Sights & Sounds
- Gris is, without a doubt, the most beautiful 2D puzzle platformer I've ever played. It may be the most beautiful 2D game of any genre I've ever played
- The visual design of the characters and environments is truly stunning. If you're into soft watercolors, pastel hues, and flowing lines suggestive of art nouveau, you'll have a great time looking at this one. As a man with a bunch of framed John Dyer Baizley prints adorning his walls, I may be a bit biased
- The music is quite pretty and appropriate for the game's style and themes
Story & Vibes
- The game's story is more figurative and emotional than it is literal and plot-driven. Don't go in expecting an overt narrative. If there is a defined story here, it's not supposed to be obvious
- Gris is very chill with a muted range of vibes that run from softly mournful to cautiously hopeful. All that changes with the emotional climax at the end, which feels earned and satisfying
Playability & Replayability
- This is not a difficult game. By puzzle platforming standards, Gris isn't going to ask much of your brain or reflexes. That's just fine with me. I was happy to turn my brain down for a bit and enjoy the pretty colors
- Due to the simplicity, there isn't much to delve into in terms of gameplay. You run, jump, and sometimes sing to make your way through the game's environment
- It's an easy game to replay due to its visual appeal and short length. In fact, I played this a few years ago on the Switch. Thanks to a good sale, I was more than happy to pick it up to play again on a bigger screen with better hardware
Overall Impressions & Performance
- Not that Gris will tax any system very hard. It will look gorgeous on any setup. It doesn't take much juice to run well
- The game is 100% style over substance, but it just so happens that the style is so good that you care very little about the lack of gameplay depth
Final Verdict
- 7.5/10. It's not often that I'd recommend a game based solely on its visual appeal, but I'll make an exception here. It's a 3-hour art piece worth exploring
- Gris is, without a doubt, the most beautiful 2D puzzle platformer I've ever played. It may be the most beautiful 2D game of any genre I've ever played
- The visual design of the characters and environments is truly stunning. If you're into soft watercolors, pastel hues, and flowing lines suggestive of art nouveau, you'll have a great time looking at this one. As a man with a bunch of framed John Dyer Baizley prints adorning his walls, I may be a bit biased
- The music is quite pretty and appropriate for the game's style and themes
Story & Vibes
- The game's story is more figurative and emotional than it is literal and plot-driven. Don't go in expecting an overt narrative. If there is a defined story here, it's not supposed to be obvious
- Gris is very chill with a muted range of vibes that run from softly mournful to cautiously hopeful. All that changes with the emotional climax at the end, which feels earned and satisfying
Playability & Replayability
- This is not a difficult game. By puzzle platforming standards, Gris isn't going to ask much of your brain or reflexes. That's just fine with me. I was happy to turn my brain down for a bit and enjoy the pretty colors
- Due to the simplicity, there isn't much to delve into in terms of gameplay. You run, jump, and sometimes sing to make your way through the game's environment
- It's an easy game to replay due to its visual appeal and short length. In fact, I played this a few years ago on the Switch. Thanks to a good sale, I was more than happy to pick it up to play again on a bigger screen with better hardware
Overall Impressions & Performance
- Not that Gris will tax any system very hard. It will look gorgeous on any setup. It doesn't take much juice to run well
- The game is 100% style over substance, but it just so happens that the style is so good that you care very little about the lack of gameplay depth
Final Verdict
- 7.5/10. It's not often that I'd recommend a game based solely on its visual appeal, but I'll make an exception here. It's a 3-hour art piece worth exploring