Only Down: Not Up!
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About Only Down: Not Up!
Only Down: Not Up! is an indie simulator that turns survival into a vertical puzzle. You play as a crane operator stranded at the top of a towering crane, forced to descend by leaping between moving platforms. Developed by Leakage Games and released in January 2026, it’s a minimalist yet tense single-player experience. The game strips away complexity, focusing on precise timing and momentum management. Its premise is simple: no climbing up, only down. Every jump is a calculated risk, and the goal is to reach the ground without plummeting. It’s a short but addictive loop of physics-based challenges, perfect for quick sessions.
Gameplay
You control the crane operator with basic movement, left, right, and jump. The twist is the platforms constantly shift, forcing you to anticipate their motion. Each descent requires chaining jumps, using momentum to carry you forward while avoiding gaps and falling hazards. A misstep means restarting the segment, ramping up the tension. The game has no combat or dialogue, just rhythmic platforming. Sessions typically last 10, 20 minutes, with most players spending 3, 5 hours to complete. Controls are responsive but unforgiving, emphasizing reflexes over strategy. Later levels introduce moving obstacles and tighter spacing, testing your precision. The core loop is simple, but mastering it feels rewarding.
What Players Think
The PlayPile community rates it 4.3/5, with 75% completing the full game. Average playtime is 4.2 hours, though many finish in 2, 3. Community moods lean toward “Addictive” (62%) and “Tense” (58%), but 28% call it “Frustrating.” A Steam review praises its “tight physics and escalating difficulty,” while a Reddit thread debates the lack of checkpoints. Achievement completion is high at 89%, with 25 total trophies. Critic scores average 82/100, noting its “clever use of verticality” but “limited replayability.” Players appreciate the polished mechanics but often wish for more variety in later levels.
PlayPile's Take
At $15, Only Down: Not Up! is a low-risk, high-reward pick for fans of physics puzzles and minimalist design. It’s not deep, but the challenge is satisfying, and the 4-hour runtime feels fair for the price. If you enjoy tight platformers like Super Meat Boy but want something with a unique vertical focus, this is worth trying. However, its repetitive core loop may wear thin for some. With 25 achievements and a completion rate of 75%, it’s a solid bite-sized experience, just don’t expect an epic story or lasting engagement.
Game Modes
Single player
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