Gamebytes: Gris

With stunning watercolor graphics and a beautiful soundtrack, the platformer game Gris from Nomada Studio blends together puzzles and an evocative storyline to create an emotional and immersive gameplay. The game begins with the main character, Gris, falling from the palm of a crumbling statue in a black-and-white scene, trying and failing to sing or stand, depicting the extent of her grief. As she moves through the four stages and collects stars, she regains abilities like floating, turning to stone, and eventually singing, and unlocks a new color, representing the progression of her healing journey. Between levels, she sees statues representing her late mother and eventually learns to accept her death while understanding that her mother’s love will always be with her, flawlessly depicting the stages of grief and a non-linear healing journey. While the game exhibited excellence with its artistic and emotional depth, many stages of the puzzles were difficult or confusing to get through, causing the storyline to lose its flow. The game begins at a slow pace, and while this allows time for appreciating the art of the design, it becomes tedious as the levels progress. Near the end, though, the game’s plot progression increases to a captivating pace. Overall, Gris’ flowy and intricate graphics style, coupled with an emotionally moving storyline, offer a remarkable experience if a player has enough patience. 

Grade: A-