Grapple

About

Grapple is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by Barji and was released on March 21, 2022. It received neutral reviews from players.

Grapple! is a parkour game built for speedrunning. You're tasked to reach the end of the level only with the aid of a grappling hook & glider.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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51%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,824 reviews

humor9 positive mentions

gameplay32 negative mentions

The game is free, making it accessible to everyone.
The level creation format is enjoyable and adds replayability.
The grappling mechanics can be fun and satisfying once mastered.

The controls are confusing and there is no tutorial to help beginners.
The game can be infuriatingly difficult, especially in later levels.
Many players report bugs and issues with the game's physics and mechanics.

gameplay
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
54%
28%
The gameplay of "grapple" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its mechanics as janky, unresponsive, and poorly implemented, particularly the grappling system which is central to the game. While some users appreciate the potential for inventive mechanics and enjoyable challenges, others find the overall experience frustrating due to difficult controls, lack of clear instructions, and repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game struggles to balance its ambitious mechanics with a satisfying user experience, leading to a divided reception.
- “If you're a fan of inventive gameplay mechanics and exhilarating challenges, then 'grapple' is an absolute gem you won't want to miss.”
- “'Grapple' excels in its core mechanic: a highly satisfying grappling hook system that feels intuitive yet offers deep, skillful gameplay.”
- “Overall, 'grapple' is a well-designed game with smooth gameplay mechanics that make swinging and grappling feel satisfying and intuitive.”
- “Don't ever want to play this game ever again, worst experience yet. You should pay me for wasting my time; nothing is explained, you are thrown into it, and the mechanics are awful. A toddler could make a better game than this. 0/10 do not recommend.”
- “The mechanics feel really janky and poorly made. The gameplay is slow, which makes it boring and unsatisfying.”
- “The game is buggy, the mechanics are great in concept but executed very poorly, and the whole game just feels awkward to play.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
56%
34%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players criticizing its repetitiveness and lack of variety, particularly as it restarts every time the player dies. While some users noted that the soundtrack could be enjoyable, the frequent looping and limited tracks made the experience feel tedious and frustrating. Overall, the absence of a dynamic or engaging audio experience has contributed to a perception of the game as lifeless and unenjoyable.
- “The game is impossible, but the music slaps hard.”
- “Some pretty jammy music though, really dope and everything before that level I got stuck on was fun.”
- “The music makes me believe Minecraft parodies are going to be the next Mozart.”
- “The music is so ungodly bad if you listened to it for too long you'd think of breaking your PC and regurgitating last night's dinner on a plate and making a homeless person eat it.”
- “The music resets every time you die, which is really annoying and makes the gameplay feel repetitive.”
- “The music is annoying but doesn't matter compared to how annoying it is to play.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
58%
22%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising its simple and cute art style, while others criticize it for being low quality and lacking detail. Many users express disappointment over the absence of graphics settings, which limits accessibility for those with less powerful computers. Overall, while some appreciate the vibrant visuals, a significant number find the graphics to be poor and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Graphically, 'grapple' strikes a wonderful balance between vibrant art style and smooth performance.”
- “The colorful visuals and well-designed environments contribute to a captivating overall experience that complements the gameplay perfectly.”
- “I did really like the aesthetic of the game; it looked very clean when playing it.”
- “If you are interested in this concept, just spend a bit of money on Neon White for a great microspeedrunning game with triple the content and visuals that don't look like they've been pulled from Mario Kart Wii on a 30-year-old TV.”
- “Graphics: poor - low environmental detail or variety.”
- “This game was lazily worked on, had bad graphics, and a very boring and simple idea. I couldn't even get past level 3 because of how buggy it was. Bad game, I do not recommend.”
stability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting it as "buggy," "slow," and filled with glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players experienced issues such as getting stuck, weird hitboxes, and unfinished mechanics, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. While some found fun in the concept, the overall consensus is that the game feels incomplete and requires substantial improvements to its stability.
- “Game being free does not mean it needs to be this buggy, slow, and janky.”
- “This game feels so unfinished and buggy; fix your damn game or take it off Steam.”
- “The game is buggy, the mechanics are great in concept but executed very poorly, and the whole game just feels awkward to play.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the story aspect of the game, with several users noting the absence of a narrative or storyline. While one player appreciates the story, the majority express disappointment, highlighting a lack of engaging content and a failure to captivate players early on.
- “This game has a great story in my opinion.”
- “I really wanted to like this game, playing other games of the similar genre and having a blast.”
- “No story.”
- “So the physics don't work well; you can cheat the second and third level, and there's no storyline.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it funny and entertaining, even amidst mixed reviews about gameplay quality. Many comments highlight the game's lightheartedness and amusing achievements, while some note that the serious reactions from others add to the humor. Overall, it seems to deliver a comedic experience, particularly for those not taking it too seriously.
- “I suck at it, but damn is it funny.”
- “The achievements are funny too.”
- “Fun, calming, funny, and free.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often describing it as a drag that detracts from the overall experience. Many express that the effort required for achievements feels overwhelming, suggesting that it demands an unrealistic time investment.
- “This game was a drag to play when I played it before the major update, and thinking it could never get worse than this, I put down my hat after a long time grinding out those achievements.”
- “This game is tedious and annoying to play; don't bother downloading.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of "grapple" is praised for its effective combination of a vibrant art style and smooth performance, ensuring an enjoyable visual experience without sacrificing gameplay fluidity.
- “Graphically, 'Grapple' strikes a wonderful balance between vibrant art style and smooth performance.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that even on lower-end systems, the experience remains fluid and enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the settings, allowing for a customizable experience that maximizes performance without sacrificing quality.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game boasts high replayability, with numerous incentives such as mastering levels, uncovering hidden secrets, and perfecting gameplay techniques. Players appreciate the abundance of achievements that encourage them to return for more.
- “Very replayable”
- “Lots of achievements and replayability”
- “In terms of replayability, the game offers plenty of incentives to return, whether it's mastering levels, discovering hidden secrets, or simply enjoying the thrill of perfecting your grappling technique.”
- “Lots of achievements and replayability.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the game's level design and mechanics, which detract from their enjoyment and lead to feelings of disappointment. Despite initial hopes for the game, the restrictive gameplay and unexpected deaths contribute to a sense of emotional dissatisfaction.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its monetization model, being free to play without any microtransactions, which contributes to an enjoyable experience.
- “It's a free game that has no microtransactions and is actually quite fun.”