Gris

[h2]A Moving Watercolor Masterpiece[/h2] [i]GRIS[/i] is less of a traditional platformer and more like a living painting. The hand-drawn watercolor art style is genuinely some of the prettiest I have ever seen in a game. It tells a wordless story about grief and healing that is easy to follow just by watching the world around you change and grow as you progress. [h2]Gameplay & Flow[/h2] The gameplay is simple and stress-free. There is no combat and you cannot actually die, which lets you focus entirely on the atmosphere and the music. You start in a gray, desolate world and slowly unlock colors that bring the environments back to life. Each new color adds a unique mechanic to help you navigate, like turning your dress into a heavy block to resist wind. The puzzles are not very difficult, but they are clever enough to keep you engaged throughout. It took me about 5 hours to 100% all the achievements, making it a perfect short and sweet experience for a weekend. [h2]Technical Comments & Verdict[/h2] This is an amazing game to play on the Steam Deck. It is perfectly optimized and the vibrant colors look incredible on the handheld screen. The soundtrack carries a lot of the emotional weight, so I definitely recommend playing with headphones to get the full effect. If you are looking for something cozy, beautiful, and emotionally impactful, [i]GRIS[/i] is a fantastic choice. It is a memorable journey that respects your time and leaves a lasting impression through its visuals and sound alone. [quote][i]I write concise and in-depth reviews via the Steam Curator Program. If this was helpful, please consider following my Curator, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44230955-Narmaya-Onee-chan][b]Narmaya Onee-chan[/b][/url], for future recommendations.[/i][/quote]

9.5/10 - abused the F12 key a lot. This "playable art" contains very powerful/cathartic scenes and you'll be rewarded for going after 100%. At the end, it made me think a lot about my own life experiences and the processing of loss and grief. Gris encapsulates what it feels like very well...it's not quite linear to go from Stage 1 to Stage 2 to Stage 3 etc. Sometimes these stages blend together and get messy. The darkness comes back, even when seemingly in the clear. It's a solo, inward journey but sometimes there are kind souls that pop up to help you for a short while then you're back on your own. When it's darkest, don't give up, your inner light will lead you the way out. I appreciate Gris for conveying these types of messages in a symbolic and powerful way. Clearly, it's not a game for everyone nor a game for that "chill fun Saturday morning." it also runs very opposite to what I'm used to (fast paced shooters, story-driven RPGs). However, it's a memorable unique experience and a game that attempts to show you "I understand every bit of what you went through. You are not alone." Note that you'd need to cap FPS to 60 otherwise you may encounter gamebreaking bugs with Gris not moving after landing or you can't progress after a certain spot in Stage 2 to get a memento.

There are games that entertain you for a few hours… and then there are games like GRIS that quietly stay with you long after the credits roll. I went into this game expecting a beautiful platformer, but I didn’t expect it to feel this personal. GRIS tells its story without almost any words, yet somehow it says more about pain, loneliness, healing, and hope than many fully voiced games ever could. Every area feels like an emotion brought to life — sadness, anger, fear, acceptance — and watching the world slowly regain its colors felt strangely comforting. The art style is breathtaking. Every frame looks like a moving watercolor painting, and the soundtrack perfectly matches the emotional weight of the journey. There were moments where I just stopped playing for a minute to listen to the music and take everything in. Gameplay-wise, it’s simple and relaxing, but honestly, that’s not the point of GRIS. This game isn’t trying to challenge your reflexes — it’s trying to touch your heart. And it absolutely does. GRIS felt less like “playing a game” and more like quietly walking through someone’s grief and learning how to heal alongside them. It’s one of the few games that made me emotional without needing dramatic dialogue or shocking moments. A short experience, but one I’ll remember for a very long time.