If you’ve ever spent an afternoon watching old District 13 clips or played Mirror’s Edge and thought, "Yeah, but I want it to feel more technical," then you’re exactly who Michel is making this for. Honestly, the parkour genre has been a bit stagnant lately. We get big-budget titles where you just hold a "parkour" button and the character does all the work. It’s boring. Rooftops and Alleys: The Parkour Game (or RNA, if you’re hanging out in the Discord) takes the opposite approach. It’s a solo-dev project by Michel, a developer who clearly understands that the joy of movement isn't just about getting from point A to point B. It's about how much style you can inject into the journey.
Movement is everything.
In RNA, you aren’t just gliding through the environment. You are fighting for every inch of momentum. The game uses a physics-based system that feels heavy in a good way. When you land a jump, you feel the impact. If you mess up your roll timing, you’re going to lose all that speed you spent the last thirty seconds building up. It’s punishing, but it’s fair. It reminds me of the early days of Skate—the original one—where just doing a kickflip felt like an achievement. Here, clearing a gap between two crumbling brick buildings feels like a triumph because you had to time the tuck, the jump, and the landing perfectly.
Why Rooftops and Alleys Hits Different
Most games treat the world like a flat plane with some obstacles. RNA treats the world like a playground where every vertical surface is a potential tool. The developer, Michel, has been incredibly transparent about the development process on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, showing off how the animations transition from a wall run into a backflip. It’s fluid. It’s also surprisingly gritty. The environments aren't these pristine, futuristic utopias. They look like the back alleys of a city that’s seen better days. Trash cans, rusted fire escapes, and haphazardly placed scaffolding are your best friends.
The "Alleys" part of the name isn't just flavor text. The level design emphasizes tight spaces. You’re often squeezed between two walls, forcing you to utilize wall-kicks to gain height. This creates a sense of claustrophobia that actually makes the moments when you finally reach the "Rooftops" feel expansive and liberating.
💡 You might also like: Finding every Hollow Knight mask shard without losing your mind
The Technical Side of the Vault
The controls are where the learning curve really sits. You can't just mash buttons. There’s a specific logic to the inputs that mirrors real-life freerunning.
- Momentum Management: Speed isn't granted; it's earned. You have to string moves together without stuttering.
- Precision Landings: Landing on a rail requires actual aim.
- Trick System: It’s not just about survival; it’s about flair. The game allows for a variety of flips and spins that you can manually trigger mid-air.
You've probably seen clips of people doing massive triple backflips off a ten-story building. It looks cool, sure. But the real skill in Rooftops and Alleys is found in the "line." A line is a sequence of moves—a vault over a fence, a wall run across a gap, a precision jump onto a narrow ledge—all done without losing a beat. When you finally nail a line you've been practicing for an hour, the dopamine hit is real.
A Solo Dev Success Story
It’s wild to think this is a solo project. Usually, when we talk about "physics-based movement," we expect a glitchy mess. But Michel has polished the core mechanics to a mirror sheen. The community feedback loop is tight. People suggest a specific type of vault or a tweak to the gravity, and often, you see it addressed in the next devlog. This kind of grassroots development is why the game has such a dedicated following before it’s even "finished" in the traditional sense.
People are tired of the Ubisoft-style parkour. You know the one. You hold "A" or "X" and your character automatically climbs a 50-foot wall with the grace of a mountain goat on steroids. There’s no risk. There’s no skill. RNA is the antidote to that. It’s a game that respects the player’s intelligence and their desire to actually play the game rather than just watch a series of pre-canned animations.
📖 Related: Animal Crossing for PC: Why It Doesn’t Exist and the Real Ways People Play Anyway
Learning the Ropes (and Rails)
If you're just starting out, don't expect to be a pro in five minutes. You’re going to fall. A lot. You’re going to overshoot jumps and faceplant into a brick wall. That’s part of the charm. Basically, the game is a giant "try, fail, repeat" loop that actually teaches you the mechanics through muscle memory.
- Start small. Don't try to cross the entire map in one go. Find a small section—maybe a couple of dumpsters and a low wall—and practice your transitions.
- Watch the shadows. The game’s lighting is pretty decent, and your character’s shadow can help you judge your height during those long drops.
- Use the "Reset" button. Like any good physics sandbox, RNA lets you set a marker. Use it. It saves you from the long trek back up to the roof after a failed stunt.
The "Free Roam" mode is where most players spend their time. There’s no ticking clock, no enemies chasing you—well, unless you count gravity as an enemy. It’s just you and the architecture. This lack of pressure allows you to experiment with the trick system. Want to see if you can do a front flip into a slide? Go for it. Want to try a 360 wall-spin? Give it a shot.
What’s Missing? (For Now)
It’s important to be realistic. This isn't a AAA title with a forty-hour campaign and a cast of thousands. It’s a focused, mechanical simulator. Some people might find the lack of a traditional "story" off-putting. If you need a narrative reason to jump off a building, you won't find it here. The reason is "because it’s there."
Also, the environments, while detailed, can feel a bit empty. There aren't NPCs walking around or cars driving by. It’s a ghost town designed specifically for parkour. For most fans of the genre, this is a feature, not a bug. It removes distractions. But if you’re looking for a living, breathing city simulation like Grand Theft Auto, you’re looking in the wrong place.
👉 See also: A Game of Malice and Greed: Why This Board Game Masterpiece Still Ruins Friendships
The Future of the Genre
Rooftops and Alleys represents a shift. We’re seeing more "niche" simulators taking over where big publishers have failed. Whether it’s Session for skateboarding or RNA for parkour, there is a clear hunger for games that prioritize "feel" over "spectacle."
The game’s performance is also worth noting. Since it isn't bogged down by heavy DRM or unnecessary background systems, it runs remarkably well on a variety of hardware. This accessibility is key. You don't need a $4,000 rig to enjoy the sensation of flying (and falling).
Actionable Steps for New Traceurs
If you're ready to dive into the world of Rooftops and Alleys, here is how to actually get good and enjoy the process without smashing your controller:
- Adjust your FOV: The default Field of View might be a bit tight for some. Bumping it up can help with spatial awareness when you're spinning through the air.
- Master the Roll: The roll is your best friend. It’s not just for looking cool; it’s the only way to survive long drops and maintain your momentum. Practice the timing until it’s second nature.
- Join the Community: The RNA Discord and TikTok communities are goldmines for "line" inspiration. If you're stuck or don't know where to find the best spots, just look at what others are doing.
- Focus on Flow, Not Flips: It’s tempting to try and do the most complex tricks immediately. Don't. Focus on keeping your movement smooth. A simple, clean vault is better than a messy, over-rotated flip.
- Explore Every Level: Don't just stay on the first map. Each area has different geometry that requires different techniques. The "Alley" sections specifically will force you to get better at verticality and wall-bouncing.
The game is a work in progress, but even in its current state, it offers a more authentic parkour experience than almost anything else on the market. It’s a testament to what a single passionate developer can do when they have a clear vision and a community that supports them.
Stop holding the "auto-parkour" button in other games. Go earn your speed.
Next Steps:
To get the most out of your sessions, start by mastering the momentum slide. Most players forget that sliding under obstacles is just as important as jumping over them for maintaining top speed. Once you can transition from a high-speed sprint into a slide and back into a vault without a pause, you've officially moved past the "beginner" phase. From there, head to the "Construction Site" map to practice vertical chaining, as the scaffolding provides the best environment for learning how to gain height quickly.