Overview
Of Peaks and Tides treats the open world of Everland as something to be moved through with a wide toolkit, not a flat map with a stamina bar. Confirmed traversal systems span on-foot climbing, an earnable glide, physics-based bouncy fauna and bubbles, tamed creature mounts, and large winged beasts that can be flown across the realm.
Traversal Methods
Method | How To Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
On foot | Default movement plus climbing | Climbing is available everywhere; no separate climbing tool required to begin |
Gliding | Earned by completing a flying trial mini-game with hoops across three stages | Provides a permanent gliding ability after completion. Demonstrated in the Gamescom 2025 demo. |
Bouncy fauna | Step onto or interact with specific flora to launch upward | Acts as a natural trampoline; reaches otherwise inaccessible ledges |
Large bubbles | Step into floating bubbles scattered across the world | Vertical lift; works as a temporary elevator for cliff faces |
Tamed creatures | Tame a creature via Creature Taming, then mount it | Ground mounts and small flyers cover medium-range travel |
Winged beasts | Mount giant winged creatures to fly across the realm | Long-range travel; bonded via the taming system |
Crafted vehicles | Build vehicles through Crafting | Used both for transit and as part of the broader physics-driven kit |
Gliding Trial
The Gamescom 2025 demo showcased a side activity that rewards a permanent gliding ability. Players fly through a series of hoops across three stages to earn the glider. The activity is built around the same physics engine as the rest of the game, so wind currents and momentum matter as much as raw input timing.
Mounting Beasts
Mounts are tied directly to Creature Taming. Bonded creatures act as mobile platforms: small mounts cover ground travel, large winged creatures unlock flight, and certain large beasts can serve as moving bases for Base Building attached to their backs. The game's official materials specifically call out the option to build bases atop tamed creatures.
Physics And Traversal
Many traversal aids in Of Peaks and Tides are themselves physics objects, not animation cheats. Bubbles can be popped, bouncy fauna can be destroyed by Calamities, and falling rocks can block previously open paths. The same Physics System that governs Combat rewards reading the environment when choosing a route.
Related Topics
Creature Taming
Physics System
Everland
Base Building
Land, Sea, and Air
Pre-release coverage of the announcement trailer summarises traversal in one phrase: travel by land, sea, and air. The three layers map directly to confirmed mount and traversal systems:
Layer | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Land | Foot, climbing, ridden creatures, and mobile bases on the backs of tamed beasts. | Climbing is available everywhere without a separate tool requirement. |
Sea | Confirmed in announcement trailer marketing as one of the three traversal layers. | Specific boating or swimming mechanics have not been detailed in press coverage as of February 2026. |
Air | Permanent gliding ability after the flying trial mini-game; mounted flight on tamed winged beasts. | The flying trial is gated by an in-world activity; once cleared, the glide is permanent. |
Pre-Release Traversal Observations
Pre-release commentary on the announcement trailer references additional traversal motifs that have appeared in marketing material but lack standalone gameplay confirmation. Treat the list below as illustrative of the design intent rather than confirmed mechanics:
Rune-covered doors are visible in announcement footage, hinting at gated sections of the world.
Sky-bubble travel is referenced as a marketing-image idea; the exact mechanic has not been demonstrated in playable form.
Mud-ball mechanics are referenced as part of the physics interplay, but specific gameplay applications have not been demonstrated.