SCHiM

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 133 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
SCHiM Game Cover
SCHiM is a relaxing and artistic little game. With a clever take on platform puzzles, a cute little shadow frog, and a surprisingly heart-wrenching story, this charming title is sure to find a cozy spot in the pond you call your Steam library.
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"SCHiM is a single-player platformer game with an intriguing story of a separated schim, the soul of a human, navigating through a beautifully abstract world of animated shadow platforms. With a good soundtrack, players must jump from shadow to shadow in each level, featuring unique scenery and small stories, in a race against time to reunite with its human."

  • 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

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews
story21 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and charming concept of jumping from shadow to shadow, providing a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience.
  • Visually stunning with a beautiful art style and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The narrative, told through visual storytelling, is heartfelt and engaging, allowing players to connect emotionally with the journey of the shadow creature.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks variety, especially in the latter levels, leading to a sense of boredom as the game progresses.
  • Many players feel the game is overpriced for its length and content, with some suggesting it would be better suited for a lower price point.
  • The level design can be frustrating at times, with unclear objectives and inconsistent checkpointing that can lead to unnecessary backtracking.
  • story72 mentions

    The story of Schim revolves around a shadow trying to reunite with its human, offering a heartwarming yet shallow narrative that some players found overly long and repetitive. While the visual storytelling and artistic design are praised, many reviewers noted that the plot lacks depth and can become frustrating due to its pacing. Despite these criticisms, the game is appreciated for its emotional resonance and unique concept, making it a charming experience for those who enjoy simple yet engaging narratives.

    • “Schim’s story is about a person who tripped over one day and lost his shadow; you then play as his shadow gremlin trying to find his human, and it’s so much fun and relaxing.”
    • “It has a unique core concept that is explored through mostly visual storytelling, which, combined with the beautiful soundtrack and the cozy art style, fully immerses the player into its world.”
    • “The scenes are lovely, the sad storytelling is incredibly well done with no text or voiceover, and the exploration is a ton of fun.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but the mechanics are repetitive, and the storyline is overly long and shallow.”
    • “The story drags on for too long, and can be very frustrating.”
    • “The plot is alright, and honestly I had no idea that it would jump straight to the adult life crisis segment, not to mention, the entire cat and mouse routine with the owner of our shadow, and the shadow itself, got annoying after the first 30 minutes of the chase.”
  • gameplay61 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique shadow-hopping mechanic that initially captivates players, but it quickly becomes repetitive and frustrating due to long cutscenes, sparse checkpoints, and a lack of depth in mechanics. While the art style and sound design are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay oscillates between engaging and dull, with some expressing a desire for more varied puzzles and less empty exploration. Overall, the game offers a charming experience but suffers from pacing issues and a lack of sustained engagement.

    • “The idea of hopping from shadow to shadow was very intriguing to me, and the simplicity of the gameplay combined with the satisfying animation and sound effects positively supports this idea.”
    • “It has unique mechanics that make the exploration of each level enjoyable and at the same time complements its storytelling perfectly.”
    • “The gameplay is really smooth and the art style is pleasing to the eye.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but the mechanics are repetitive, and the storyline is overly long and shallow.”
    • “New mechanics are rare and underused; it’s often not clear where to go, and checkpoints are sometimes too far apart, giving us a dull, often frustrating experience.”
    • “There are unskippable cutscenes that make replaying this game a slog, and cutscenes woven into gameplay every 10 seconds that will reset your camera angle and disorient you.”
  • graphics44 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, whimsical art style and calming color schemes, drawing comparisons to titles like "Untitled Goose Game." Many reviewers highlight the immersive visual storytelling and charming aesthetics, although some note issues with repetitive gameplay and minor graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's cozy and heartwarming atmosphere.

