Growing My Grandpa!
- July 12, 2022
- Yames
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Growing My Grandpa" is a narrative-driven game where you play as Adrienne, an introverted girl raising a mysterious entity she calls Grandpa in her basement. The game explores themes of loneliness, desire, and intimacy, and features virtual pet elements as you care for and communicate with Grandpa. The game's story is steeped in dark, speculative lore that combines science fiction, magic, and neuroscience, and allows players to uncover the secrets of the basement over the course of its 90-minute playtime.
Mac OS
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Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging narrative that blends horror with emotional themes, making it a memorable experience.
- The visuals and atmosphere are highly praised, with many reviewers noting the game's ability to create a creepy and unsettling environment.
- The writing is well-crafted and thought-provoking, with a rich lore that encourages exploration and deeper understanding of the story.
- The gameplay can be tedious, particularly the trash-clearing mechanic, which some players found repetitive and unengaging.
- The game is quite short, with many players wishing for a longer experience or more content to explore.
- There is a significant amount of text to read, which may overwhelm some players and detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- story59 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its intriguing and emotional narrative, blending elements of horror, child neglect, and imaginative storytelling. Players appreciate the distinct writing styles and atmospheric visuals that enhance the experience, while the framing device and character interactions, particularly with the "grandpa," evoke a range of feelings from discomfort to warmth. Despite its brevity, the story is considered rich and thought-provoking, leaving players with lingering questions and a desire for more from the developer.
“The game presents you with a whole array of texts from a variety of different genres and modes—from the aforementioned experimental transcripts, to the school counselor's report that serves as the frame story, to the dialogue of the grade school-aged protagonist and of the 'grandpa' entity itself at various stages of development, to the visceral and unsettling descriptions of the world as you observe and interact with it—and each is written in a distinct style and register, each evocative in its own way.”
“A heart-warming body horror story told from two different angles; the little girl Adrienne who tries to grow her grandpa in the basement, and the school counselor/therapist that tries to figure out what Adrienne's colorful stories about growing her grandpa really mean... because no one can grow a grandpa, right?”
“Very interesting and engaging world building with a story that tied it all together nicely as you progressed, feeding you bits and pieces of info to keep it going coherently, but also to keep you just enough in the dark to wonder at the implications of your actions.”
“The storytelling elements rely heavily on reading, and I would have liked it to experiment with other elements to deliver that information, but that's the deal with most story-driven games lately.”
“You spend more time reading everything (if you are interested in the story) than actually playing the game.”
“The narrative leaves some space for interpretation; you could assume the story is happening in her head, or maybe it's some kind of scientific abomination, or perhaps it's something else, something supernatural.”
- atmosphere53 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of creepiness and coziness, effectively immersing players in a haunting experience reminiscent of classic horror titles. Reviewers highlight the exceptional visuals, sound design, and storytelling that contribute to a deeply unsettling yet captivating ambiance, making it a standout in the atmospheric horror genre. Many appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of vulnerability and tension without relying on jump scares, creating a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
“A very creepy atmosphere about being a little kid and getting mixed up in eldritch horrors.”
“Truly remarkable little gem of a point-and-click horror game just dripping with atmosphere and style.”
“Incredibly unique body horror game about self, perception, desire, and sacrifice all wrapped up into a wonderful, under 90-minute package with truly enthralling and idiosyncratic atmosphere and aesthetic that will stick with you long after you play it.”
“The game consists of 90% text about a scientist and a psychiatrist both waffling on and on.....and on about just utter nonsense, rather than attempt to create an atmosphere or sense of danger etc.”
“Fortunately, the dev decided not to put any jumpscares in (or at least nothing that I would count as one), though the whole atmosphere does give you the chills.”
“Weirdly, the game is also surprisingly kind of wholesome, despite the especially creepy atmosphere that permeates the game, something that always seems to shine through the soundtrack and graphics.”
- graphics43 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and atmospheric design, featuring a gritty, pixelated art style reminiscent of PS1-era visuals that effectively enhance the horror experience. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail and the intentional use of visuals to create an unsettling atmosphere, with many noting that the combination of graphics, sound design, and storytelling contributes to an immersive and memorable gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are described as both beautiful and haunting, making a significant impact on the game's overall appeal.
“The attention to detail, the art style, the sheer effort that you can tell went into it.”
“The visuals are amazing and the atmosphere is phenomenal.”
“Yames has done it again with such a visually striking game, reminding me of how Homestuck uses photos and crushes them in Photoshop to be all pixelly, though here they're used to unnerve and provide uncanny visuals.”
“Graphics are simple but get the job done.”
