GRIME is a side-scrolling action-adventure roleplaying game developed by Clover Bite and published by Akapura Games. It sees you playing as a stone body called the vessel, as you try to survive in a strange and surreal landscape.

The first thing that struck me when booting up GRIME was its otherworldly visuals. Set in a world completely comprised of stone, the game looks like a cross between Dark Souls and a nightmarish version of Ori and the Will of the Wisps. GRIME’s beginning strikes a similarly eerie note; when you start the game, your character — a stony human-shaped body with a strange dark orb for a head — is flung to earth from a seemingly rock-filled vortex.

The core premise of GRIME is simple: survive as you progress through an increasingly hostile world. With multiple layered Metroidvania-style levels to explore, you’ll need to keep your wits about you to survive. Like many other games in the Metroidvania genre, levels are laid out in interconnected maps, and you’ll find yourself exploring the same area in a myriad of ways. There are a lot of passageways and secret tunnels to be discovered and I found uncovering pathways and shortcuts as you progress through a level to be incredibly satisfying.

The quicker you can make it back to your checkpoint to save your progress, the better, because GRIME’s combat is challenging, with plenty of unusual enemies. This variety of enemies was one of the things I enjoyed the most about the game. GRIME delivers some quirky-looking characters, varying from strange-looking hands protruding from walls, to stone trolls crawling towards you, to rock-shaped goblins chasing you as you progress through the world.

The real showstopper in GRIME is its combat mechanics, which are challenging, unforgiving, and original. The main component you’ll need to survive a playthrough is your head: the dark orb gives you the ability to absorb enemy attacks by parrying them at the exact right moment. If your parry is successful, this will help recharge a dedicated meter at the top of your screen that, when fully charged, can be used to regenerate your health. The stronger your enemy, the more it’ll recharge the meter when killed.

Whichever playstyle you end up choosing, be prepared to study your enemies and work out a plan of attack. Boss battles can be particularly tricky, and you’ll most likely end up dying many times over before finally figuring out a way to successfully defeat them. However, when I finally did manage to get past a particularly tough boss, it was exhilarating. The bonus you’ll get after downing a boss will reflect this achievement too: after defeating a boss you get a high amount of ardor, which will increase your XP depending on how long you can go without taking damage or being killed. The more you take damage, the more ardor you’ll lose.

The only drawback for me was GRIME’s story, which, despite its gorgeous visuals and character design, leaves a lot open to interpretation. While the game does have some dialogue, it’s often both ambiguous and verbose. I found this unfortunate, since GRIME delivers an intriguing visual setting; it’s a shame the game’s story doesn’t offer the same level of depth and detail.

However, after only a few hours of playing GRIME, it became clear to me that the game primarily revolves around challenging its players, rather than delivering an immersive story. Its inventive mechanics easily cater to players who thrive on skill and precision when it comes to combat. While the game’s combat can feel overwhelming, and at times even a tad frustrating and unfair, GRIME’s fast-paced and addictive gameplay and big battle pay-offs more than make up for it. If you’re not afraid of a challenge or getting your hands dirty, GRIME will surely hook you in one enemy at a time.