Grapple Dog

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 378 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Grapple Dog Game Cover
Grapple Dog is a lot of fun, and for platform fans new or old it should provide plenty of entertainment. But the concept doesn’t push the ingenuity slider high enough, and many of its other tricks have been used aplenty elsewhere.
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Grapple Dog is a fast-paced 2D platformer where you play as Pablo, a dog with a grappling hook. Swing, climb, and jump through levels filled with challenges, enemies, and secrets. Collect medallions to unlock new abilities and save the world from the evil kitty corporation in this charming and engaging adventure.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 378 reviews
gameplay67 positive mentions
grinding13 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and engaging character design that enhances the overall experience.
  • Fluid and responsive controls that make grappling and platforming enjoyable.
  • Varied level design with a good difficulty curve that keeps the gameplay fresh and challenging.
  • Frustrating checkpoint system that can force players to replay entire levels for missed collectibles.
  • Some boss fights feel tedious and lack excitement compared to the platforming sections.
  • Limited music variety, with only one track per world leading to repetitiveness during gameplay.
  • gameplay155 mentions

    The gameplay of "Grapple Dog" is characterized by its charming art style and engaging grapple mechanic, which, while simple to learn, offers depth and challenges as players progress. Many reviewers appreciate the level design that introduces new mechanics and hazards, keeping the experience fresh, though some express frustration with the grapple's reliability and the game's pacing in later levels. Overall, the game is praised for its fun, fluid movement and satisfying platforming, despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and occasional control issues.

    • “Despite the game being quite simple on the surface (all you do is move, jump, and grapple), it does a great job of introducing new mechanics and bonus areas to keep things feeling fresh.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, making great use of the grapple hook.”
    • “The platforming and grappling mechanics feel great, which is the number one thing to nail in a game named 'Grapple Dog'.”
    • “Throughout the game, you collect trinkets called the cosmic gadgets that you need to use to stop the antagonist, but they have no gameplay impact, which I found really lazy and really disappointing.”
    • “While it features a compelling central grapple mechanic, a lack of progression and an overly long runtime contribute to a title that desperately lacks gameplay ideas past its first several levels.”
    • “The levels are quite long, and the main mechanic, grappling, is rather unwieldy.”
  • music126 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and enjoyable quality, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Jet Set Radio and Sonic. However, many players express disappointment over the limited variety, noting that each world features only one track, which can become repetitive and detract from the overall experience. While the soundtrack is considered a highlight, the lack of diversity in the music leads to a sense of monotony during extended play sessions.

    • “The movement is very fluid, the music is amazing and the overall style of the game is top notch.”
    • “The soundtrack is fresh, the platforming is snappy, and the vibes are immaculate.”
    • “The music is fun and, for one reason or another, did not get on my nerves.”
    • “The soundtrack is way too repetitive, and I personally listened to each world theme once and then turned it off.”
    • “The music loops at about a 2-minute mark, making any repeated trials through a level feel like a chore.”
    • “Having one song per world is not enough at all; there is a desperate need to vary tracks with more frequency, it gets absolutely numbing to hear the same song for like an hour.”
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, which features colorful, pixelated visuals and likable character designs. Reviewers highlight the game's unique aesthetic, clean animations, and engaging environments that enhance the overall experience, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to explore. While some mention minor graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the art style significantly contributes to the game's charm and fun gameplay.

    • “The art style of this game is utterly fantastic and probably my favorite pixel art style period.”
    • “It really has it all: fun, engaging gameplay, great music, and charming, eye-catching graphics in a very cool style.”
    • “Aside from some spelling mistakes, graphical glitches and bugs, this game is definitely worth picking up for the price!”
    • “Gameplay is a bit boring and frustrating but the art style makes up for it.”
    • “The colorful, thick-outlined graphics are very clean.”
  • story37 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as simple and charming, with a focus on humor and likable characters rather than deep narrative complexity. While some reviewers found the plot to be weak or insipid, others appreciated its lightheartedness and engaging writing, suggesting that it complements the gameplay well. Overall, the story is seen as a pleasant addition to the experience, though not the main draw of the game.