“The art style is very intentional: you can barely see what you're looking at, leaving your brain to fill in the gaps.”
“A very freaky body horror experience with visuals that remind me of those early point-and-click games with pre-rendered 3D graphics, which have always been inherently unnerving to me no matter the context.”
- gameplay33 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 91 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, primarily revolving around repetitive tasks such as picking up trash and interacting with a character referred to as "grandpa." While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and unique UI, many find the mechanics tedious and lacking depth, with the overall experience feeling short and somewhat flat. Despite its straightforward nature, the game offers a light point-and-click experience that may appeal to those who prioritize narrative and mood over complex gameplay.
“The visual, the sound effects, the gameplay, everything is so incredible and very immersive.”
“The point-and-click gameplay is streamlined in a way that lets you appreciate the game's mood, and I love the light 'pet sim' elements, which give you a clear goal throughout.”
“Gameplay, while simple and not necessarily the focus of the game, does offer a bit more replayability than the creators' previous games.”
“I leave off half a star here only because the gameplay does leave something to be desired.”
“Which wouldn't necessarily be an issue if the core game mechanic—repeatedly picking up pieces of trash and placing them in a trash bin—wasn't so tedious.”
“Gameplay is minimal; this mostly consists of clicking through the same environments repeatedly and dragging scraps of virtual trash into a wastebasket over and over.”
- emotional21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply rooted in themes of neglect, childhood innocence, and the bond between a girl and her grandpa, creating a unique blend of horror and heartwarming moments. Players report feeling a mix of fear and warmth, as the narrative explores emotional shortcomings and the desire for connection, ultimately delivering a surreal yet touching experience. The game effectively balances creepy elements with wholesome interactions, leaving players reflecting on their own familial relationships and emotional needs.
“It's a game about emotional neglect, a deluded therapist, a child's psyche adjusting to circumstances, garbage disposal, and about establishing a strong bond with an ancient entity through feeding it an ancient kiwi and talking to it about the important things in life.”
“The conversations with grandpa made me a bit emotional, as did the whole story.”
“A truly heartwarming tale about a girl’s bond with her grandpa.”
- music21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a haunting and immersive atmosphere, effectively complementing the visuals and story. Reviewers highlight its eerie and ambient qualities, drawing comparisons to classic horror soundtracks like Silent Hill, and note that it significantly enhances the overall experience. The combination of grungy graphics and masterful audio design contributes to a unique and engaging mood, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Amazing vibes, great music, interesting lore, and super spooky atmosphere.”
“The music in this game is masterful.”
“The soundtrack is equally ambient and unnerving, reminding me of Silent Hill at its very best.”
“The music and visual style is so crunchy, one can almost taste the pus.”
“The soundtrack is equally ambient and unnerving, reminding me of Silent Hill at its very best.”
“I will say that 50% of my enjoyment in horror games comes from the choice of music and sound effects, and in my opinion, you made all the right choices there; I think the atmosphere was a constant part of the game, and I think the visuals complemented it very well.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the repetitive task of cleaning up trash, to be tedious and lacking in depth. While some appreciate the visual novel elements, the gameplay mechanics, especially the minigames and pet simulator sections, are criticized for being overly monotonous and poorly designed.
“Which wouldn't necessarily be an issue if the core game mechanic—repeatedly picking up pieces of trash and placing them in a trash bin—wasn't so tedious.”
“I wish the gameplay elements were a little more fleshed out - the pet simulator sections feel a little lacking and constantly clearing out garbage can feel tedious.”
“All the menus are really amateur and the gameplay is at best tedious.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Growing My Grandpa" is noted for its amusing and quirky premise, blending elements of comedy with horror. Players find the concept entertaining, particularly appreciating the character of the grandpa, though some feel there could have been more comedic content involving him. Overall, the game delivers a unique and funny experience.
“Seeing the name 'Growing My Grandpa' and it being tagged as a horror, I naturally thought this would be a funny and maybe grotesque adventure.”
“Amazing game... could've had more grandpa though he's funny.”
“Funny, hehe.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers slightly more replayability compared to the creators' previous titles, but ultimately falls short due to its limited content, featuring only two endings and minimal variation in playthroughs.
“The gameplay, while simple and not necessarily the focus of the game, offers more replayability than the creators' previous titles.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, encouraging me to explore different strategies and choices.”
“The variety of challenges and unlockable content keeps me coming back for more, making every session feel unique.”
“Unfortunately, the game suffers from a lack of replayability as there are only 2 endings in this short game and basically no other variation in playthroughs.”
“Gameplay, while simple and not necessarily the focus of the game, does offer a bit more replayability than the creator's previous games.”
