Icy Tower 2026 remake is out now on Steam, bringing Harold the Homeboy back for the series’ 25th anniversary. The game launched on 10 November 2026 for Windows and macOS, with a normal UK price of £8.19. A 15% introductory discount brings it down to £6.96 until 17 November.
If you remember trying to climb one more floor in the original 2001 game, the new version should feel familiar. It’s been rebuilt by original creators Johan Peitz and Anders ‘Neo’ Svensson, with combo jumps, wall bounces, extra characters and a new kickback system to keep a good run alive.
Icy Tower 2026 remake release date, UK price and platforms
The Icy Tower 2026 remake released on Steam on 10 November 2026, timed to the 25th anniversary of the original. Developer credits go to Johan Peitz and Anders Svensson, with Apskeppet publishing. This is a new version built from the ground up rather than the old Windows download with a fresh store page.
The game supports Windows and macOS. Mac requirements start at macOS 11 Big Sur with an Apple M1 or 64-bit Intel processor, while Steam also lists full Xbox controller support. It has keyboard controls and is marked Unknown for Steam Deck compatibility, so it has not been given a Verified rating.
How combo jumps work in the new Icy Tower
The basic challenge is as simple as it sounds: jump from one platform to the next and climb as high as possible. Build speed, bounce from the walls and chain jumps into combos that improve your score. One bad landing can end the attempt, which is why the tower is so good at tempting you into one more try.
The Icy Tower 2026 remake keeps that score-chasing loop but adds new environments and hand-crafted pixel art. As you climb, the tower changes its walls, platforms and backgrounds. The developers have focused on keeping the timing and physics satisfying rather than building a game around coins, permanent upgrades or collecting currency between runs.
What is the kickback system?
In the Icy Tower 2026 remake, kickbacks are one of the biggest additions. Successful combos can earn you a chance to save a run after a slip. It’s a safety net you have to build through good jumping, rather than an unlimited undo button. The idea is to reward a strong combo without taking the tension out of climbing.
The official feature list confirms that kickbacks exist, but it doesn’t explain a universal button sequence or exact number of charges. So there is no reliable fixed key combination to give here without checking the finished game. What matters is the relationship: chain jumps, earn a kickback and use that chance to keep climbing.
Characters, music and new tower themes
Harold is back, and he’s joined by other playable characters, including familiar faces. The developers have mentioned Dave and new friends, with different styles to choose from. The remake also has varied tower themes, crisp pixel graphics and live-recorded music, giving the climb more variety without changing its goal.
What isn’t confirmed in the public feature list is the exact order in which every character or tower theme unlocks. Don’t assume a particular floor count gives you Dave or that one character automatically earns more points. Those are details for a properly tested unlock guide, not something to infer from a trailer.
Steam leaderboards, replays and achievements
Steam lists achievements, Steam Cloud and leaderboards, along with single-player and Family Sharing. The developers have talked about both local and global high-score competition, which fits the game’s quick attempts perfectly. It’s still a solo arcade platformer, not an online co-op climbing game.
Replay sharing is also advertised among the remake’s features. That should give players a way to show off a particularly good attempt, although the storefront doesn’t explain a specific export workflow. For the Icy Tower 2026 remake, the focus remains on comparing your climbs and pushing a little higher next time.
Is this the same as the original Icy Tower?
If you played the 2001 original, you’ll recognise the emphasis on wall jumps, momentum and chasing a score. But the new Icy Tower isn’t simply a remaster of the original executable. The creators have rebuilt it with a modern Steam release, new visuals, new tower settings and the kickback mechanic.
The Icy Tower 2026 remake currently costs £6.96 in the UK during its 15% opening offer, reduced from £8.19. Steam lists the offer as ending on 17 November. It is a single-player Windows and Mac release with controller support, Steam leaderboards and replay features, making it an easy game to return to when you want to beat your last run.
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Official source: Johan Peitz, Anders Svensson and Apskeppet on Steam.
