Getting Over It

A brutal climbing challenge that tests skill patience and sanity

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is less a game and more a psychological stress test wrapped in a physics-based climbing simulator. You control a cauldron-bound man wielding a sledgehammer, using precise drag gestures to hook, push, and fling yourself up a bizarre mountain made of scrap, rocks, and surreal obstacles. One slip, however, can send you plummeting back to the very start.

The core appeal lies in this razor-edge tension between mastery and catastrophe. The physics feel intentionally unruly but never broken; every failure feels like your own fault, which is both motivating and infuriating. When you finally nail a tricky sequence of swings and launches, the sense of accomplishment is enormous.

Layered over the action is Bennett Foddy’s calm, philosophical narration. He quotes literature, reflects on frustration, and occasionally comments directly on your struggles. This running commentary gives the experience an oddly intimate, almost experimental tone, contrasting sharply with the chaotic gameplay.

Visually, Getting Over It is minimalist but distinctive. The character and hammer are clean and readable, while the level’s cobbled-together environment feels intentionally awkward and artificial. The sound design reinforces every scrape and clank of your hammer, making each near-miss and disastrous fall land with real impact.

This is absolutely not a game for everyone. Progress can be wiped out in seconds, there are no safety nets, and the difficulty curve is brutal from the first minutes. Those looking for a relaxing or forgiving experience will likely bounce off quickly.

However, for players who enjoy extreme challenges, tight physics mechanics, and the peculiar pleasure of overcoming something that initially feels impossible, Getting Over It offers a uniquely punishing – and strangely profound – journey up a mountain you will grow to hate and, eventually, respect.