Grime II Reviews
Definitely a closely-related sequel and not a dramatic reinvention, there are a few frustrating platforming mechanics and a narrative that is only slightly less impenetrable. Grime 2 definitely deserves to break more fully into the mainstream this time around.
When it got within reach, I thwomped it with a tooth-lined maul that literally chews on opponents, a ravenous instrument fit for its insatiable wielder. Surprise: The slam caused the ground below to cave in, so down White went, plummeting into a hidden chamber. What a climax.
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GRIME 2 nails down its presentation and mechanics very well, and makes them work together to present an experience that's purely entertaining, and melancholically charming.
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Review in Russian | Read full review
GRIME II succeeds greatly in expanding gameplay freedom, offering an extremely well-constructed world, and rewarding players who dedicate themselves to exploration and learning combat. The variety of approaches and intelligent level design significantly enhance the experience, but technical problems, such as persistent bugs, and some excesses — mainly in length and dialogue — prevent it from reaching an even higher level. Still, it's an ambitious and memorable sequel within the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Grime 2 is a very solid Metroidvania, one of the best we've seen in 2026. It features exquisite platforming sections, thrilling combat, and very well designed exploration that invites you to lose yourself in its world for hours on end.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
GRIME II is a strange-looking game and as you play it, you'll find yourself immersed knee-deep in its alien world filled with unique challenges. 🏺
GRIME II is a Metroidvania that knows what it's doing and, all things considered, delivers a very well-rounded and complete experience to the player. I really enjoyed what I saw and, save for one or two occasional slip-ups, felt the overall experience was very positive.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I spent a long time thinking about how best to close this review – not so much about what to say, but about how to say it honestly. Because writing about GRIME II is not simply a matter of summarising what has been played; it is an attempt to give shape to something deeper: what was felt, what was experienced, what – quietly –has stayed with me. And that is never simple. Some works can be neatly summarised. Others can be analysed with clarity. And then there are those rarer cases that, while allowing both, still resist any attempt to be contained within a fixed definition. For me, GRIME II belongs firmly to that latter category. And so, after searching for more elaborate, more carefully constructed, more “correct” words, only one remains – simple, instinctive, and entirely genuine: thank you. Because GRIME II is, above all, a work that knows exactly where it comes from. It understands what the first installment was, what it achieved, and where its limits lay. But, most importantly, it knows what it wanted to become. And for that reason, it never tries to be anything other than itself. It does not chase trends, it does not force a reinvention, it does not betray its own identity. It simply evolves. It builds on the strong, unmistakable foundation laid by the first game and expands it with a more considered, more ambitious, more clearly defined vision. And it does so by finding a precise centre, a clear identity: art. Not as decoration. Not as atmosphere alone. But as substance. As the thread that binds everything together. As the principle that runs through every system, every environment, every idea, and ultimately every moment of the experience. That coherence is what makes GRIME II so immediately recognisable. Of course, it is not a perfect game. Some of the rough edges, rigidities, and imperfections already visible in the first entry return here as well. At times the pacing stumbles; at others, certain limitations become difficult to ignore. But, honestly, that is not what lingers. What remains is something else. It is the feeling of standing before a living work. The impression of something carefully shaped, deeply intentional, and fully felt. The kind of experience that, even through its flaws, still manages to leave a mark. Because GRIME II does not stand out for perfection. It stands out for identity. For coherence. For the way it remains entirely, uncompromisingly itself. And so, in the end, the feeling is clear. GRIME II is exactly what I personally wanted from this sequel. A work that grows without losing itself, that changes without distorting itself, that improves without forgetting what it is. An imperfect experience, at times rough, but profoundly sincere. And for that reason, difficult – perhaps impossible – to forget.
Although a bit too linear and safe for my taste, “Grime II” still delivers what Clover Bit does bet: fantastic boss fights, good combat and striking visuals — by far the most “unique” looking metroidvania of 2026 so far.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
GRIME II is a worthy successor that reinvents itself to create a whole new experience to distinguish it from the original game. It features some quality-of-life updates while keeping all the core mechanics and the horror theme with a new art style.
Grime II is a strong sequel, flawed but absolutely worthy of attention. It excels in combat, atmosphere, and art direction, but is less convincing in exploration and narrative construction. It doesn't reinvent the wheel of the Metroidvania or the Soulslike, but it takes familiar elements and combines them with enough personality to make for an engaging experience. It's perhaps slightly less strange and unique than the first Grime, and in that sense, it loses something of its uniqueness. Yet it remains a remarkable game, capable of offering memorable battles, a disturbing and fascinating world, and an aesthetic identity that few other titles in the genre can match.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Grime II is a solid metroidvania and soulslike that stands out due to a number of creative ideas. In particular, the system surrounding the collection of enemy forms and the unique boss designs manage to impress. At the same time, the basis of the gameplay remains quite traditional, and the whole experience is somewhat hampered by a lack of variety in the environments. The combination of challenging gameplay and a distinct visual style makes it an experience that, despite its shortcomings, is worthwhile. Players willing to adapt to the difficulty level and accept minor frustrations will find a game with plenty of style and cool ideas here.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Grime II is a good follow-up, but it's not perfect. In fact, its flaws are easier to spot because its best features are so well done. This is one of the most interesting new games in its genre in a long time. It has tough but fair combat, beautiful world design, difficult boss fights, and enough build variety to make trying new things fun.
Grime 2 is a confident and ambitious sequel that manages the rare feat of being more of the original while also being something entirely new. Just make sure you have a good controller plugged in before you dive into the ooze; you’ll need the precision.
Gorgeously realized world and top-notch art design create a stunning setting.
Grime 2 is a genuinely good game hamstrung by technical problems and some level design issues. The Mold absorption system is clever and forces you to engage with combat in interesting ways. The world design is beautiful and rewards exploration (mostly). The art direction is top-tier and the NPCs are interesting and occasionally hilarious. But the stuttering problems, the occasional finicky platforming, and the stretches of repetitive backtracking keep it from being the excellent game it could be.
Grime II: The Righteous Cravings refines the original’s identity with exceptional combat depth, inventive enemy design, and a striking artistic vision, even if its narrative and exploration systems struggle to leave a lasting impact.
Grime II does what a sequel should do: expand upon the first but not lose sight of its intended vision, which is to deliver a more weird-as-heck-but-memorable search action title that'll absorb you for hours on end. This title strikes a perfect balance between customization freedom, exploration, and challenge levels, combining in harmony like a visually stark Picasso-esque expression.