GROW UP

About

In "Grow Up," players guide a lovable robot named BUD on a mission to recover his spaceship's scattered parts across a beautiful, open-world planet. Traverse diverse environments, solve creative puzzles, and unlock new abilities to help BUD reach greater heights. With charming visuals and a serene atmosphere, "Grow Up" encourages exploration, creativity, and self-expression. Experience a heartwarming adventure perfect for all ages.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,358 reviews

gameplay131 positive mentions

optimization24 negative mentions

Grow Up expands on the original game with a larger world and more abilities, making exploration fun and rewarding.
The game features charming visuals and a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for casual play.
New mechanics, such as the ability to plant and grow various plants, add depth to the gameplay.

The controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
The game can become too easy once powerful upgrades are unlocked, diminishing the sense of challenge.
Some players experienced performance issues and crashes, affecting the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay in "Grow Up" builds upon its predecessor, "Grow Home," by enhancing mechanics and introducing new features, resulting in a more fluid and expansive experience. Players enjoy the creative freedom of exploration and the variety of traversal methods, although some find the climbing mechanics can become repetitive and the game may lack challenge as abilities are unlocked. Overall, the game is praised for its charming atmosphere and engaging physics-based mechanics, despite some criticisms regarding the redundancy of certain features and the open-world design.
- “I love how you can experiment with the various gadgets and abilities to reach new areas, which adds a fun layer of creativity to the gameplay.”
- “The fusion of gameplay mechanics and visual spectacle intertwines seamlessly, crafting an experience that is as exhilarating as it is visually stunning.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the player feels a great sense of progression as they explore this game's expansive and interesting world.”
- “It looks sweet and the mechanics seem fine, but climbing becomes repetitive quickly.”
- “Overall the gameplay is just so boring because it takes forever to go anywhere.”
- “The climbing mechanics feel somehow worse in this than in the first game, so climbing stuff really isn't much fun.”
graphics
211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The graphics of "Grow Up" are characterized by a charming low-poly art style that evokes a playful, cartoonish atmosphere, appealing to players of all ages. While the visuals are simple and sometimes lack detail, they effectively create a vibrant and inviting world, enhanced by beautiful lighting and unique biomes that encourage exploration. However, some players have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics are extremely low poly, and yet, looking at the world from so high up and being able to comprehend just how small you are in comparison is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in a game.”
- “The environments themselves follow a low-poly art style that works brilliantly with the game’s tone.”
- “The art style is deceptively simplistic, highly consistent, and visually pleasing.”
- “The graphics are very simple and cute, and they compliment the silly gameplay well.”
- “There is no way to reduce graphics to help with lag or framerate, and this makes the game downright unplayable, not only because of framerate issues, but input lag.”
- “I immediately had to turn the graphics down to minimum settings to make the game playable.”
story
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The story in "Grow Up" is generally described as simple and light, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate its charm and the whimsical narrative of helping a character named Bud find his mother, many note that the story is short and not particularly deep, allowing for a more relaxed gaming experience. Overall, the minimalistic approach to storytelling is seen as a double-edged sword, enhancing gameplay for some while leaving others wanting more narrative depth.
- “The story is wholesome, the scenery is nice and overall a very nice and adorable game to play.”
- “The narrative imbues 'Grow Up' with layers of meaning, serving as a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to elevate our gaming experiences.”
- “The story and characterization are also on point, with a simple yet engaging narrative and both Bud and Pod bringing plenty of wit and charm to the table, and despite the former being a silent protagonist, their various adorable beeps and boops are a joy to listen to.”
- “What this game does not feature is a real story, hard difficulty, multiplayer or replay value.”
- “The cinematic/cutscene when finishing the main story in this one didn't really do anything to wrap up the whole experience so it ended up feeling a little unfinished and hollow.”
- “While this game is bigger than the first game it feels a lot more empty and has even less storyline than the first game (the ending is worthless) and thus lost a lot of its charm.”
music
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its charming and relaxing qualities, creating an inviting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and its ability to set a positive mood, some note that it can become repetitive after extended playtime. Suggestions for improvement include introducing unique soundtracks for different biomes to further enrich the auditory experience.
- “The charming art style and playful soundtrack create an inviting atmosphere that keeps you smiling throughout your journey.”
- “Truly a relaxing game where the music is wonderfully soothing, the 'story' is go at your own pace and the world is a very true variant of, if you can see it you can go to it.”
- “Grow Up was a uniquely calming experience, from the soft colors and bioluminescence, to the ethereal music that played along with the visuals.”
- “Only real complaint is the music gets annoying after an hour or two.”
- “I think they should've made each biome have its own soundtrack and unique flora.”
- “This game didn't have any music for me.”
optimization
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
55%
39%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing severe performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users found that lowering graphics settings could alleviate these problems, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized compared to its predecessor, Grow Home, leading to frustration among players. Many hope for future patches to improve performance and stability.
- “Technical addendum: yes, this game has some performance issues, but these are mostly corrected by using a lower screen resolution and/or lowering the quality settings.”
- “As for the performance, the game ran at 100+ fps most of the time.”
- “There are some performance issues (none in the first one), some stuttering (I have a 970 for reference), but turn off V-Sync and lower graphics settings and it'll be fine.”
- “The game is unplayable due to constant stuttering.”
- “I have well above the recommended system requirements and even on low graphics quality, I had severe microstuttering and a solid sub-30fps.”
- “It seems like the game is just not optimized or really needs more detailed settings.”
grinding
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
6%
