Can You Make It Man: A Quirky Climb with Room to Grow

In the ever-evolving landscape of indie gaming, Can You Make It Man emerges as a vibrant 3D platformer that invites players to embark on a whimsical ascent up the Mighty Oak Mountain. Developed by the small Christian studio Servants Oil, this title blends colorful visuals with challenging gameplay, all wrapped in a lighthearted narrative. But does it reach the summit of indie platforming excellence, or does it stumble along the way? Let’s delve into the details.

Embarking on the Ascent

Released on April 7, 2025, Can You Make It Man tasks players with climbing the treacherous Mighty Oak Mountain, navigating a world constructed entirely of wooden blocks. The journey is straightforward: ascend to meet the enigmatic Oak King. Along the way, players will encounter a series of obstacles that test their timing, reflexes, and determination.

Player character running across a wooden platform with large balloon structures and mountain obstacles in the distance. — The player prepares to tackle the base of Mighty Oak Mountain with a view of balloon towers and upcoming platforms.

Player character approaching a vertical climbing challenge with colored platforms inside a wooden frame. — The player prepares to tackle the base of Mighty Oak Mountain with a view of balloon towers and upcoming platforms.

The game’s aesthetic is undeniably charming. The wooden block design offers a unique visual appeal, and the vibrant color palette enhances the whimsical atmosphere. The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, providing a relaxing backdrop to the challenging climb.

Gameplay Mechanics and Challenges

At its core, Can You Make It Man is about precision and perseverance. The controls are tight, requiring players to master the timing of jumps and movements. The game introduces various mechanics as players progress, including:

Precision Jumping: Success hinges on well-timed jumps and movements.
Hidden Collectibles: Wooden teddy bears are scattered throughout, rewarding exploration.
Legendary Gold Springs: Glowing blue lights that allow players to skip difficult sections, offering strategic flexibility.

Player leaps across wooden platforms at sunset over a body of water. — Atmospheric moment as the player jumps through the serene sunset segment near the edge of the map.

While the game’s difficulty ramps up appropriately, some players might find certain sections frustrating due to the lack of checkpoints. However, the inclusion of the Gold Springs provides a clever solution for those seeking a more forgiving experience.

Technical Considerations

It’s important to note that Can You Make It Man has a few technical caveats. Moreover, Controller support is limited to gameplay; navigating menus requires a keyboard. While the original project files were reportedly lost during development, it’s unclear how much of the current build can still be edited. Despite these hurdles, the developer has expressed interest in fully remaking or significantly updating the game if it gains enough traction on Steam.

Player riding inside an orange hot air balloon surrounded by colorful block structures and numbered zones. — A unique traversal moment as the player uses a balloon lift to ascend toward higher numbered zones.

Player running across red platforms during a warm-lit sunset scene with the timer and floor level displayed. — A unique traversal moment as the player uses a balloon lift to ascend toward higher numbered zones.

These technical hurdles are a drawback, but considering the game’s history and humble origins, it’s hard not to admire the resilience and ambition behind this re-release.

Developer’s Vision and Community Engagement

Servants Oil is a Christian indie game studio with a mission to create faith-based and family-friendly experiences. Their work aims to reflect messages of perseverance, community, and fun. Can You Make It Man is a clear extension of that philosophy—accessible yet challenging, humorous yet heartfelt.

The developer maintains an active presence across several platforms, connecting directly with fans:

For more information and to support the developer, visit the official Steam page.

Watch the Official Trailer

Room for Improvement

While Can You Make It Man is full of heart and colorful charm, there are a few areas where polish could elevate the experience further:

UI and Visual Design: The user interface feels a bit undercooked. Menus, signs, and in-game fonts would benefit from a more cohesive and artistic visual direction, as if the art department wasn’t fully integrated with the rest of the game’s aesthetic.
Font and Signage: Many signs and on-screen text elements could use more stylistic flair; custom-designed assets would add significantly to immersion and personality.
Animations and Interaction: The core physics system feels great, but some obstacle interactions, like ledge grabbing or climbing, could be a bit snappier to match the pacing of platforming segments.
Progression Hooks: Currently, the primary collectible is teddy bears. While charming, the game would benefit from a broader range of addictive mechanics, such as a dynamic scoring system, unlockables, or creative modifiers to maintain long term player interest.
Minor Bugs: There are occasional issues where players can unintentionally fall out of bounds. A few tweaks to collision detection and testing in key areas would tighten the overall experience.

Final Thoughts

Can You Make It Man is a delightful indie platformer filled with personality and potential. It doesn’t have the polish of a fully-funded project, and its some technical flaws are evident; however, it’s honest about its scope and roots. The game delivers a challenging climb that platformer fans will appreciate, and if it garners enough support, we may see a revamped version in the future. For now, it stands as a charming reminder that sometimes, heart matters more than perfection.

Rating: 6.5 / 10