GRIME

Grime is simply a phenomenal game, and is one of the best hardcore Metroidvanias I've played in a while. I'd advise any fan of the genre to seek it out and give it a try, and I promise it won't disappoint.

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Grime is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with a great story, outstanding game mechanics, excellent graphics, and beautiful music. Explore a surreal world, absorb enemies to gain their abilities, and survive as you uncover the source of the world's madness. Despite some grinding and bugs, Grime offers a dense atmosphere and wholesome story that will leave you wanting more.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,646 reviews

gameplay330 positive mentions

grinding93 negative mentions

The game features a unique and captivating art style that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Combat is satisfying, with a well-implemented parry mechanic that rewards skillful play.
The world design is expansive and encourages exploration, with plenty of secrets and hidden areas to discover.

Traversal can be frustrating due to a lack of fast travel options until late in the game.
The platforming sections can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to unnecessary deaths.
The healing system is limited, requiring players to rely heavily on parrying to regain health.

gameplay
924 mentions
36 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Grime* is characterized by its unique parry/absorb mechanic, which is central to combat and healing, offering a blend of challenge and satisfaction. Players appreciate the fluid controls, diverse weapon options, and engaging platforming, although some find the reliance on parrying and stamina management can lead to frustration. Overall, while the game showcases innovative mechanics and a captivating atmosphere, it also faces criticism for occasional clunkiness and design choices that may hinder the experience.
- “Overall, the game did a great job from the combat to the upgrades to the platforming mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly smooth, offering a consistently enjoyable experience.”
- “The ability to absorb your enemies to grow stronger and even heal yourself is a genius mechanic that adds layers of strategy and depth to every fight.”
- “So when a core mechanic like parrying is poorly implemented, it really drags down the gameplay experience.”
- “The gameplay and combat is really responsive, there is nothing I could call unfair... that said, it's really unforgiving... very little room for mistakes, so it really sets you up to die... not enough breathing room to learn patterns on the first try and very little healing options available to really sustain yourself while learning.”
- “Unfortunately, grime is hindered by its camera and platforming mechanics.”
graphics
512 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and stunning art style, which blends grotesque and surreal elements to create an immersive atmosphere. Many players appreciate the intricate character designs and detailed environments, although some noted inconsistencies in visual quality and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a major strength of the game, enhancing both the gameplay experience and the narrative's dark themes.
- “The art style is stunning and very original; I often stopped to marvel at the environments or was bewildered by the character designs.”
- “The graphics are absolutely awe-inspiring; the lore is omnipresent and is very well knit together to form a beautiful and terrifying journey one can be invested in.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous and haunting, giving me vibes of Oddworld and clay-mation.”
- “The graphics, models, and animations felt generic, as if they were a bunch of assets put together.”
- “The visuals are boring and bland with every area having one flat color and enemies that usually blend in or are hard to distinguish from the background.”
- “The graphics are gray and more gray.”
story
470 mentions
34 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of *Grime* is characterized by its cryptic and abstract nature, often leaving players to piece together the narrative through environmental storytelling and sparse dialogue, reminiscent of the *Dark Souls* series. While some players appreciate the intriguing and unique world-building, others find the vagueness frustrating, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and coherence. Overall, the game offers a haunting atmosphere and a compelling premise, but its storytelling may not resonate with everyone, particularly those seeking a more straightforward narrative.
- “The story is fascinating and cryptic, told mostly through environmental cues.”
- “The atmosphere, music, world setup, and story are interesting.”
- “Grime's story, environment, and characters are all very strange and dark, which is exactly what I look for in these types of games.”
- “The story is almost non-existent and the small bit you can find is very vague and/or confusing, so expect your motivation to be to reach the end of the game because you're some kind of black hole that tends to absorb everything around it.”
- “The story is difficult to understand by design and pieces of the lore are scattered and vague at best.”
- “The story gets the job done, but I would have preferred a clearer, more cohesive narrative.”
music
399 mentions
59 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many praising the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during boss fights. Composed by Alex Roe, the music features a mix of haunting ambient tracks and epic orchestral pieces that complement the game's dark aesthetic. However, some players noted inconsistencies in the ambient music, with certain areas feeling too quiet or the music being forgettable outside of boss encounters. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's overall atmosphere and emotional impact.
- “Another biggest problem is music, especially in boss fights. Why is there bedtime music in most of the boss fights?”
- “Music is such a crucial part of setting the mood and atmosphere of a game, and the boring, generic music in Grime really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The music is basically nonexistent, which is an interesting design choice.”
atmosphere
225 mentions
67 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Grime" is widely praised for its haunting and surreal qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack that complements the game's dark themes. Players appreciate the intricate world design and the sense of unease it evokes, often comparing it to other notable titles in the genre. While some critiques mention moments of overwhelming darkness that hinder visibility, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere, music, world setup, and story are interesting.”
- “The attention to detail is astounding, and the haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, immersing me in this otherworldly realm.”
- “The atmosphere is thick, the graphics are great, and the controls are (mostly) fine.”
- “It's also one of the most disturbing and uncomfortable games I've ever played atmosphere-wise.”
- “Although, this is one area where I feel like the game deserves some criticism – when the music plays, it really accentuates the atmosphere, but there are just way too many places where there just isn't any.”
- “It wasn't detailed enough to be worth keenly observing, nor did it build an atmosphere effective enough to pull me in.”
grinding
