Developed by Nomada Studio, a new artist-driven team in Barcelona,
Gris is a soothing and emotional journey
that takes you through tranquil environments while engaging with light platforming and puzzle sections.
Its wonderful art style, fluid animations, and elegant music
leave a lasting impression.
The design philosophy behind Gris is a bit unconventional,
focused on delivering a serene and evocative experience free of frustration.
You cannot die, and there are no enemies nor pitfalls to fall into throughout the game.
There’s no dialogue or text used to tell the story;
instead, everything is conveyed through its imagery, with an emphasis on symbolism.
For the most part, the game does a good job at presenting its story.
The few cut-scenes in Gris have gorgeous visuals and help make some events on your expedition more clear
while the music progresses along with your journey,
peaking at emotional moments.
The areas that you visit are all varied and distinct.
The game starts in a desert littered with huge rocks and ancient ruins.
From there, you move into a lush forest with deep tunnels and shapeshifting trees.
As you discover this world, there are plenty of moments dedicated to getting the vibe of an area,
whether it be a long stretch of uninterrupted running or a slide down a massive hillside.
These moments help to accentuate the sense of space
and they’re easy to appreciate since the world you explore is so visually appealing.
While progression is mostly linear,
there are optional challenges you can tackle within each level
if you’re looking to see everything the game has to offer.
Along your travels, Gris will acquire new abilities to aid her on her journey.
The first power you get turns her dress into a heavy square which can be used
to keep you from getting blown away by strong winds.
There’s also a double jump that lets Gris glide gracefully through the air.
The puzzle and platforming sections found throughout the game are straightforward and stress-free.
This includes activities like timing jumps to line up with moving objects or
acting as a weight to lower floating rocks.
This lends itself nicely to the game’s overall flow and design since
Gris is much more about going at an easy and relaxed pace,
rather than spending large chunks of time on one puzzle or dying over and over again on platform sections.
However, while this works fine for most of the game,
it would have been nice if there was a bit more challenge involved.
What stands out most is the presentation.
The visual direction of artist Conrad Roset is fantastic and wonderfully brings the world to life.
Animations are fluid and elegant, and each area you visit invokes a strong sense of isolation and mystery.
The game’s use of color is also fantastic.
Bright reds, earthy greens, and soothing blues decorate the world
while watercolors cascade across the vast sky.
The music, composed by the group Berlinist, is both haunting and soothing,
serving as a natural complement for the game’s visuals and tone.
Gris takes you on a relaxing yet emotional adventure,
encouraging you to take your time and soak up its world along the way.
The gameplay may be simple, but it provides a strong enough bridge to engage with this enchanting world.
It’s an inspiring work of beauty that’s well worth the journey.
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