92%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to collecting crystals and completing challenges. While some appreciate the removal of overly grindy achievements from previous titles, many still feel that the quest for 100% completion can lead to frustration and boredom, especially with the extensive climbing and searching for collectibles. However, improvements in movement mechanics, such as the glider, have made some aspects of traversal less tedious compared to earlier games.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “At the time of writing this, I finished the story and have only the grindy collecting of crystals and unlocking cosmetics via challenges to do (there you are, Ubisoft, I almost didn't see you hiding behind the charm).”
- “I would not recommend 100%-ing the game, as it can become tedious and boring trying to find the last crystals, teleporters, and pod challenges (I spent well over an hour looking for the last one of each, only to find them all together on a floating meteoroid in the middle of outer space).”
- “For all of the above reasons, Grow Up proves a fun return to our little red robot friend, but as a game, it has a lot of new features that feel useless, unnecessary, or naggy; meanwhile, it abandons the simple joy of going up, up, up with the more tedious affair of checking useless collectibles off a list.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
33%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming low-polygon art style, vibrant colors, and playful soundtrack, creating an inviting and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the seamless blending of natural biomes and ambient soundscapes, which enhance the overall journey and encourage exploration at a leisurely pace. While some feel the atmosphere is less impactful compared to the previous installment, it remains a highlight, making the game a perfect escape for those seeking a calming and enjoyable environment.
- “The charming art style and playful soundtrack create an inviting atmosphere that keeps you smiling throughout your journey.”
- “It's also worth noting just how masterful the presentation of this game is, both visually and audibly, featuring some wonderfully low-key electronic instrumentation, ambient and atmospheric soundscapes, and a tasteful low-poly environment elevated by a beautiful lighting engine.”
- “Grow Up is certainly an amazing game, with its planetary open world and no failing conditions; it manages to deliver a calm atmosphere where you can play at your own pace.”
- “Compared to the first game, in my opinion, the atmosphere was worse.”
- “It's a game that's almost entirely lacking in challenge unless you aim for some of the optional content, but I don't see that as a bad thing when the game is clearly going for that more chilled-out atmosphere, which would have been disrupted if it attempted to more overtly cater towards those looking for something a bit trickier.”
- “The settings, graphics, and soundtrack of the game are its shining features, creating a calm, lively, and adventurous atmosphere.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
8%
The game is praised for its charming and quirky humor, featuring funny dialogue, cute characters, and amusing sound effects that enhance the overall experience. Players enjoy the humorous physics and movement mechanics, particularly the "ball mode," which adds a playful twist to gameplay. However, some find the constant buzzing of cicadas distracting, slightly detracting from the otherwise lighthearted atmosphere.
- “Funny, goofy, and super cute.”
- “Wonderful puns and funny references thrown in.”
- “Is a blast and it’s hilarious to see how he’s constantly trying to balance himself.”
- “You're not funny!”
- “You're not funny!”
- “You're not funny!”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Grow Up" is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming atmosphere, enhanced by its unique low-polygonal art style and enchanting environments that promote a sense of joy and exploration. Players often describe the game as a stress-relieving experience, filled with delightful moments and a charming narrative, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, it evokes a feel-good emotional response, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a relaxing gaming experience.
- “Wishing you joy, enchantment, and heartfelt connections on this whimsical path of discovery!”
- “It's a heartwarming and feel-good game!”
- “Let's talk about Grow Up... this game is the most wholesome and chill gaming experience you will ever play.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users noting persistent bugs reminiscent of the original title, leading to occasional frustration. While some players report that the game runs well on average PCs, issues with mechanics, particularly gravity physics and animal behavior, detract from the overall experience. Despite these bugs, the game is still considered enjoyable by many.
- “Game runs great on my average PC.”
- “Runs great.”
- “Relatively bug free, but this one time I got stuck underneath a mushroom cap and accidentally grew a lily pad, so I self-destructed.”
- “It is still as buggy as the first game, so being frustrated is mostly a rite of passage.”
- “Grow Up is not a bad game, it is just a lot less focused and a lot more buggy.”
- “Some of the mechanics are redundant and some of the useful ones are a bit buggy (the gravity physics especially could use some love, especially when switching between planetary bodies).”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable to experiment with movement and discover new routes, others criticize it for lacking a compelling story, multiplayer options, and overall replay value. Despite some claims of high replayability due to the freedom of exploration, many reviews highlight significant limitations that detract from the game's long-term engagement.
- “Pretty replayable because it's light on story; it's just fun to mess with the movement and platforming.”
- “Replayability is very high as you can always try to find new routes and strategies to get to your objective.”
- “There are some issues, such as low replay value, but 'Grow Up' is truly a work of art in a world where every moment is worthy of a screenshot.”
- “What this game does not feature is a real story, hard difficulty, multiplayer, or replay value.”
- “-zero replay value (unless you're into pretty sights)”
- “However, both the original and this sequel have two glaring flaws: length and replayability.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Reviewers express disappointment with Ubisoft's monetization strategies, particularly the inclusion of microtransactions in single-player games, which are perceived as attempts to expedite deliberately prolonged gameplay. This shift has contributed to a decline in the overall appeal of their flagship franchises, such as Assassin's Creed, compared to their earlier, more polished iterations.
- “The allure of Ubisoft's once-fantastic Assassin's Creed series has long since faded, becoming a 'far cry' from its golden days. The lack of polish and the fixation on outdated trends, along with microtransactions in single-player games, seem designed to 'speed up' intentionally-created grinds.”
- “Microtransactions have infiltrated single-player games, making it feel like the developers are prioritizing profit over player experience, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The monetization strategies in Ubisoft's games feel exploitative, as they push players towards spending more money to enhance their experience rather than allowing them to enjoy the game as it was originally intended.”