Some of the best co-op games are not the biggest or the most expensive. PEAK, made by Aggro Crab and Landfall, is a small indie game about a group of scouts stranded on a mysterious island. The only way to get rescued is to climb the giant mountain in the middle. It sounds simple, but with up to four friends, wobbly physics and limited stamina, every climb becomes a comedy.
We spent several evenings climbing with friends, and here is what we think.
The basic idea
You and up to three friends start on a beach at the bottom of the mountain. You must climb through different zones, each with its own challenges, to reach the summit. The mountain layout changes every day, so you cannot simply memorise the perfect route.
Climbing uses a stamina bar. Every jump and grab costs stamina, and if you run out while hanging from a cliff, you fall. Hunger, injuries, cold and heavy items reduce your maximum stamina, so you must manage supplies and help each other.
Teamwork and chaos
The magic of PEAK comes from teamwork. Friends can pull each other up ledges, share food, place ropes and pitons and carry items for the group. If someone falls, others may be able to help them recover or bring them back.
Of course, things rarely go to plan. Someone eats a mysterious berry with strange effects. Someone else drops the rope at the worst possible moment. A friend slips just before the top and falls all the way down. These moments create endless laughter and stories you will repeat in your group chat for days.
Proximity voice chat
PEAK uses proximity voice chat, so you can only hear friends who are close to you in the game. When someone falls far away, their voice fades, which is both funny and tense. It encourages the group to stay together and makes communication feel natural.
Zones and hazards
As you climb higher, the environment changes. Lower areas are tropical and filled with plants, while higher areas become colder and more dangerous. Each zone has hazards, from poisonous plants to extreme weather, and some require special items to survive. Discovering how each zone works is part of the fun in your first few climbs.
Items and survival
You can find items in suitcases and campfires along the way. Food restores stamina, bandages heal injuries and climbing tools make difficult walls easier. Campfires act as checkpoints where the group can rest, eat and prepare for the next section.
Inventory space is limited, so groups must decide who carries what. This creates small but meaningful decisions, like who gets the last energy drink before a dangerous climb.
Value
PEAK is priced very low compared to most games. For a group of friends looking for a cheap new game to play together, it is one of the easiest recommendations available. It also runs well on modest PCs, which makes it suitable for players with older laptops.
Weaknesses
PEAK is designed for groups. You can play alone, but it loses most of its charm. After many climbs, the core loop can feel repetitive, although daily mountain changes and achievements help. It is also only available on PC, so console players cannot join.
Tips for new climbers
- Stay together; proximity chat makes splitting up confusing
- Share food and supplies with friends who are struggling
- Use ropes on difficult walls to help weaker climbers
- Rest at campfires before entering new zones
- Do not eat unknown food unless you are ready for surprises
Who is it for?
PEAK is perfect for friend groups who enjoy funny co-op games like Lethal Company or R.E.P.O. It is also great for streamers, since every climb produces entertaining moments. Solo players should look elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can play together? Up to four players.
Is there a story? There is a light setup, but the focus is on climbing and teamwork.
Can I play on a laptop? Yes, most modern laptops can run it with adjusted settings.
Why small co-op games are booming
Games like PEAK show a clear trend: friend groups want short, cheap and funny experiences they can play in an evening. Instead of committing to a 100-hour game, many players prefer something they can jump into after work or class, laugh for an hour and come back to next week. PEAK fits this perfectly. Its low price also means nobody in the group feels pressured by the cost, which removes one of the biggest barriers to getting everyone to play together.
Our best moments
Our favourite climb ended with one friend carrying the group’s last food, slipping near the summit and falling past everyone else while screaming in proximity chat. Another time, we reached the top with only two climbers left after a chain of bad decisions. The game does not need dramatic cutscenes; it lets players create their own stories, and those stories are usually hilarious.
Settings for smoother climbs
PEAK is light, but players on older laptops should lower shadows and effects for a steadier frame rate, which matters during precise jumps. Check your microphone settings before the first climb; because the game relies on proximity voice chat, a muted or too-quiet microphone makes teamwork much harder. A headset helps you hear which direction a friend’s voice is coming from.
Is it good for streaming?
Very. Falls, panicked voices and clutch rescues make for great clips, and viewers instantly understand what is happening even if they have never played. Several of our funniest moments came from failed climbs, not successful ones.
How long does a climb take?
A full climb with a coordinated group usually takes around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how often someone falls and how much the group argues about routes. That makes it ideal for one or two climbs in an evening, and it fits nicely into a weekend game night alongside other short co-op games.
Verdict
PEAK is a simple idea executed brilliantly. Its stamina-based climbing, physics chaos and proximity chat create some of the funniest co-op moments we have had in a long time. It is cheap, easy to learn and perfect for an evening with friends. Just make sure you have friends to climb with.
