Ascender is a 2D Metroidvania-style puzzle platformer developed by GameChanger Studio and released in 2017 for PC, Linux, and Mac. The game is set in GOA, an underground civilization divided into distinct districts, which players explore in an open-world structure with a strong emphasis on puzzle-solving. The story centers on Sky, an artificial intelligence created by Professor Toro Hudo to assist in building a kinetic system for his adopted daughter Ocean, a limbless child who fell from the clouds as an infant. As Sky, players navigate GOA's environments, confronting platforming challenges and increasingly complex puzzles throughout. A core mechanic involves collecting and equipping onyx runes, each of which grants Sky a different ability; combining multiple runes can unlock additional powers, encouraging experimentation. The game presents itself as a significant challenge to both puzzle-solving and platforming skills across its varied districts.
