Pepper Grinder

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 578 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Pepper Grinder Game Cover
Pepper Grinder is simply one of the greatest 2D platformers I've ever played, thanks to movement that is absolute perfection and endless creativity that allows for constant reinvention in every single new level you enter.
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"Pepper Grinder" is an action-packed indie adventure where you play as a skilled digger using a giant drill to uncover secrets and defeat enemies. With gorgeous pixel art and fast-paced gameplay, you'll explore a vast world filled with challenges and treasures. The game features unique mechanics, engaging storyline, and various upgrades to customize your drilling experience. Get ready to dig your way through this exciting adventure!

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 578 reviews
gameplay120 positive mentions
grinding26 negative mentions
  • Pepper Grinder features a unique and satisfying core mechanic centered around drilling, which is fun and fluid to control.
  • The game boasts beautiful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Each level introduces new mechanics and challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging throughout.
  • The game is quite short, taking only about 3-5 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Boss fights are frustrating and inconsistent, often feeling out of place compared to the rest of the game's design.
  • Some mechanics, like the grappling hook and gun segments, detract from the core drilling gameplay and can feel clunky.
  • gameplay324 mentions

    The gameplay of *Pepper Grinder* is centered around a unique and satisfying drilling mechanic that is well-executed and engaging, providing a fluid and fast-paced platforming experience. However, the game introduces various additional mechanics that often detract from the core drilling experience, leading to mixed feelings about their integration and overall pacing. While the levels are creatively designed and keep the gameplay fresh, some players feel that the game could have benefited from a stronger focus on the primary mechanic rather than diversifying into less enjoyable elements.

    • “The gameplay is simple but very addicting.”
    • “Ultimately, the core gameplay of Pepper Grinder is what makes it addictive and engaging; trying to maintain continuous movement as you make your way through this wacky world is just so satisfying and really a testament to the core mechanics here.”
    • “Pepper Grinder is an incredibly smooth and fast-paced action platformer that refrains from getting stale by adding new mechanics every level.”
    • “I can't help but feel that the gameplay took a backseat in the development of Pepper Grinder.”
    • “Later levels are a slog and utilize mechanics that have frustratingly little to do with the primary mechanics of the game, that being the drill-based platforming.”
    • “The drill mechanic gets old quickly and compared to the dozens of other side-scrolling indie games that I've played, this one is extremely dull and unmemorable.”
  • music128 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its diversity, catchiness, and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack features a mix of upbeat and atmospheric tracks that perfectly complement the game's vibrant visuals and engaging mechanics. While some tracks were noted as less memorable, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, making the game a worthwhile purchase for its audio alone.

    • “The music is a particular standout; many stages are scored perfectly with their settings and, from the moment you hear what plays at the main menu, you'll know right away the 'high-octane' vibe the game is going for!”
    • “The soundtrack complements the action perfectly, providing a peppy and upbeat backdrop to your drilling adventures.”
    • “Incredible movement, awesome soundtrack, and creative level designs.”
    • “The music is unfortunately forgettable.”
    • “I gotta admit I wasn't expecting the soundtrack to be so... laid back?”
    • “The contra style run and gun levels are decent, but the sound of bullets gets pretty grating after a minute or so and completely overshadows the soundtrack.”
  • graphics48 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and meticulous detail, creating a visually appealing experience on various displays. While some users noted minor glitches and inconsistencies in animation, the overall aesthetic and art direction received positive feedback, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. The combination of beautiful visuals and a catchy soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, making it a standout in the indie platformer genre.

    • “The visuals are amazing!”
    • “The art style is bursting with color and personality, bringing each level to life with meticulous detail.”
    • “Gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and catchy soundtrack.”
    • “The art style, the soundtrack, the mechanics, they all could've been so much more.”
    • “The pixel graphics are not the best I have ever seen, but they have their own charming style.”
    • “The visuals freeze up when I fullscreen it, which doesn't happen for any other game, so I don't know where that originates, but it happened in the demo too, so I think it's a specific issue.”
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story is straightforward and simple, centering on Pepper's quest for treasure and revenge against pirates, but it lacks depth and complexity. Players can complete the main narrative in about 3 to 4 hours, with some appreciating the humor and charm despite the minimal storytelling. Overall, while the narrative may not be the game's strong suit, the engaging gameplay and level design compensate for its brevity and simplicity.

