Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game is an ambitious, physics-driven parkour simulator developed by solo indie developer Michel Losch under the name MLMEDIA. This game hit the scene in Early Access on Steam in May 2024. It has quickly gained a dedicated following, and for good reason. Built in Unreal Engine 5, Rooftops & Alleys stands out for its focus on realism, control, and flow. Every vault, wall-run, and trick is manual control, making successful runs feel earned and honestly just satisfying.

At the heart of the game is the exceptional movement system. Rooftops & Alleys isn’t just about getting from point A to B. It’s about how creatively and fluidly you can do it. Like the old saying, “It’s not the destination, it’s the Journey.” I would compare the combo system to the feel of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater; it gave me the same level of satisfaction when pulling off an insane run. As far as controls, it’s a physics-based experience where momentum, timing, and body control determine everything. Mastering the mechanics takes time, but the payoff is big if you continue to work at it. The creator describes it as “Easy to pick up, difficult to master”.

Story/Content

At the time of review, the Early Access version offers five expansive maps, each filled with walls, rails, rooftops, and vertical structures to test your creativity. The game fully launches today, June 17, and with the patch, we will get a 6th map. Each map has well-placed obstacles to vault, wall run, and climb. Some areas feel a bit light in obstacles, while others are expertly tuned for flow and challenge. Between free roam, time trials, and multiplayer trick challenges, the environments offer plenty of opportunities to learn and improve.

One of the most impressive things about Rooftops & Alleys is that it’s the product of a solo developer. That fact alone has fueled much of the love surrounding the game. Michel Losch built a playable and polished physics system. However, what is most impressive is that but also continues to actively develop new features based on community feedback. His transparency, frequent patch notes, and responsiveness on Discord (which now has over 36,000 members) have helped cultivate a passionate and constructive player base. The upcoming 1.0 release promises to include a new single-player progression system, over 100 customization items, a photo mode, and much more.

Multiplayer & Graphics

Multiplayer is another highlight. The game offers social modes like tag, trick battles, and capture-the-flag, supporting up to four players per lobby. These matches often turn chaotic in the best way, especially when you’re chasing a friend across rooftops or battling for trick dominance.

Visually, Rooftops & Alleys adopts a clean, 3D aesthetic that favors clarity over hyperrealism. The character models give me vibes of a cartoon or comic. The lighting, weather effects, and day/night cycles add a sense of dynamism to each map, and the visuals do a good job of supporting the gameplay without distraction. The soundtrack pairs perfectly with the fast-paced, fluid nature of freerunning. Fun fact: the music in the game was written and produced by Michel Losch and his wife, just another example of the hard work and passion he put into his game.

The Cons

Of course, no Early Access game is without its rough edges. The biggest critique at this stage is content depth. While the movement system is top tier, the amount of structured content is somewhat limited. More maps, challenges, and progression systems would go a long way toward keeping players engaged over the long term. Some players also find the Tag multiplayer mode unbalanced or too limited in player count. Also, the accessibility features are a bit light, with limited key rebinding and UI customization options, which might be an issue for some players on mouse and keyboard. That said, most players find these cons forgivable, especially considering it is a solo dev game. With the big Patch 1.0 out, I expect many adjustments to come.

Overall, Is It Worth It?

The price of Rooftops & Alleys is set to rise from $19.99 to $24.99 after the 1.0 release on June 17th. This is still a fair deal considering the amount of polish already present and the massive expansion on the way. The game also runs well on the Steam Deck, which is where I spent most of my time playing. The game is Deck Verified and runs like butter.

Although the game has been in early access, the response from the Steam community has been overwhelmingly positive. Steam reviews consistently mention how addicting and fun the trick system is, with players complimenting the skill ceiling and praising the developer’s dedication.

So, who is Rooftops & Alleys really for? It’s perfect for players who love technical movement games, freerunning challenges, or trick-chaining mechanics. If you enjoy skating games, parkour simulators, or mastering systems that reward practice and experimentation, this game is for you.

In conclusion, Rooftops & Alleys is already a standout in the niche world of parkour sims. Its physics-based movement, community-driven development, and tight design make it a hidden gem worth supporting. The upcoming full release only adds more incentive to jump in now. Whether you’re chasing the perfect wall run combo, tagging friends across a high rise, or just exploring every alleyway the game has to offer, Rooftops & Alleys provides the freedom to move and fail on your own terms.