Celeste is a difficult game about mountain climbing and self-acceptance.  Spread across 7 main chapters and 2 optional ones, the gameplay is a mix of fun challenges and pure agony.  Though, when it’s all done, you gotta admit that the sense of accomplishment is undeniable.  Because ranking things is fun, I decided to rank all 7 of the main chapters (after finishing chapter 8, I’m too scared to even attempt chapter 9…) of Celeste in order from tough, but doable, to the ones most likely to make you tear out your hair from sheer aggravation!

7: Chapter 2: Old Site – This is definitely the easiest chapter in the game.  The first half offers very little difficulty at all, with the main gimmick coming in the form of these starry blocks that you can dash through.  The only actual challenge is when Badeline is introduced, as she then proceeds to make a bad first impression by chasing you.  Even that is not terribly difficult, however, so placing this chapter at the bottom spot is a pretty obvious choice.

6: Chapter 1: Forsaken City – As expected, the first chapter in the game is going to be one of the easiest.  But even then, I would consider it just a bit tougher than the Old Site.  Sure, you don’t have a stressful chase to deal with, but even so, this chapter doesn’t hesitate to let you know that Celeste is gonna be a tough game.  With plenty of spikes to avoid and the need to use the momentum of moving objects to propel you to greater heights or across wide gaps, the Forsaken City will immediately test your budding skills.

5: Chapter 4: Golden Ridge – Being right in the middle of the 7 main chapters means that it’s also no surprise that Golden Ridge has a very medium level of challenge compared to the rest of the game.  There are some gimmicks you’ll need to get used to, like bouncy clouds, bubbles that launch you a short distance, and some platforms whose movements you can control.  And the level ends with some strong winds and some blowing objects to avoid.  But in general, everything present in Golden Ridge feels more like a minor annoyance than a true challenge.

4: Chapter 5: Mirror Temple – Sounding like a Legend of Zelda-style dungeon, the Mirror Temple is pretty dark and built like a maze, through which you’ll have to carefully traverse in order to find keys to progress.  I found the gimmicks in this chapter to be more fun than challenging, such as platforms that move when you dash and red bubbles that, unlike the green ones found in Golden Ridge, launch you far in one direction.  Sure, there are narrow passageways filled with spikes that you must dash through with care, but much of this chapter was just the right level of challenge, without feeling too frustrating.  Until the end.  As you’ll see soon enough when I talk about chapter 3, I absolutely hate dealing with moving threats in this game, especially ones that target you.  The last portion of this level is extremely frustrating, as it involves avoiding aggressive monsters that will charge at you, which becomes even more annoying when you’re forced to carry Theo around as you head for the exit.  It’s a shame those monsters had to spoil the fun, as this was, otherwise, my favorite chapter in the game.

3: Chapter 3: Celestial Resort – Man, I just hate this level.  The whole story here with Mr. Oshiro is interesting and all, but I’m ranking these by challenge, and the Celestial Resort is a real drag to get through.  Not only is it way too long, but there are annoying obstacles everywhere.  You’ve got moving objects to avoid and tight spaces to squeeze through because of all the nasty gunk everywhere, some of which appears as you cross certain surfaces, making the level increasingly difficult to navigate.  Not to mention the final encounter with Mr. Oshiro is a stressful end to an already miserable chapter.  If I could skip this chapter during my next playthrough, I’d be a happy camper.  Or…mountain climber, I mean.

2: Chapter 7: The Summit – It’s no surprise that chapter 7, the final main chapter in the game, is high on this list.  But it’s still not the worst.  Sure, you may be revisiting all the previous 6 chapters in more challenging iterations…and your new ability to dash twice only means that you’ll be traversing even bigger gaps than ever before…and the wind and rain towards the end may prove a minor hindrance…  But all in all, this one’s still very doable after everything you’ve suffered through up until this point.  I mean, after the sheer misery you had to overcome just one chapter earlier, the Summit is like a walk in the park in comparison…

1: Chapter 6: Reflection – I hated this chapter.  I mean, much of it is…fine.  You now have these feathers that allow you to fly quickly through narrow spike mazes, which takes some getting used to, but isn’t terribly challenging with practice.  And there are these angry block guys that will charge in one direction when you dash into them and these bouncy, round things that can aid in your jumps if you’re careful and knock you into certain doom if you’re not.  None of this is terribly difficult to deal with, all things considered.  But the part of the game that I absolutely hated the most is…the battle with Badeline.  As stated before, I hate avoiding moving threats in this game, and I hate when the challenge drags on for far too long.  And this battle does both of those things.  It is just so very long, and all the while, you must avoid both lasers and projectiles, not to mention falling rocks or moving platforms that make the whole ordeal even more hectic than it needs to be.  This battle is not fun, and it overstays its welcome, making Reflection the single most miserable chapter in the whole game!