About Ascent
Ascent is a small Metroidvania for the PICO-8 console. You crash onto a desolate planet and end up face to face with an ancient civilization, and the rest is up to you.
What you do is explore. You search for powerful upgrades, uncover the planet's secrets, and use each new ability to reach places that were closed to you a minute ago. Everything is drawn in big low-resolution pixels, and there are ladders to climb and special moves to find.
It was made for LowRezJam 2022, with music and sound by Vav, and a sitting takes a few minutes. You can play Ascent online here, and it's Ascent free to play with nothing to download.
How to Play Ascent
- Move left and right with the arrow keys.
- Press Z to jump.
- Climb ladders with the up and down arrows.
- Special moves are on X and Z once you've found them.
- Look for upgrades and use them to open up new routes.
- If you get stuck, backtrack. New abilities reopen old paths.
What to Expect in Ascent
This is a short, self-contained take on exploration platforming. The jam rules shape the look: chunky pixels and a tiny palette that keep the screen easy to read while you hunt for the next ledge.
There's a sense of mystery in the setup, with a crashed visitor, an empty planet and a civilization that left something behind. Most of the story comes from the places you find. If you like the idea of a Metroidvania but do not have an evening free, it's a quick way to try one.
Tips for Ascent
- Check above and below ladders and ledges, since the way forward is often vertical.
- When a new upgrade turns up, go back to spots you could not pass before.
- Practice the jump on Z until the timing feels natural, because the platforms are small.
- Try the special-move keys the moment you pick up something new.
- Play with sound on. The music and effects were made for this game.
Who Made Ascent
Ascent was made by Johan Peitz and released on itch.io. It was made for LowRezJam 2022 with PICO-8 and Aseprite, and the music and sound are by Vav. FunClicker embeds the creator's own version so you can play it here without downloading anything. We did not make the game, and the credit for its design, code, and art belongs to its creator. You can find the original on the Ascent page on itch.io.
FAQ
Is Ascent free?
Yes, and there's no sign-up step either. Ascent runs in this tab.
How do you play Ascent?
Move with the left and right arrow keys, jump with Z, and climb ladders with the up and down arrows. Special moves use X and Z. Explore the planet, find upgrades, and use them to reach new areas.
What is the goal in Ascent?
You have crashed on a desolate planet and met an ancient civilization. The aim is to explore, collect powerful upgrades and uncover the planet's secrets. A sitting takes a few minutes, so it's easy to fit in.
Who made Ascent?
Ascent comes from Johan Peitz, who published it on itch.io. We embed that build and link to the original.
What is LowRezJam, and how does it affect Ascent?
LowRezJam is a game jam with a low-resolution rule, which is why Ascent looks so blocky and tiny. It suits the PICO-8 console the game runs on, and it gives the whole thing a tight, focused feel.
Can I play Ascent on a Chromebook or phone?
Ascent works in a browser with the keyboard, so a Chromebook or laptop is the best fit. A keyboard also keeps the arrow keys and Z within easy reach. A phone is the awkward choice for a platformer like this.
Is Ascent unblocked at school?
Try it and see. Ascent unblocked loads in the browser with nothing to install, but each school sets its own filters.
Is Ascent a Metroidvania?
Yes. You explore a planet, find powerful upgrades and uncover secrets, using new abilities to reach areas that were closed off before. It's a tiny, low-resolution version of that idea, built on PICO-8 for a game jam.
