Developer Caracal Games’ first-person parkour platformerDownwardfirst launched back in July 2017, and nowit’s set to returnwith some updates.Downward Enhancedthrows updated graphics and more into the mix when it hits consoles and PC on June 28, 2025.
Beyond the visual improvements — which include some new assets —the enhanced version adds optimization and a new ending. Those who already own the base game will be able to upgrade toDownward Enhancedwith a free update. you may see more of the dizzying, post-apocalyptic parkour feats in action in the release date trailer below.
Similar to games likeMirror’s Edgebut perhaps not quite as disorienting as VR attempts likeStride,Downwardhas you jumping, sliding, hanging, and running along walls. This time around, however, you’ll be doing so in a ruined world in search of legendary artifacts and an explanation for the apocalypse that brought us to this point in the first place.
Along the way, you can upgrade your powers and boost your stats to give yourself an edge against some of the Ancient Guardians that want to put an end to all those pesky acrobatics. There’s also a balance of world exploration that has you using those parkour skills to find hidden items and secret locations.
It’s not easy to make first-person platforming work in any meaningful way, so when a developer gets it even partially right, I tend to pay attention. WhenDownward Enhancedlaunches, you’ll be able to jump into “humanity’s final adventure” on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC viaSteam.
