Climbing is a feature in many modern video games. Even when it’s not central to the gameplay, it can have a big impact on how much I enjoy a game. Sometimes, it drags down an otherwise great experience with slow or clunky mechanics. Other times, it becomes a compelling core mechanic — something indie developers are increasingly exploring with impressive results.

But what actually makes climbing fun? And how can this be applied in video game form? Embracing some of the fear and freedom associated with free solo climbing, games can elevate their moment to moment gameplay, without grinding the experience to a complete halt.