Celeste Story Overview

Celeste begins with Madeline, who exits her car and begins to traverse a snowy environment. After tackling a few minor hurdles, she comes across a cottage and an old woman who resides there. The old woman gives Madeline directions to Celeste Mountain before warning her that the mountain is a strange place that might show her things she isn’t ready to see. Madeline dismisses the old woman’s words and crosses a stone bridge which collapses behind her.

She first makes her way through the Forsaken City and meets another traveler named Theo. Madeline is hesitant to say much, but Theo is very talkative and explains that he is a budding photographer from the far off land of Seattle, Washington. He came to Celeste Mountain to explore and take photographs for his InstaPix account. After talking a bit more, the two part ways and Madeline continues her journey up the mountain.

Once she is past the Forsaken City, she decides to rest. After she falls asleep, she begins to dream. As she continues to climb, she comes across a mirror. Looking back at her is herself, with purple hair and red eyes. The mirror cracks and her doppelganger materializes before dashing away. When Madeline catches up, she learns that this figure is a part of her (let’s call her Badeline). This part of her wants Madeline to turn around and stop climbing the mountain, saying she can’t handle it. Madeline explains that this is exactly why she must climb the mountain. At this, Badeline begins to chase Madeline, forming clones of herself as she goes along. When she finally escapes, Madeline finds a phone booth. The phone rings and she answers it, though it is unclear who she is speaking to. She realizes she is dreaming and wakes up.

After running into Theo again and snapping a selfie, Madeline continues the climb and enters the Celestial Resort. The concierge, Mr. Oshiro, reluctantly leads Madeline through the hotel in hopes that she will stay, but Madeline insists she just wants to make her way through so she can continue climbing the mountain. She runs into Theo in the hotel, who says Madeline should ditch Oshiro and come with him, but Madeline insists Oshiro just needs some help. After helping him tidy the hotel, they finally make their way to a room where Badeline enrages Oshiro who begins chasing Madeline. He finally stops and asks Madeline to leave him alone. She continues her journey, eventually meeting Theo at a ski lift. They begin to ride up when the lift suddenly stops due to Badeline’s meddling. Madeline begins to have a panic attack, but Theo helps her calm down with a breathing exercise his grandfather taught him. They manage to make it up to the top of the ski lift.

The two of them then reach a Mirror Temple and become separated. Madeline later finds Theo behind a mirror and must find a way to get him out. She later finds another mirror and is sucked inside. There she finds Theo in a glass crystal. She must carry him out of the Mirror Temple while at the same time avoiding creatures called Seekers.

After they find their way out, Madeline and Theo converse about their experiences and their insecurities and grow closer. Their conversation makes Madeline realize that she must let go of Badeline. In the middle of the night, she attempts to sever ties, but Badeline won’t allow it, and Madeline falls to the bottom of the mountain. As she makes her way back to the mountain trail, she and Badeline have a confrontation. They realize that they must work together and Badeline returns to Madeline. Madeline accepts this part of herself and realizes she is stronger with Badeline than without.

Together again, Madeline makes her way back up the mountain and reaches the summit, celebrating with Theo and friends afterward by baking a strawberry pie.