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Gris

Hrishikesh Hirway

Sep 29, 2021
8

Last May, a couple months into the pandemic, I discovered Gris, a breathtakingly beautiful video game that felt like a work of art that you move through.

I’ll admit that I’m not a huge video game enthusiast—the “game” I play on my phone most often is the New York Times Crossword app—but I’m interested in video games enough that I own a PS4. In those earlyish days of the pandemic, when the initial panic had worn off and the long-term nature of our situation was settling in, but I was still learning to navigate all the time at home, I was ravenous for ways to occupy my attention. I could only binge-watch seasons of Cheers or ER so much. So I turned to my somewhat neglected PS4 console and looked for games that might appeal to my solace-seeking, puzzle-solving sensibilities. Eventually, I found Gris.

Gris looks like a watercolor painting that’s come to life. You play a girl (whose name is Gris), and through most of the game, she’s a small figure within a vast landscape. The whole game is wordless, but the music is gorgeous and mostly minimal, and the sound design is reminiscent of an ambient nature album that you might put on to fall asleep. Within this framework is a story about grief, and the process of overcoming it.

The world of the game begins as a desolate and colorless place, and Gris herself has only a couple of actions that she can take. The quiet atmosphere is punctured at times by forces that threaten to overwhelm her, in the form of giant, dark animals that block her path and push her back.

Each stage is a series of small puzzles that you solve simply by trying to find your way to the next stage. You have to learn how to adapt your movements to the challenges the landscapes bring. As the story progresses, Gris slowly starts to move with more freedom, and the world starts to take on more color.

There are no big bosses to fight, and you can’t die in the game. You can only move further along your journey. As new parts of the world were revealed, my wife and I kept saying to each other, “Wow, that’s so beautiful.” It’s a one-player game, as you would imagine for a metaphor for going through grief, but we’d take turns passing the controller back and forth. It was equally enjoyable to play as it was to just sit back and take in all of the exquisite visuals.

Despite its simplicity, the game always felt like it was evolving. We played the whole thing over two days. More experienced gamers might be able to finish it in about three hours, but we enjoyed taking our time with it. Since there’s no dialogue, the plot is entirely suggested—more of a tone poem than a short story—but it still felt emotional. By the end, it even felt cathartic.

You don’t have to have a PS4 to play Gris. It’s also available for iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, and on Steam. You can find it here. If, like me, you’re not a die-hard gamer, I think it’s worth crossing the threshold to experience. It’s unlike any other game I’ve played.

Hrishikesh

ps:

- I curate a Spotify playlist called NapCaviar, and I've just added one of my favorite pieces from the Gris soundtrack to it.

- If you’d like to get an Accept Cookies t-shirt or hoodie, click here. (Just one week left to order.)

- I’m @HrishiHirway on Instagram and Twitter.

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8 Comments

  • Beth Loyd
    I have avoided video games forever. But I have two little boys - so it's only a matter of time. It's good to know that there are some high quality ones out there that are slightly more interesting than minecraft.
    • 33w
  • Eliana Leader
    This absolutely reminds me of when you recommended Monument Valley, I followed your advice and have loved since! Now have my 6 yr old in love with it too 🙂
    • 33w
    Hrishikesh Hirway replied
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    1 Reply
  • Vanessa Frey
    Botanicula, Monument Valley, and Oxenfree are also beautiful games you should check out.
    2
    • 33w
    Hrishikesh Hirway replied
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    1 Reply
  • Colin Campbell
    This is one of my favorites from the last couple of years, as well, and your thoughts here resonate with my experience.
    I make video games for a living, and I’d also recommend Return of the Obra Dinn. It’s unlike anything else I’ve played and is short…
    See more
    • 24w
  • Hava Stein
    This sounds like a lovely game. Games are such a wonderful and versatile medium that can have a very profound effect and really make you think and feel. Some are pure art. Two that come to mind are Journey, and What Remains of Edith Finch.
    2
    • 33w
    Hrishikesh Hirway replied
      ·
    1 Reply
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