In the realm of indie gaming, Peak has become a viral sensation, consistently ranking among the top 15 most-played titles on Steam since its release in June. This sudden rise to fame has unfortunately spawned numerous clones, particularly on platforms like Roblox.

One of these clones, named Cliff, is described as “a challenging climbing game where even the smallest mistake can be your downfall.” It boasts over 7,000 active users and nearly 60,000 favorites, indicating its significant popularity. However, the developers of Peak have voiced their disdain for such imitations, stating,

“tbh would rather you pirate our game than play this microtransaction-riddled Roblox slop ripoff.”
(Translation: To be honest, I would prefer if you pirated our game instead of playing this low-quality Roblox imitation laden with microtransactions).

The aesthetics and gameplay mechanics of Cliff closely mirror those of Peak, which frustrates its developers. They have remarked that this imitation includes not only the navigation style but also various elements from Peak, such as the hub area and items within it. Yet what differentiates Cliff negatively is its infraction of aesthetics paired with microtransactions, turning an innocent homage into a monetized frustration.

Inviting piracy for their game instead of playing poorly made clones isn’t new in the gaming world. Many developers have expressed similar sentiments, promoting access over profit in various ways.