"Baby Steps tells the story of Nate, a man transported from living in squalor in his parents' basement to a magical world inhabited by long-dicked donkey men and Australians. Navigating this strange setting, at least on PlayStation 5, revolves around using the controller's triggers to independently control Nate's feet by lifting them off the ground, and the control stick to have Nate lean in whatever direction you intend on traveling."
"The 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards released its list of nominees on January 8, showcasing the incredible work of developers outside the AAA space. managed to pick up nominations in five categories, including Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Design, Excellence in Narrative, the Nuovo Award (for "experiences that make the awards jurors think differently about games as a medium"), and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize."
"I'm so happy to see get this kind of recognition. Not only does it advance the nascent genre of physics-based "rage games" practically invented by co-developer Bennett Foddy (who previously made QWOP and Getting Over It), but it also manages to interrogate the very concept of challenging video game mechanics through both gameplay and narrative. Please play this game, and remember, doesn't want you to rage, it wants you to love yourself."
Baby Steps is a small, physics-based game that follows Nate, a man transported from his parents' basement to a surreal magical world. PlayStation 5 controls require independent trigger control of Nate's feet and analog-stick leaning, forcing rhythmic balance to walk, climb slippery slopes, and scale awkward rockfaces. The game received five nominations at the 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards, including Excellence in Audio, Design, Narrative, the Nuovo Award, and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. The design advances physics-based 'rage games' and interrogates the nature of challenging mechanics through both gameplay and narrative. Co-developer Bennett Foddy links the title to a lineage including QWOP and Getting Over It.
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