Over the past few years, a quirky micro-genre has appeared within the indie gaming scene: the “Only Up!” climbing challenge. These games, inspired by viral streamers and unforgiving physics mechanics, focus on a seemingly simple goal—climb as high as possible without falling. The gameplay is tough but gripping. One wrong move can send you all the way back to the start.
Only Tung Tung Sahur UP, created by CGI LAB and released on Nintendo Switch by Play Lab, wholeheartedly follows this formula while adding a quirky cultural twist rooted in Indonesian traditions.
Instead of a quiet, meditative ascent, this climb features rhythm, chaos, and a constant nod to the “Tung Tung” sound used to wake communities for Sahur, the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan.
It’s an unusual mix of meme culture, physics-based platforming, and cultural reference—but that unpredictability is part of the game’s appeal.
For those who enjoy daring platforming challenges, Only Tung Tung Sahur UP offers exactly the chaotic climb that the genre promises.
A Simple Goal: Just Keep Climbing
At its core, Only Tung Tung Sahur UP is about one thing: reaching the top.
The player begins near ground level, surrounded by an unusual mix of floating objects, makeshift structures, and bizarre platforms that seem stacked together like a surreal junkyard tower.
Your task is to climb it.
The controls are simple. Move, jump, and carefully position your character on narrow platforms that range from solid surfaces to wobbly obstacles.
Every successful jump takes you a little higher.
Every mistake can send you tumbling dozens—sometimes even hundreds—of metres back down.
Unlike traditional platformers that have checkpoints or forgiving safety nets, games in the “Only Up!” style thrive on punishing setbacks.
Progress is delicate.
You might spend twenty minutes carefully navigating a series of precarious objects, only to misjudge a jump and fall all the way back to the beginning.
It’s frustrating—but also strangely addictive.
Gravity Is the True Enemy
The biggest challenge in Only Tung Tung Sahur UP isn’t the platforms themselves—it’s gravity.
Objects are stacked at odd angles. Some surfaces are barely wide enough to stand on, while others require awkward jumps that force you to carefully line up your approach.
Because the game uses physics-based movement, jumps can feel unpredictable at times.
Momentum plays a significant role in whether you land safely or overshoot your target.
This unpredictability creates constant tension; every leap feels risky, and even familiar sections remain dangerous if your timing slips.
This design philosophy mirrors other games in the genre, where tension is created not through combat or puzzles but through the ever-present threat of losing progress.
When you finally reach a new height after dozens of careful jumps, the sense of achievement feels genuine.
A Cultural Twist
What sets Only Tung Tung Sahur UP apart from other climbing games is its cultural identity.
The game’s name references the “Tung Tung” sound traditionally used in Indonesia to wake people for Sahur, often produced by drumming on objects in neighbourhoods before dawn.
In the game, this rhythmic theme becomes part of the atmosphere.
Sound effects and musical cues incorporate the distinctive percussion rhythm, giving the experience a playful, almost celebratory tone—despite the game’s brutal difficulty.
This cultural reference adds character to what might otherwise be a standard climbing challenge.
It serves as a reminder that indie developers often draw inspiration from their own communities and traditions, creating experiences that feel unique within the broader market.
A World Built from Chaos
The environments in Only Tung Tung Sahur UP are deliberately unusual.
Instead of carefully designed architectural structures, the ascent consists of floating everyday objects and bizarre constructions.
Players might jump across:
- Suspended furniture
- Random platforms
- Narrow beams
- Unstable piles of debris
The result resembles a dreamlike tower built from discarded pieces of the world.
There’s a surreal humour to the environment design. Nothing about the structure makes logical sense, but that absurdity is part of the game’s personality.
Each section of the climb introduces new visual themes and unusual arrangements of objects, keeping players curious about what lies further up the tower.
The Thrill of Risk and Failure
A significant part of the appeal of games like Only Tung Tung Sahur UP stems from their relationship with failure.
Falling isn’t just possible—it’s unavoidable.
Players will repeatedly lose progress while familiarising themselves with the layout of the tower and mastering the physics.
But every failed attempt offers a new lesson: a better jumping angle, a safer route, or a risky shortcut that could save minutes on your climb.
Over time, players build a mental map of the environment, gradually transforming chaotic obstacles into manageable challenges.
This process fuels the addictive loop that characterises the genre.
Every attempt feels like the one where everything finally clicks.
Switch Performance
The Nintendo Switch version performs quite well, particularly given the game’s reliance on physics and vertical level design.
Frame rates stay steady during most parts of the climb, and controls respond accurately to player input.
However, the handheld screen can sometimes make it harder to judge narrow platforms compared to playing on a larger display.
This isn’t a major issue, but players attempting precision jumps might prefer playing in docked mode for improved visibility.
Where the Experience Can Frustrate
Like many games in the Only Up-style genre, frustration is a part of the experience.
For players who prefer structured progress or frequent checkpoints, the constant threat of losing progress can feel draining.
The physics system, while generally reliable, occasionally delivers unpredictable results that can turn minor mistakes into disastrous falls.
And since the gameplay loop revolves entirely around climbing, there’s limited variety beyond mastering the tower itself.
Those who enjoy skill-based challenges will likely appreciate this design.
Others might find the experience too harsh to fully enjoy.
Pros
- Addictive high-risk climbing gameplay
- Unique cultural theme centered on Sahur traditions
- Surreal and creative vertical level design
- Strong sense of accomplishment after successful climbs
Cons
- Extremely punishing setbacks with no checkpoints
- Physics can feel inconsistent at times
- Limited gameplay variety beyond climbing
Final Verdict
Only Tung Tung Sahur UP captures the chaotic spirit of the “Only Up!” genre with confidence.
Created by CGI LAB and released on Nintendo Switch through Play Lab, the game blends intense physics-based climbing with a distinctive cultural theme that distinguishes it from similar titles.
Its surreal tower of floating objects provides numerous tense platforming moments, and the ongoing risk of failure creates an addictive loop for players who enjoy skill-based challenges.
However, the challenging difficulty and limited gameplay variety mean the experience may not appeal to everyone.
For those willing to embrace the chaos—and accept the occasional catastrophic fall—Only Tung Tung Sahur UP offers exactly the loud, unpredictable climb that its title promises.
