Grapple

About

Grapple is a single-player 3D puzzle platformer game set in a Sci-Fi world. With 90 levels, players can use powerful movement mechanics to swing, fling, and climb across various surfaces, completing levels their own way. The game features sandbox puzzles, cannons, speed run mode, and secrets, all set to a backdrop of fabulous music.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 258 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

story7 negative mentions

Fun and satisfying movement mechanics that make swinging through levels enjoyable.
Great level design with a good difficulty curve, providing a mix of challenge and accessibility.
Addictive gameplay that encourages exploration and experimentation with various routes to complete levels.

Rough controller support and camera issues that can hinder gameplay experience.
Some levels can feel tedious and frustrating, especially with precision-based challenges.
Lack of variety in graphics and level design, leading to a repetitive feel in later stages.

gameplay
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The gameplay is centered around a unique grappling mechanic that offers a satisfying and rewarding experience, reminiscent of classic swinging mechanics found in games like Spider-Man. Players appreciate the well-designed levels that gradually introduce new challenges, although some find the controls a bit clumsy and the lack of a story a drawback. Overall, the game is praised for its fun, addictive mechanics and polished execution, making it an engaging 3D platformer despite some repetitive elements.
- “The controls feel great and the gameplay is very rewarding.”
- “Great, reliable mechanics, and challenging enough to be intriguing while not difficult enough to be frustrating.”
- “The gameplay loop might look simple, but there's enough added as the game progresses, just in level design, to keep you interested even after the fiftieth (!) level.”
- “Therefore, I guess there is gameplay time for about 4 hours.”
- “If you don't, you will hate it and probably not finish it, because there is nothing else but the gameplay to get you through the game (meaning, there is no story).”
- “The gameplay footage in the trailers shows the blob swinging and gliding in these unbroken graceful arcs, but in all the levels I played, I felt like I kept having to stop so that I could move the camera around and actually see where the grapple points were located, because if I swiveled the camera while in motion, I'd veer off in a different direction and fall to my death.”
music
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its relaxing and enjoyable qualities that complement the gameplay, while others find it repetitive or annoying over time. Many agree that while the soundtrack fits the game's aesthetic, it could benefit from more variety and intensity. Overall, the music enhances the experience for some, but others prefer to mute it and listen to their own selections.
- “Excellent, innovative, with a splendid soundtrack that's equal parts relaxing and energizing.”
- “Relaxing grappling hook based 3D platformer with great music.”
- “On top of the controls, the soundtrack is awesome, and the learning curve is perfectly steady.”
- “I enjoyed swinging for the first few levels, but once they introduce the ability to stick to walls and moons, that's when the game starts becoming a mess; also, the music is trash.”
- “The music is extremely annoying and crappy.”
- “Music sucks; I had to mute it like an hour into the game and put on my own music instead.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The game's graphics are characterized by a simplistic yet charming aesthetic, featuring cute artworks and a consistent visual style across levels. While some players appreciate the clarity and stylish design, others find the visuals repetitive and lacking complexity, which can hinder gameplay, particularly with depth perception. Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay well, providing a pleasant backdrop for the platforming experience, though they may not impress those seeking more intricate visuals.
- “Its a very good platformer with awesome swinging physics, great visuals and just an all around good feel game to relax and unwind.”
- “The graphics are stylish and clear, and the music is very good.”
- “It has a crazy, colourful yet sharp graphics style while you try and work out each mind numbing puzzle on your journey through the huge amounts of maps that it has!”
- “The camera is close to the actual 'ball' that you're playing, which makes it difficult sometimes to see where you're supposed to go, and the game's visuals play into this with its aesthetic and actual, invisible platforms in many levels.”
- “Graphically, the game is pretty minimal with the same space overlay being used for every level in the game and platforms also using the same design throughout.”
- “Way to make a game requiring depth perception using an engine and graphical assets that provide none.”
story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
44%
39%
The game is criticized for its complete lack of a narrative, with reviewers noting that it focuses solely on gameplay mechanics, particularly grappling and swinging. While it draws comparisons to other titles like "A Story About My Uncle," it is described as lacking engaging environments and story elements, making it feel more like a tech demo than a fully realized game. Overall, the absence of a story detracts from the experience, leaving players with little motivation beyond the gameplay itself.
- “If you've ever liked any games with a swinging mechanic, like 'A Story About My Uncle' or 'Bionic Commando', you must get this game.”
- “There are not many 3D grapple-swinging games like 'A Story About My Uncle', but 'Grapple' absolutely is very solid!”
- “Grappler is similar to games like 'A Story About My Uncle' and 'Cloudburst' with its overall structure.”
- “There is no story.”
- “There's no real story or narrative here.”
- “This feels a bit more like a tech demo that should get a full game designed around it (story, character, music, etc.), and as is, I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone but the most die-hard of 3D puzzle platformer enthusiasts or someone looking to really play around with a grappling hook mechanic.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game offers exceptional replayability through time trials and speedrun modes, appealing to players eager to improve their performance. However, the lack of randomly generated levels may limit long-term replay value, despite the overall challenge and enjoyment it provides. A level editor could further enhance its replayability potential.
- “The time trials and speedrun modes increase the replayability.”
- “Great fun and the replay value is exceptional.”
- “I wish there were a level editor; that would make this game endlessly replayable.”
- “Where the game falters a bit is in its 90 levels not being randomly generated, which may affect replayability.”
- “There is replayability, challenge, and a whole lot of frustrating fun.”
- “Replayability - should be obvious for those wanting to improve their times.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting smooth performance and no significant issues. However, some players have experienced occasional crashes when switching applications and minor glitches, particularly in challenging levels. The physics engine is praised for its reliability, contributing to a solid gameplay experience.
- “Runs great - never experienced any issues.”
- “No glitches, no bugs.”
- “The game crashes sometimes when switching to other programs, a few levels are stupidly hard, and there are occasional glitches.”
- “Controls might seem 'buggy' or 'hard' for most players, but they are really not.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its charming humor, which complements its interesting concept and engaging gameplay. Players appreciate the lightheartedness woven into the experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the challenging levels.
- “Funny slime ball thrower game.”
- “A good amount of cute little humor, and music that's chill and pretty similar to Terraria.”
- “I bought this game expecting it to be just kind of okay, but what I received was a well-made game with great gameplay and an appropriate amount of humor.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, often exacerbated by uninspired level design and confusing graphics. The inability to skip levels further contributes to the frustration, making the overall experience feel laborious. Despite these issues, some users have discovered unexpected enjoyment in the game.
- “Very slow and tedious, as you inch around trying to get into position or on the other side of platforms.”
- “Uninspired level design, confusing graphics, and no way to skip levels make for a tedious game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth level transitions and easy controls contributing to an addictive experience. However, some players note a slight lack in performance, which may affect the overall enjoyment, despite the engaging gameplay and challenging time trial mode.
- “Fun puzzles, easy controls, and levels that run smoothly into the next, making it all the more addicting.”
- “An amazing momentum-based platformer that perfectly entwines difficulty, fun, and a tiny touch of rage; however, it is slightly lacking in performance.”
- “A time trial mode challenges players to beat individual levels under a predefined par time, which serves as a useful gauge of performance since there is no online leaderboard for the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a relaxed and leisurely experience, enhanced by a simple yet effective soundtrack that complements the gameplay without being distracting. Additionally, the crisp art style contributes to the overall inviting ambiance.
- “The atmosphere is relaxed and allows you to play at your own leisure.”
- “It features a wonderfully simple soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere without being distracting, and the art style is crisp as well.”