    • “While the main story of the game is fairly short (being able to complete it in around 4 hours), there is replay value in terms of collectibles and time trials.”
    • “The narrative is straightforward: Pepper is on a quest for treasure and revenge against the pirates who wronged her.”
    • “While the story won’t win any awards for originality, it’s peppered with enough humor and charm to keep you invested.”
    • “Pepper Grinder also doesn't have any kind of storytelling or an overarching narrative.”
    • “The story isn't much of note; it's pretty simple.”
    • “Unexplained shop items, incredibly unclear story, tonal whiplash.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy the fast-paced levels and the potential for engaging gameplay, many find certain elements tedious and repetitive, particularly during combat and boss battles. The mechanics can lead to frustration due to imprecision and the need for extensive grinding to collect items, which detracts from the overall experience. However, the unique level designs and creative ideas keep some players invested, especially in shorter play sessions.

    • “Getting all the coins is tedious, and involves looking for a crack in a wall and drilling.”
    • “The last level is particularly tedious with this mechanic.”
    • “Since (most of the time) the only tool you have to fight them is your drill, combat very quickly turns into a tedious chore, especially when you die and all the enemies reset.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it features a short main story that can be completed in about four hours, players can find replay value through collectibles, time attack modes, and speedrunning challenges. Some users appreciate the potential for improvement and mastery of levels, while others feel the lack of substantial content limits replayability. The game's charm and design elements contribute positively to the experience, but opinions vary on whether it justifies repeated play.

    • “While the main story of the game is fairly short (being able to complete it in around 4 hours), there is replay value in terms of collectibles and time trials.”
    • “Game length is on the shorter side, but has plenty of replay value if you want to improve the times on your levels and do crazier and crazier strategies.”
    • “What you can expect: charm, great pixel art, super smooth performance, very responsive controls, cool music, nice sound effects, and an overworld map with plenty of replayable levels filled with hidden areas.”
    • “I also found very little replayability.”
    • “This should have been a $5 mobile game; it's super short with no upgrades, giving it zero replay value.”
    • “- Sticker machine is like buying scratch-offs; the percentage drops of them are abysmal and there is no replay value to grinding and getting them.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring quirky enemies and charming environments that enhance its creative world-building. While the story may lack originality, it is filled with amusing moments and clever puns that keep players engaged. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, contributing to the game's appeal and enjoyment.

    • “Funny little enemies, good environments, good levels, exciting gimmicks, all coalesce together very well.”
    • “While the story won’t win any awards for originality, it’s peppered (pun intended) with enough humor and charm to keep you invested.”
    • “The environments and the characters are really cool, and some of the scenes are really funny; I really did not expect that.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience, while others report a smooth and responsive gameplay. Despite the appealing graphics and aesthetic, the presence of janky mechanics and inconsistent hitboxes has led to frustration for many users. Overall, opinions on stability vary widely, with some finding it acceptable and others deeming it problematic.

    • “It's simply too janky and buggy to justify the difficulty, causing too much annoyance.”
    • “I frankly couldn't put up with all the issues this game throws at you such as buggy grapple points, weird hitboxes, and the fact that you basically have no invincibility frames.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a really cool aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its charming and unique design, with cute visuals that align well with the overall theme. Reviewers appreciate the fun character designs and the engaging atmosphere they create, contributing to a delightful platforming experience.

    • “I found the level and character designs to be very cute, and I like that everything blends in with the theme.”
    • “Whether you're like me and loved Drill Dozer with all your heart, or are just looking for a charming, unique platformer with a phenomenal soundtrack, great retro visuals, and fun character design.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring smooth performance and responsive controls that enhance the overall experience. Players can enjoy charming pixel art and engaging music without any performance issues interfering with gameplay, even during challenging sections.

    • “What you can expect: charm, great pixel art, super smooth performance, very responsive controls, cool music, nice sound effects, and an overworld map with plenty of replayable levels filled with hidden areas.”
    • “Performance never gets in the way of the challenging bits.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, especially during intense moments.”
    • “I often experience long loading times that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
    • “There are frequent bugs and glitches that hinder the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of mellow and atmospheric music, which contrasts with the expected frantic action themes, creating a unique and immersive experience.

    • “I was expecting a lot of frantic action music, but a good chunk of it is atmospheric and mellow.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express that the emotional impact of the game diminishes over its short four-hour runtime, leading to feelings of fatigue rather than the intended emotional engagement.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Pepper Grinder

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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