Stillbell: How to Reach the Top Without Smashing Your Keyboard

Last week, a tester reported a bug because they dropped the Great Bell into the abyss for the 50th time. The truth is, the bug wasn’t in the code—it was in the player’s breathing while controlling the Traveler.

What is Stillbell?

Stillbell: A Climb Before Dawn is a meditative roguelite climbing game developed by Aevo Labs. You play as an anonymous Traveler, carrying a heavy Great Bell on your shoulders. Your mission is to scale the misty cliffs of Mount Stillbell before the break of dawn.

The game is optimized to play directly in your web browser. No downloads or installations are required. This experience is specifically designed for those who appreciate minimalism. The unique twist in Stillbell: A Climb Before Dawn - Aevo Labs’ New Roguelite Climbing Game lies in its punishment of button-mashing.

Controls and Gameplay

The control system is kept very basic. On mobile, simply tap the left or right half of the screen to jump. On a computer, use the A/D keys or the Left/Right arrows.

However, the hardest part is the Calm mechanic. When you rush and jump repeatedly, your Calm bar will deplete, making the Traveler prone to slipping. Along the way, you must skillfully collect Spirit Embers. Once you reach the Sacred Mountain Shrine, you can use these resources to purchase permanent upgrades. There are 4 stats to focus on: Strike, Shield, Calm Regen, and Magnet. Strike helps break obstacles, while Shield saves you from a disastrous fall.

A Perspective from Aevo Labs

The team created this project because we wanted to offer a counter-intuitive experience. It’s the kind of game you pull out for 5 minutes of mindfulness while waiting, rather than something to grind for hours. Many people have complained, “Why is Stillbell so frustrating?” because the character’s falling speed feels so slow.

That was a deliberate design choice. Currently, this first version doesn’t feature global leaderboards or a complex cloud save system. Those features are only worth implementing if players truly connect with the core mechanics. For now, the team is focused on refining the hitboxes of the rocky ledges to make the landing sensation smoother.

Practical Advice

Don’t try to jump continuously to reach higher ground. Wait for your Calm bar to fully recharge before attempting your next ledge grab. During your first ten climbs or so, your goal shouldn’t even be to reach the top.

The real objective is to farm as many Spirit Embers as possible. Invest your upgrade points into Magnet first to pull Embers from a distance. Then, focus on Calm Regen to reduce the waiting time between jumps. Buying a Shield is only truly useful once you’ve reached the higher cloud layers and face greater risks.

Do you have enough patience to carry the bell and greet the dawn? Test your skills now at https://stillbell.web.app/.

FAQ

Which upgrade is most important at the start?

As mentioned, Magnet and Calm Regen are lifesavers for beginners. You need to gather resources quickly before thinking about climbing higher.

Does the game support controllers?

Currently, Stillbell only supports keyboards and touchscreens. We don’t have plans to integrate controller support for this project yet.

How long does a single run take?

It depends on your level of Zen. An average climb takes about 5 to 10 minutes. However, to unlock all upgrades, you may need a few dozen repeated runs.

Conclusion

Climbing a virtual mountain is a lot like facing everyday problems. The more you panic, the easier it is to slip and fall from the heights into the abyss. I often open this game whenever I’m stuck on a piece of code, just to remind myself to take a breath. I hope you can keep a cool head while facing this misty mountain.