Getting Over It

Have you ever seen someone screaming while playing a game? Maybe it was you. Maybe it was a streamer. And if the screen shows a man with his lower body stuck in a cauldron, holding a sledgehammer, then congratulations, you have just encountered Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy—one of the most frustrating games in history, but also inspiring in its own way.

What is this game?

Getting Over It is a famously difficult indie game, released in 2017 by Bennett Foddy—an Australian philosopher and game designer who also provided the game's voice with a monotone but poignant voice.

How to play Getting Over It

• You play as an anonymous man stuck in an iron cauldron, able to move only by controlling a sledgehammer.
• Rotate the mouse to swing the hammer, hook onto objects, and grab onto them to pull yourself up.
• The game has no tutorial, no checkpoints, and no clear rewards.
• Each fall is a return to the starting point—how much progress is lost depends on how much you slip.
• The goal: Reach the top of the mountain—or at least test your patience.

Simple gameplay

• This is a game with only one button: the mouse. But each action requires extremely precise calculation because
• The physics in the game are realistic but difficult to control.
• A mishandled hammer swing can swiftly propel you from the top to the bottom.
• There is no save system—the game only remembers your current position when you exit correctly.

Philosophy & Emotion

Throughout the game, Bennett Foddy’s voice will echo with philosophical and slightly sarcastic comments:

• “There is no worse feeling than having to start over…”
• “If you get worn out, take a break; I’ll still be here…”
• “One fall doesn’t mean the end.”

This is not a horror game, but it is a game that will naturally make you frustrated. It makes you want to bang the table but also makes you ask, “Why am I playing again?”

Some tips for beginners

• Control gently, swing the hammer lightly and rotate the mouse slowly to feel the gravity.
• Be patient, don’t try to jump if you are not really stable in the old place.
• Don’t rage quit, the game saves automatically, but if you quickly turn it off in the middle of falling, it won’t be fun to open it again the next time.
• Practice each section, learn how to climb through each area, such as wooden barrels, chimneys, snow mountains, etc.

Inspiration & popularity

• The game is inspired by Sexy Hiking (2002)—a similar game that also punishes players harshly.
• Getting Over It became an online phenomenon thanks to
  • Rage quit clips from streamers.
  • “Heart-wrenching” falls.
  • The community makes memes, tutorial videos, or simply comforts each other while climbing.

Getting Over It isn’t for everyone. But if you’re patient enough or curious enough to know where your limits lie, then this is a game you should try at least once in your life. Behind the fall is a lesson. Behind the anger is a philosophy. And who knows, behind that mountain is a more resilient version of yourself. If you like skill games of the same genre, you can also play the game Vex 7.