Grunn
- October 4, 2024
- Tom van den Boogaart
Grunn is an inventive and surreal gardening sim that leads you down different paths with every run, never losing its appeal.
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Get on itch.io StoreGrunn is a first-person gardening and exploration game set in a scenic Dutch countryside. As a maintenance worker, you'll need to fix up a garden with limited tools, while experiencing unnerving vibes and a sense of isolation. With multiple endings, satisfying gardening tasks, and a peaceful village to discover, your actions will determine your fate before Monday arrives.
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Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a unique aesthetic that encourages exploration and puzzle-solving.
- High replay value due to multiple endings and a satisfying gameplay loop that rewards curiosity.
- Charming art style and sound design that create a cozy yet eerie atmosphere.
- Some puzzles can be confusing or lack adequate clues, leading to frustration.
- Repetitive gameplay due to the time-loop mechanic, which may become tedious after multiple runs.
- The horror elements may not be as impactful after the initial encounters, reducing the overall tension.
- graphics56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique and charming aesthetic, featuring vibrant, low-poly visuals that enhance the atmosphere and engage players in exploration and puzzle-solving. While some users noted that the default settings can be harsh on the eyes, the ability to customize graphics and audio options is appreciated. Overall, the art style contributes significantly to the game's eerie vibe and immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite not being award-winning.
“The art style is incredibly unique and vibrant, the music is like this weird mix of ambient low-fi and tech trance, and the game somehow presents itself as a horror game.”
“I loved everything: the immersive sound design, the colorful graphics, the fun gameplay, and the endless secrets!”
“The graphics are fun and unique, the world is small yet large with plenty to discover, and the story is fun to uncover.”
“The visuals are a little harsh at their default settings, but you can mess around with various options to reduce eye strain, which I really appreciate!”
“Graphics-wise, it's not going to win any awards, but personally, I love this kind of low-poly pixel filter aesthetic and it works really well here.”
“Graphics-wise, it's not going to win any awards, but personally, I love this kind of low-poly pixel filter aesthetic and it works really well here.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a time-loop mechanic that encourages exploration and discovery, reminiscent of titles like "Outer Wilds" and "The Stanley Parable." Players engage in a satisfying loop of solving puzzles, collecting items, and unlocking shortcuts, with a mix of trial and error that can lead to both simple and complex challenges. The game is visually appealing and offers a curated experience that keeps players invested, despite some puzzles being frustratingly easy or confusing.
“The gameplay loop of finding new items and trying to figure out what you're supposed to do with them is very satisfying and addictive.”
“The gameplay is very satisfying and the puzzles are incredibly well done; I was getting huge Outer Wilds vibes while trying to solve them.”
“Genuinely the most effective use of time loop mechanics I've seen since Outer Wilds.”
“Puzzles are either unbearably simple or unreasonably confusing; all the gameplay is trial and error.”
“Essentially, it just boils down to a walking simulator. Even the ending, which feels like it should have more gameplay, has you only walking around and clicking stuff twice.”
“Whole gameplay turns around figuring out how to reach every possible and foremost best ending by reliving the same 3 days over and over again.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its fantastical and surreal qualities, blending horror elements with a whimsical charm that makes it accessible even to those who are easily frightened. Players appreciate the strong environmental design, entrancing visuals, and soundscapes that create a mysterious and eerie vibe, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as unique, off-kilter, and immersive, making it a standout feature of the game.
“A wonderfully atmospheric game where you slowly unravel and solve the mysteries and puzzles of the game's world.”
“The music, visuals, and eerie atmosphere all worked perfectly for me.”
“Love the atmosphere and the horror elements; the whole premise is really cool and quite unique.”
“Sure it has a spooky atmosphere and has a few startling moments (the dev even added an option to make the 'loud sfx' quieter, which is nice), but mostly it's just weird and off-kilter with a feeling of 'something's not right here'.”
“Love the atmosphere and the horror elements, the whole premise is really cool and quite unique.”
“Really cute game with a mysterious and spooky atmosphere!”
- story19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and unfolds through exploration, featuring multiple endings that enhance the narrative experience. Players appreciate the unique art style and the blend of mystery and fun, with elements reminiscent of other popular titles. While not as deep as some other games, the story is effectively told through various snippets and encourages players to uncover its secrets.
“An excellent concept and good storyline played out in a unique and visually interesting way.”
“I love the multiple endings and how with each one you find out more of the story!”
“Throw in some creepy elements, some jump scares, and a story told through snippets of journals and polaroids, and I am hooked.”
“It's not a long story or as in-depth as Outer Wilds, but it's an otherwise fair comparison in my opinion.”
“Once you have looped through the game's locations a few times, the scares essentially become background noise; a minor disturbance on your quest to free the town from the dark presence that lurks in this otherwise welcoming and (mostly) picturesque setting.”
“I wish a lot of the top reviews said less about the story.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the satisfying exploration and discovery, others feel that the trial and error can become tedious, leading to diminishing returns in enjoyment. The balance between engaging gameplay and repetitive tasks varies, with some enjoying the grind for achievements and others finding it a risk to their overall experience.
“When trial and error becomes tedious, there are less and less ways to satisfy my curiosity, and a run could be fully wasted by resulting in the same ending I'd already had, so the diminishing returns of enjoyment become too much of a risk for my personal taste.”
“It's definitely got some light horror aspects, but I've been grinding to get all the achievements.”
“Exceptionally good, totally normal farming game.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its blend of humor and mystery, featuring amusing elements like funny gnome noises and lighthearted chaos, such as committing "light arson." Reviewers appreciate the mix of humor with puzzles and spooky moments, contributing to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
“Fun puzzle/garden game with humor and horror elements mixed in!”
“10/10 the gnomes make funny noises and I got to commit light arson.”
“Enjoy the journey, it's got a great sense of humor and mystery.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its unique blend of ambient low-fi and tech trance, effectively enhancing the eerie atmosphere and horror elements. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack adapts to the gameplay, creating a cohesive and immersive experience alongside the vibrant art style.
“The music, visuals, and eerie atmosphere all worked perfectly for me.”
“The art style is incredibly unique and vibrant; the music is like this weird mix of ambient lo-fi and tech trance, and the game somehow presents itself as a horror game.”
“The soundtrack was pleasant and adapts to what's currently going on.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its numerous endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes. Many users express a desire to replay the game in pursuit of achieving a "good" ending, reinforcing its engaging nature.
“I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to a good ending... definitely recommend as there are tons of endings, so it's really replayable!”
“Definitely has replay value considering there are a ton of different endings.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, highlighting its wholesome puzzle atmosphere that evokes positive feelings and a sense of warmth. This aspect is seen as a refreshing addition to the gaming experience, making it stand out in its genre.
“I wish more games had this wholesome puzzle atmosphere!”
