Idols of Ash Review: A Pulse-Pounding Descent into the Abyss

At first glance, Idols of Ash looks like just another low-poly horror game lost in the noise of the 21st century. But after spending a few hours with it, I can confidently say it is something much more interesting: a high-stakes, movement-focused climbing game that turns the simple act of descending into a terrifying, pulse-pounding ordeal. It is an extraordinarily fun first-person platformer that is well worth your time, provided you can handle the tonal whiplash.

The Mechanics of the Descent

The core of Idols of Ash is a grappling hook that dictates your survival. You start at the mouth of a fathomless, cylindrical pit with one objective: reach the bottom. You can play it safe by anchoring your line, or you can get daring, dropping into the dark and catching a surface mid-fall. Mastering the momentum—swinging, jumping, and calculating the slack in your rope—is essential. It starts as a slow-burn exploration for those who enjoy a melancholic atmosphere, but the game quickly forces you to abandon caution.

From Exploration to Arena Terror

Just as you settle into the game's rhythm, the tone flips. A giant centipede emerges from the gloom, and the game ceases to be a methodical descent. It becomes an arena shooter without a gun. You have to be dexterous and instinctive to survive its mandibles. While the constant deaths to this creature initially led to some frustration, learning its movement patterns transforms the experience into a high-speed test of skill. Leafy Games clearly intends for you to play this fast, and once you click with the movement, the game’s design choices make perfect sense.

Verdict and Replayability

The story is cryptically told, yet the climax feels surprisingly impactful because it mirrors the genuine relief of escaping a high-stress scenario. Once you finish the two-hour journey, you unlock a Nightmare mode—which I have no intention of touching—and a sandbox mode that lets you tweak gravity and rope physics to your heart’s content. It is a feverish, memorable experience.