Barrel

Don't control the barrel, become one with it.
( But do control that thingy it's rolling on. That's, like, the whole thing )
Barrel is a simple game that's hard to master. Maneuver upward through ever more varied and challenging obstacles. Enjoy the whimsical, if unsettling, scenery of a subterranean fantasy world.

GAMEPLAY
Players "control" the barrel indirectly by moving each end of the bar it rolls upon
IE those two dwarven maniacs. They never get tired of climbing. Absolute units.

Best played with a gamepad, but keyboard works just fine

There is a single, continuous course with multiple environments and new mechanics introduced along the way

Checkpoints can be lost
Players have a limited number of attempts (IE "lives") to get to the next checkpoint

Players revert to the previous checkpoint if all attempts are failed.

SETTING
Note: Barrel focuses on gameplay first and does not have an overt narrative, but there is some environmental storytelling.
The Barrel Games are a seasonal event and tradition for this isolated, deepest-dwelling community of dwarves. 

This is essentially a telling of one of their dwarven folktales, in which two climbers of legend journey up through the strange, unruly, subterranean world.

FAQ
Q: The climbers' feet... it's like they're stepping up a ladder but it's a chain?
A: They pinch the chain with their toes.