Anxiety

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.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the summit ridge, carrying snow that stung like needles. Madeline stopped running, her breath hitching in cold air. Behind her floated the pale figure she knew so well: Badeline, the mirror image of her own doubt. For months, this figure had chased her through abandoned cities and haunted hotels, throwing her down mountainsides and freezing gondolas to induce panic. But on this peak, there was no chase. Badeline drifted closer, not to strike, but to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Madeline. The mountain loomed above them, no longer an enemy to conquer alone, but a path they would walk together. In that quiet moment, the barrier between self and shadow dissolved into the snow as they prepared to enjoy strawberry pie with their friends.

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.

Did You Know?

• Badeline describes herself as Madeline's "pragmatic part" who attempts to stop the climb to save her from being unprepared.
• In a nightmare sequence, Badeline chases Madeline out of an abandoned city after appearing in a mirror.
• After Madeline decides to abandon Badeline at the ancient temple, Badeline retaliates by throwing Madeline down the mountain.
• Following their reconciliation, Madeline and Badeline climb together and enjoy strawberry pie with Granny, Theo, and Oshiro at the summit.
• In the Farewell DLC released on September 9, 2019, Badeline returns to warn Madeline that she is dreaming when pursuing a mysterious bird.