Anxiety

The pragmatic shadow that chases until she becomes a partner on the climb.

Anxiety in Celeste is personified as "Badeline," a character who embodies Madeline's self-doubt, depression, and fear of failure. Introduced early in her climb up the fictional Mount Celeste, Badeline initially acts as an antagonist, attempting to stop Madeline from reaching the summit by chasing her out of areas and halting gondolas to induce panic attacks. However, the narrative reveals she is not a separate entity but a manifestation of Madeline's "pragmatic part," created to protect her from climbing unprepared. Badeline doubts Madeline's ability to succeed, yet this conflict drives the story forward. The developers integrated themes of self-forgiveness into the gameplay and narrative, ensuring that Badeline's role shifts from pursuer to partner. By reconciling with this internal voice rather than eliminating it, Madeline learns that her struggles are an inseparable part of her identity.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Celeste Mountain (Internal)
First appears: Chapter 1

Lore & Background

Badeline originates as a personification of Madeline's anxiety and depression encountered during a nightmare in an abandoned city. She describes herself as Madeline's "pragmatic part," believing she must stop Madeline to save her from unpreparedness. Her presence is felt throughout the mountain, from taunting Oshiro at the Celestial Resort to halting the gondola lift, which triggers a panic attack for Madeline. In the ancient temple, after Madeline frees Theo, she decides to abandon Badeline, leading to Badeline throwing her down the mountain. Granny advises Madeline to seek resolution instead of abandonment. The lore culminates in a chase where Madeline apologizes to Badeline; they reconcile and vow to climb together. This integration is further explored in the "Farewell" DLC about a year later, where Badeline abandons Madeline again when she pursues a mysterious bird, but eventually returns to warn her that she is dreaming. The story confirms that Badeline does not vanish upon reaching the summit; instead, they enjoy strawberry pie with Granny, Theo, and Oshiro as a unified whole.

Reader's Guide

Badeline functions as both a narrative obstacle and a gameplay mechanic representing Madeline's mental state. Initially, she appears as an antagonist who chases Madeline out of areas, such as the abandoned city, and physically blocks progress by throwing her down the mountain after Madeline attempts to abandon her. Her behavior reflects the cyclical nature of panic attacks, often triggered when Madeline reaches critical points like the gondola lift. However, players must understand that Badeline is an internal part of Madeline, not a separate boss to be defeated permanently. The guide to overcoming this arc involves following Granny's advice to seek resolution rather than abandonment. After locating Badeline and apologizing, she transitions from an enemy to an ally who walks alongside Madeline. In the "Farewell" expansion, her role evolves again; she abandons Madeline when a mysterious bird appears but returns to warn that the situation is a dream, reinforcing her protective nature. Success in Celeste requires accepting Badeline as an integral part of the climb.

What players say: Player verdict on Celeste — Rotten Tweets