Gris Review: A Breathtaking Art Game With Frustrating Simplicity

Gris is not just a game — it is a living watercolor painting. Developed by Nomada Studio, this atmospheric platformer explores loss, grief, and healing through symbolism rather than dialogue. Every frame feels hand-painted, every movement carefully animated, and every musical note emotionally charged.

In this Gris review, we’ll look at what makes the game visually unforgettable, why its level design sometimes falters, and whether its artistic strengths outweigh its mechanical weaknesses.

Story Told Through Art, Not Words

Gris follows a young woman navigating an abstract, crumbling world that mirrors her inner emotional state. There is no spoken dialogue, no text, and no explicit explanation of what has happened to her.

Instead, the story unfolds through imagery, movement, and music — much like an art film or gallery piece. As you progress, color slowly returns to the world, symbolizing healing and acceptance.

This approach makes the narrative deeply personal. Players are invited to interpret what they see rather than being told what to feel.

A Visual Masterpiece in Motion

Visually, Gris is among the most beautiful games ever created.

• Hand-animated protagonist
• Soft watercolor backgrounds
• Symmetrical architectural design
• Fluid, painterly transitions between scenes

As Gris moves through each world, splashes of color gradually fill the screen, transforming bleak gray landscapes into vibrant environments.

One early moment — stepping off a cliff and gliding downward — is so visually stunning that it can literally take your breath away.

Music That Carries the Emotion

The orchestral score complements the visuals perfectly. Gentle at first, then swelling during emotional peaks, the music feels inseparable from the world itself.

Rather than simply accompanying gameplay, the soundtrack actively shapes how you experience each moment.

Level Design: Beauty Over Clarity

At first glance, each level in Gris looks complex and labyrinthine. In reality, most areas follow a similar structure:

1. A mostly linear path
2. Several branching side routes
3. Key collectibles that unlock new abilities

Each world introduces a new power, such as:

• Transforming into a heavy block to resist wind
• Breaking fragile ground
• Interacting with environmental puzzles

Later stages cleverly build on earlier abilities, and one late-game world plays beautifully with symmetry — creating one of the most visually striking 2D levels in recent memory.

Where Gris Struggles

Unfortunately, Gris is sometimes more beautiful than it is playable.

Common frustrations include:

• Hard-to-read platforms that blend into backgrounds
• Inconsistent environmental rules
• Confusing progression in certain areas
• Moments where visual design prioritizes style over clarity

These issues are minor individually, but together they can make exploration feel more tedious than meditative.

Replayability: Limited Appeal

There is little incentive to replay Gris.

Once a chapter is completed, you can revisit it — but without retaining any of your earned abilities. This means replaying sections feels restrictive rather than empowering.

Because the platforming and puzzles are relatively simple, returning to earlier levels doesn’t offer much new challenge or discovery.

Is Gris Worth Playing?

Yes — but for the right reasons.

If you value:

• Artistic storytelling
• Emotional experiences
• Stunning visuals
• Immersive music

Then Gris is absolutely worth your time.

If you prioritize:

• Challenging platforming
• Complex puzzles
• High replay value

Then you may find the gameplay underwhelming.

Final Verdict (Gris Review)

This Gris review finds the game to be a breathtaking artistic achievement that sometimes stumbles mechanically.

At its best, Gris is a meditative, emotionally resonant journey through grief and healing. At its worst, it can feel overly simple and occasionally confusing.

Still, as an audiovisual experience, it is unforgettable — and worth playing at least once.

If you enjoyed Gris, you may also like:

• Celeste
• Return of the Obra Dinn
• Donut County