    • “The art style of this game is so adorable, the story is funny, the characters are likable, the dialogue is well written, and the sound effects are cute as heck.”
    • “The story is simple enough to not overshadow the gameplay, but still gives you enough to keep you intrigued - and the music!”
    • “Surprisingly, the story and lore are also engaging by platformer standards.”
    • “Lastly, as I already mentioned, the story is pretty weak.”
    • “And the story, which starts insipid, becomes unbearable.”
    • “It would essentially just become a walking simulator with substantially less plot than other games of that genre.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive boss encounters and the requirement to collect a large number of gems for progression. Many reviewers noted that the challenge diminishes as players are forced to replay easier phases after failing, leading to a lack of enjoyment in later levels. Overall, while the game has appealing mechanics and visuals, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding away for all 300 gems took me about 16 hours.”
    • “Just to give an example: the bosses have a pretty decent challenge, but usually their last phases are the most difficult. After you get beat in those last phases, you have to redo all the prior phases again, which gets very tedious quickly.”
    • “I simply can't recommend the game. Based on the achievement percentage of only 11.7% of people having beaten the final boss, it seems like the positive reviews are coming from players who only enjoyed the first world or two, and then didn't play the back half of the game where things become tedious, frustrating, and lacking in flow state.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by genuinely funny writing, charming dialogue, and likable characters, often enhanced by cute visuals and sound effects. While many players appreciate the witty lines and engaging storytelling, some feel that certain characters lack depth, making the humor occasionally feel generic. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with its adorable art style, creating an enjoyable experience.

    • “The art style of this game is so freakin' adorable, the story is funny, the characters are likable, the dialogue is well written, and the sound effects are cute as heck.”
    • “The characters are likable and the dialogue is charming (and often funny).”
    • “The art style is phenomenal, and the story is authentically generic for a brightly-colored platformer, but the writing makes up for it with lots of smart and funny lines.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, optimization feedback is mixed; while performance is praised on platforms like the Steam Deck and Linux, some users report issues such as lag and stuttering, particularly when restarting levels. There are calls for further updates to improve performance, especially for the Switch version, indicating that while the game has potential, it still requires optimization work to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Performance on Steam Deck and Linux is great, absolutely no problems.”
    • “Decent performance on Steam Deck.”
    • “But the performance on that box was pretty bad.”
    • “The other complaint I have about the game was the lagging and stuttering during the first few seconds when I restarted from the last checkpoint. I hope these issues get fixed in future patches.”
    • “I hope to see this game optimized and updated for the Switch, as the gameplay issues I encountered slightly detracted from this short but sweet indie platforming gem.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its fun platforming mechanics and varied level design, though some players note that the uniqueness may diminish quickly. While the game is relatively short, it provides enough content and depth to encourage repeated playthroughs and mastery. However, minor technical issues may affect the experience.

    • “Fun platformer with replayable levels.”
    • “I'm guessing it's a short length, but it has high replay value.”
    • “Grapple Dog is an approachable platformer with enough depth in its central mechanics to encourage replayability and mastery.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by moments of genuine conflict that add depth to the otherwise lighthearted narrative. The adorable character designs and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to a memorable experience, though the focus remains more on fun and challenge than on extensive character arcs. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and character growth within its platforming adventure.

    • “The game doesn't take itself too seriously, but still has a few moments of genuine conflict and character development.”
    • “Grapple Dog combines super smooth grappling mechanics, a great sense of humor, and fantastic character design to produce a truly standout gaming experience.”
    • “It's got an impeccable art style with adorable character designs, as well as really fun gameplay that escalates nicely in difficulty throughout the game.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on the Steam Deck and is generally enjoyable, players report occasional minor glitches and bugs that can impact gameplay, particularly during respawning. Despite these issues, many still find the game worth its price.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense moments.”
    • “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
    • “Pretty fun but buggy.”
    • “There are some glitches occasionally, most of which are minor, but a couple did get me killed, both of which were around the re-spawning after falling into lava/vines.”
    • “Aside from some spelling mistakes, graphical glitches, and bugs, this game is definitely worth picking up for the price!”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that while [i]Grapple Dog[/i] may not have a deeply focused narrative, its charming graphics and polished gameplay evoke a strong emotional response, reminiscent of the feelings generated by a well-crafted story. The game's wholesome nature and attention to detail contribute to an overall emotional experience that resonates with players.

    • “Usually I don't feel inclined to review a game unless the story moves me emotionally in some way, or I feel an opportunity to make a silly joke or something.”
    • “This game isn't really focused too much on story (though one exists, again feeling very GBA-ish), but the gameplay itself had so much polish and love put into it that I'd say it may have actually reached me on an emotional level akin to what a good story would do for me.”
    • “Throw in a little charming graphics and a bit of a wholesome story and Grapple Dog is the complete package.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its catchy and fun music, which creates a funky vibe that sets it apart from typical platformers.

    • “The music is perhaps a bit unusual, but it's catchy and fun, creating a funky atmosphere that sets it apart from your typical platformer.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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