‘Baby Steps’ is an upcoming game from ‘Getting Over It’ creator Bennett Foddy, developed in collaboration with Maxi Boch and Gabe Cuzzillo of ‘Ape Out’. At first glance, it looks like another entry in the emerging “Foddian” genre—games defined by deliberately awkward movement and frustratingly precise control, named after Foddy himself. I had the chance to go hands-on with the demo, which took around an hour and have some thoughts on what I played.

The game opens in a tense domestic scene, as two parents argue about their son’s current lifestyle. The father is clearly frustrated, accusing his wife of enabling their son’s lack of direction. Meanwhile, we find Nate, their son, slouched on the couch, binge-watching TV and surrounded by snacks. Without warning, he’s suddenly transported to the middle of a vast, unfamiliar wilderness. Terrified and unsure of what to do, he stumbles off to make some sense of what is happening.

The real challenge lies in controlling Nate. Walking involves just a few inputs, as each trigger controls one of his legs, while the left stick moves them forward. It sounds simple, but mastering the rhythm is anything but.

The timing is awkward by design, and even the smallest obstacle, a rock or a root, can send Nate tumbling in a heap as his momentum is physics basedphysics-based. It’s clumsy, frustrating, and entirely intentional, though once you do start to understand the rhythm, chaining long walks is definitely possible. 

Yet despite these constant stumbles off of wooden planks, straightforward staircases and down waterfalls, I had a fantastic amount of fun making my way up the mountain. Unlike games like ‘Getting Over It’, ‘Jump King’, or ‘Only Up’, where a single fall can erase all your progress, setbacks in Baby Steps feel more forgiving— and even rewarding.

While a tumble still slows you down, it can lead to new funny story moments or uncover hidden areas to explore (and trip over), making failure feel like part of the journey rather than a punishment.

The mountain itself is an entirely open world, offering multiple paths on the way up it. It’s worth taking a moment to look around as some routes may be easier and safer, while others will prove a greater challenge, but will let you cover much more ground faster. The freedom to choose your path adds a layer of strategy to each step you take.

All of this feeds into Nate’s larger journey. While much of the game leans into comedy, his awkward tumbles and self-deprecating quips, it’s also surprisingly heartfelt. As Nate slowly learns to put one foot in front of the other, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride in his progress.

Beneath the laughs is a genuine coming-of-age story, as he begins to find purpose, resilience, and a reason to keep climbing.

The demo was an absolute blast, and it left me genuinely excited for what’s to come. It’s ideas like this that prove that video games can truly be anything.

I can’t wait to dive into the full game and share the experience live on stream, as there will be a lot of laughs to be had when Baby Steps launches on September 8th, 2025.

Written by: Dylan Kocins