While not reveling in quite the same stratospheric reception that the likes of Repo and Schedule 1 recently enjoyed, new indie co-op game Peak is enjoying a surprisingly huge launch. Shifting over 100,000 copies in a day and sitting on an impressive Steam user rating, it gives me similar vibes to the chaotic clambering and platforming of Chained Together – but incredibly, it was never originally in its developer’s long-term plans.
Peak is largely the brain child of Aggro Crab – the team behind last year’s underwater action platformer Another Crab’s Treasure – but has been developed in collaboration with Landfall, the developer of games like Totally Accurate Battle Simulator and publisher of Content Warning. In a video update a couple of weeks ago, Aggro Crab said that its next big game had been canceled after funding fell through. The studio also admits that developers were feeling burnt out after sinking over three years into Another Crab’s Treasure. So, as both a last minute change of plans and a way to bring some energy back into the team, it went into game jam mode, and within what appears to be just a few short months thanks to the additional help of Landfall, Peak has arrived.
Currently one of the best co-op games on Steam in terms of user score, the flurry of positive reviews it received sees it sitting on a 93% rating at the time of writing. That’s mightily impressive.
As was reported by Game Developer, Aggro Crab also confirmed that Peak sold 100,000 copies of the game in its first 24 hours – again, an incredible achievement, given it wasn’t even in the studio’s plans a few months ago.
So what actually happens in Peak? A bit like the viral hit that is Chained Together, Peak sees you and your pals scale challenging vertical terrains full of steep inclines, jumps that require perfect timing, and environmental hazards. While you don’t have to remain within a few feet of each other, you can still work collaboratively to help pull climbers up particularly challenging sections, or plant spikes and ropes to make their climb easier. Alternatively, you can just laugh at them tumbling back down the mountain after a misjudged jump or step.
As well as making it to the top without plummeting to your death, there are hunger and energy levels to take care of as well, so you need to find and forage food on your ascent. Items can also cure certain status conditions that you may pick up from certain hazards, such as being burned or poisoned.
Peak is out on Steam right now, and until Monday, June 23 it’s remarkably cheap. A huge 38% has been knocked off of its already affordable price, making it just $4.95 / £3.96 to pick up. You can do so here.
For more amazing hidden gems, be sure to check out our list of the best indie games on PC. To see what else is on the horizon, our new PC games guide is the place to be.
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