edge when you do this. Find nice, solid ground. Or else you might end up like those who eat something, get poisoned, lose consciousness, then slip off the slide of the cliff and fall to their deaths. It could very well end your run if that happens. This hasn’t happened to me, but I’ve seen it happen so many times for other people.
You also have to be mindful of where you’re walking! There are all sorts of things that might explode, give off poisonous gases, sting you, etc. If you’re not sure what something is, it’s probably best to just avoid it. Or you could play the game the way my friends and I do, with a sense of dangerous curiosity. We learn by doing, and we’ve definitely died that way too.
But not everything you find will be horrible! There are mushrooms stuck on the walls that might give you some help when thrown on the ground (be sure to be close!) or mushrooms that turn into platforms when thrown at the wall. There are also magic beans that grow into beanstalks that will help you either cross a gap or climb up, depending on the angle of the ground you drop them on.
There are environmental effects you have to keep track of as well. Some biomes might have rain, and that’ll make it difficult to climb things. But you can wait for it to settle after a while and continue climbing. Some biomes have so much heat that you’ll want to avoid the sunlight, or are so cold that you’ll want to find cover when the winds pick up. It’s all a matter of timing. There are also scorpions, ticks, and bees. Scorpions and bees provide good rewards but with big risks. If you’re gonna be dealing with scorpions by eating them, make sure you have a fire source! This has helped me when I was suffering from the items’ RNG, and I wasn’t getting any food. You just have to be careful with timing it because they will sting you, and their poison takes up so much of the stamina bar. As for the bees… well, get ready to run. (You can toggle bug mode if you’ve got a distaste for creepy crawlies, and they’ll be replaced visually!) Ticks are… well… they’re parasites, so they’re useless. They’ll stick to you and poison you over time. Some people have treated ticks like they’re pets, and they refuse to have them removed (like playing the game on hard mode). I’ve seen videos where people have brought them to the top and escaped with them. As of the writing of this review, there’s no achievement for having brought the tick to the peak, but that might change.
And then there are the tornadoes for one specific biome. There’s nothing you can do about those. Godspeed.
There are also vines with thorns that will poison you (easily avoidable), and cacti that will prick you (also avoidable). If you get pricked by the latter, you’re going to want to take the thorns off to remove the effects; otherwise, it’ll stay on your stamina bar!
It’s all kind of intuitive. Things that hurt you can be remedied with healing items, things that burn you or make you feel hot can be cured by things that’ll cool you off, etc. Some items will also help you in your climb, and I suggest you use them instead of hoarding them for a “better opportunity”. The better opportunity is now, while you’re alive. Don’t save those rope cannons, hoping for a more opportune moment. If you’re struggling to climb, use your tools! I’ve died in so many instances because I was “saving” items for a rainy day, and the regret only settles in when you realize there’s no saving you and all the hard work in this run was all for naught.
And of course, the scoutmaster. Ah yes, our beloved scoutmaster. You can find his journal entries if you keep playing the game, and then you’ll discover how he met his fate. I heard about the terrifying skeleton man that turns this game into a horror game, but after learning about what happened, I can’t even blame him for doing what he does. Pop off, King.
He also got stranded on the island with his scouts, and at some point, he ate a napberry and fell asleep. When he woke up, he had been left behind by his scouts. This drove him insane because they left him for dead. It would drive me insane, too. I mean, imagine teaching this group about teamwork and getting as far as you did (they reached the third biome!) and then you fall victim to a napberry and wake up abandoned by the very people you’ve helped survive to that point? Yeah, super understandable.
It is safe to assume he has never left the island and has continued as a vengeful spirit, punishing scouts who leave their fellow scouts behind. If you’re playing multiplayer and you’re a certain distance up from the second-highest player, then he’ll spawn near you, chase you down, and then throw you off the cliff. You can also summon him in solo-player mode with the scoutmaster’s bugle, which is a random chance item. I’m unsure if there’s a way to survive this encounter. I’m not sure why anyone would subject themselves to that horror. Maybe it’s because you’ll get an achievement out of it if he spawns! So… yay…?
I’m sure I’ve missed some things. I know there’s a locked tomb somewhere, but I’ve personally not been able to encounter it. And I’m sure the devs will add more stuff as time goes on. But for its current state, I do highly recommend playing the game.
Congratulations! You made it out of the spoiler section. You’re free! Below are my little musings on the game. I might have cried writing it, who knows? I’m certainly not telling.
Peak is… well… peak, honestly. I’m pretty sure that even playing solo, I’ve had such a good time with it that I’d consider playing it in the long term. And I think, compared to other “friendslop” games, the option to play solo definitely helps make this game more appealing. Maybe one day you’ll find other people you want to play with, or maybe you’re perfectly content playing by yourself. Either way, Aggro Crab and Landfall Games have your back.
In an interview with PC Gamer, the devs explained how the game came to be. The way they described it almost feels like a reflection of the game. They went through some trouble in the creative sense, close to burning out, and Peak was the product of them trying to find their way out of that. I’d like to think that maybe, just like the scouts, they, too, were stranded on an island. They also had to rely on and help each other as they attempted to reach the top and get out. And with that, they saved each other.
Aggro Crab and Landfall Games worked on this game for about a month in an Airbnb in Hongdae, South Korea. And I can only imagine the caffeine-fueled discussions and planning that might have transpired in its creation, the crazed laughter that only comes from sleepless, fun-filled nights. You can feel the reinvigorated passion they have in Peak, something that any person who’s gone through burnout can find hope in.
Peak isn’t just a game. It’s a reminder that when things seem to be a dead end, you have to take a step back, reassess where you are, and look for another path. Don’t give up, just remember to keep climbing, and eventually you’ll get there.
Oh, and also, never EVER leave a scout behind.
