Celaria is a first-person racing parkour platformer in which the player races against the time on various tracks. Find the fastest path to the goal and take advantage of the environment in order to improve your runs as much as possible.
Players praise the game's smooth and responsive parkour mechanics, describing the controls as "crisp" and "precise." The character's momentum is well-preserved, allowing players to fluidly chain together wall-runs, jumps, and other maneuvers. Reviewers note that the wall-jumping and wall-running feel particularly satisfying, as the character's movement redirects based on the player's mouse input rather than being predetermined.
The game primarily focuses on speedrunning, challenging players to complete levels as quickly as possible. It features a variety of difficulty levels, from beginner to expert, that require mastery of the parkour mechanics and discovery of optimal paths to the finish line. Reviewers highlight the "just one more try" addictive nature of the speedrunning, as they strive to shave milliseconds off their times and climb the global and friends-only leaderboards.
While speed is the primary objective, the game also encourages exploration of the levels. Scattered throughout the environments are hidden red orbs that players can collect, often requiring precise platforming and utilization of the parkour moves to reach. Reviewers describe the thrill of discovering these collectibles and the additional challenge they provide in finding the most efficient routes to gather them.
The game introduces several unique gameplay mechanics that add depth and variety to the experience. The ability boosts, such as increased jump height or running speed, provide opportunities for strategic decision-making as players determine the optimal path. The inclusion of a level editor and community-created maps further expand the gameplay possibilities, allowing players to design and share their own challenging courses.
The game offers a multiplayer mode, enabling players to race against each other online. It also features global and friend-only leaderboards, which reviewers highlight as a significant source of motivation to improve their times and compete with others. The ability to download and race against replays of other players' best runs is also praised, as it enables players to learn from the strategies of more skilled competitors.