97 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, often exacerbated by poor level design, slow movement, and frustrating backtracking. Players frequently express that the grinding feels excessive and unfun, particularly when it comes to leveling up and facing bosses with inflated health bars. While some appreciate the challenge, many feel that the game devolves into a tedious slog rather than an engaging experience, with a lack of effective fast travel options compounding the issue.
- “Densely packed with gameplay without any unnecessary padding or grind; even New Game Plus is not tedious, and actually, the New Game Plus bosses add additional depth.”
- “Boy, it's fun and harsh at times, but feels right and not tedious at all.”
- “There was one area I got stuck at and spent hours grinding away to beat a DLC boss that wouldn't have helped me progress anyway.”
- “The leveling system felt good at first but scales up in cost quite sharply, so if your goal is to overlevel the challenge you'll be grinding for a very, very long time.”
- “The movement speed ends up feeling tedious when you've died a long way down a path you were exploring and have to track all the way back there through all the same enemies again, just to probably die and get sent back to the start of your trek again.”
optimization
75 mentions
19 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including frame drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end hardware and during specific gameplay moments. While some users reported smooth performance on higher-end systems or the Steam Deck, others noted that the game is poorly optimized overall, with memory leaks and graphical glitches detracting from the experience. Despite these issues, many players still found the game enjoyable and expressed hope for improvements in future updates or sequels.
- “I played this game entirely on my Steam Deck and found the game to run smoothly with almost no bugs and only one or two crashes.”
- “Luckily, performance is pretty good; I had no lag or frame drops whatsoever during my 24 hours with the game.”
- “I have not noticed any drops during my playthrough, so the optimization seems to be top-notch.”
- “The biggest issue with the game is the performance.”
- “Most importantly, it dumps performance, like I'm talking I go from 165fps locked in gameplay to 50~fps when I open the map.”
- “They obviously messed up their optimization in the background, constantly reloading and hiding objects while having either not tested it at all or simply didn't care.”
stability
72 mentions
6 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including platforming issues, collision detection errors, and animation problems. While some players noted that these bugs are not game-breaking and that the developers are actively working on fixes, the overall consensus is that the game feels unpolished and can detract from the overall experience. Despite its engaging gameplay and artistic qualities, the persistent technical issues have led many to hesitate in recommending it at full price.
- “I had a solid 144fps the whole time with no glitches or crashes to speak of.”
- “Encountered no bugs whatsoever and the game runs great.”
- “I loved the game; for me, it was not buggy at all. It felt really fluid and nice to play.”
- “I've consistently run into a few platforming glitches that cause the player to uncontrollably float into killzones or get stuck inside platforms.”
- “Grime is a beautiful game, absolutely teeming with personality and character, but the profound quantity of bugs and glitches is beyond acceptable for a game of this value.”
- “Currently this game is so inconsistent in its buggy, laggy animations that it goes from being hard to flat out unfair.”
replayability
27 mentions
26 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of builds, weapons, and the inclusion of new game plus (ng+) modes that enhance the experience. While some reviews highlight the potential for replay through different playstyles and challenges, others express disappointment over the lack of ng+ or limited content, suggesting that replayability may be constrained for some players. Despite these criticisms, the game is generally regarded as having good replay value, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different builds and facing varied enemy patterns.
- “I really appreciate the way the devs reworked all enemies for NG+, which improved replayability to take advantage of the abilities being carried over while maintaining difficulty.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's a good challenge and I can see there's a variety to potential builds, which lends it replayability as well.”
- “It has a good amount of content with some replay value in replayable boss battles and multiple NG+ modes.”
- “It's not a replayable game.”
- “Lacks replayability, but hopefully that'll get added in the future.”
- “Build variety and in turn replay value is zero.”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dry, morbid wit and absurdity, with many NPCs offering quirky and funny dialogues that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the unexpected humor that contrasts with the game's darker themes, as well as the amusing interactions and bizarre character designs that contribute to a unique atmosphere. While some aspects of the humor may not resonate with everyone, it generally adds an engaging layer to the gameplay.
- “The game has a very dry, morbid sense of humor with how it treats a lot of these NPCs.”
- “Grime is a funny video game where you're a bit hungry, so you go around punching people.”
- “There is an unexpected humor in this game that just hits the spot.”
character development
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its unique and original designs, particularly the body horror elements that contribute to the overall storytelling and aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the deep lore and the striking visual presentation of both allies and enemies, noting that the character designs enhance the immersive experience and fit seamlessly within the game's dark ambiance. Overall, the character design is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and contributing to a gripping atmosphere.
- “The lore is deep and the character designs are interesting; the aesthetic is stunning.”
- “The character design for both allies and enemies is awesome; they are very unique and interesting, and fit well with the game's universe.”
- “All the character designs have a gross, ick factor to their look.”
- “The concept of a black-hole-head protagonist and disturbing body-horror character designs are worth the price of admission alone.”
- “It is here that grime shines most -- in its character design and worldbuilding.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players have expressed that the game excels in creating an emotional connection, with many highlighting the impactful boss fights and atmospheric elements that evoke strong feelings, from joy to sadness. The story and lore are described as deeply engaging, often leading to moments of genuine emotional response, including tears and a sense of depression. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the overall emotional experience is deemed masterful and memorable.
- “Creating epic bosses is something easy to do, but creating elegant and emotionally charged ones is something you don't see that often.”
- “Now, there is a master class in getting the player emotionally invested from the very beginning!”
- “I found an emotional connection with this game minutes into starting it.”