    • “The graphical presentation and art direction is absolutely gorgeous, with a lovely chill soundtrack to complement it.”
    • “Amazing art style, a playful idea with the shadows, great audio, good direction, fantastic experience!”
    • “Schim enchants you from the very first moment with its amazingly beautiful, abstract visuals, but the real miracle begins when we can finally take control of the shadow creature in the title.”
    • “The visuals also contain a lot of subtle glitches and z-fighting.”
    • “After making a strong immediate impression on me, Schim’s minimalistic visuals never evolved beyond portraying simple albeit charming slices of life.”
    • “This game relies a lot on its core concept remaining endearing for the entire length, and I think there's a scale balanced between one's appreciation for the aesthetic and general coziness of the game versus the steadily-mounting frustration from the level design as it progresses.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a calming and immersive atmosphere that complements the charming visuals. Players appreciate the soundtrack's adaptability to different story elements and settings, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience. While some noted that the color palette could be straining over longer sessions, the combination of the music and art style remains a highlight, making it a memorable aspect of the game.

    • “It has a unique core concept that is explored through mostly visual storytelling, which combined with the beautiful soundtrack and the cozy art style fully immerses the player into its world.”
    • “The music adds value, being well-composed and produced, orchestrating an overall sweet, emotional feeling that gives off very good vibes.”
    • “The art style and music complement each other wonderfully.”
    • “The same could be said for the game’s calming, chill lo-fi soundtrack and gentle sound design—nothing here grabbed my attention, in part by design.”
    • “The music adds extra value to the overall experience.”
    • “The music and audio design for this one helped me fall into a meditative state while playing.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt story centered around reuniting with a human's shadow, which resonates deeply with players. The combination of whimsical gameplay, minimalistic art, and well-composed music enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a touching and memorable journey. Players appreciate the game's ability to convey a meaningful narrative without words, setting it apart from typical puzzle games.

    • “Really creative little game with a heartwarming story, eye-catching artwork, and excellent sound design.”
    • “The music adds value, being well-composed and produced, orchestrating an overall sweet, emotional feeling that gives off very good vibes.”
    • “With its minimalistic style, touching story, and unique gameplay mechanics, Schim knows how to captivate you.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find value in collecting items and completing achievements, others feel that its short length and repetitive nature limit its appeal. Additional modes may enhance replayability, but opinions vary on whether the experience justifies the price.

    • “If you do end up getting it, the game has more replay value than one might expect.”
    • “That said, Schim is an interesting and unique game, and there is replayability with finding all the collectibles and completing the Steam achievements.”
    • “Good news is, it's super replayable for this reason.”
    • “I know every game gets cheaper over time, but a four-hour game with minimal replayability and a mildly repetitive experience doesn’t feel to me like it justifies $25.”
    • “For what I have noticed, the game has no replay value; spending 25 euros on just good art and good music is maybe a bit much.”
    • “It has some other modes for replayability, but I didn't check those out yet.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of funny and poignant moments, effectively adding both levity and realism to the experience. Players appreciate the quirky storytelling and the amusing character design, particularly the protagonist's blob companion, which enhances the overall enjoyment and charm of the game. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to its overwhelmingly positive reception.

    • “Funny and sad moments, like seeing bikes stolen, add humor (and realism!) to the game.”
    • “It's great to play, fun little story, funny things, very well made.. yes it has got it all to be that indie game which goes overwhelmingly positive.”
    • “I really enjoyed my time with Schim, a funny looking blob that represents the inner essence of our protagonist that is ripped out of him during a particularly stressful period of his life.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, particularly due to harsh checkpoints and tedious waiting periods, which can test patience. Additionally, there are no grinding achievements to incentivize this gameplay element.

    • “Couple that with sometimes harsh checkpoints or tedious moments of waiting; it can quickly become too frustrating if you're not the most patient person.”
    • “[b]Grinding achievements:[/b] no”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is generally affected by subtle visual glitches and z-fighting, which can detract from the overall experience. However, players find that as they progress, they become more adept at navigating the controls and troubleshooting challenges, indicating a learning curve that enhances gameplay.

    • “The game has a lot of subtle glitches and z-fighting that detract from the overall experience.”
    • “The game is based on the simplicity of the player learning how to use the controls throughout the game, but the frequent crashes make it frustrating to progress.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by charming details that create a peaceful and enjoyable experience for players.

    • “The cute little details lead to a peaceful and fun atmosphere!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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