SCHiM (2024)

Schim is cute, charming, and has a surprisingly emotional look into the themes of depression and midlife crisis. Perhaps it could dig deeper into its arguments, and maybe even dare a bit more with its gamepaly. Similarly, with a length of only about 3 hours and limited replayability, the launch price of 24.99USD/24,99EUR feels a little excessive, and I would absolutely recommend waiting for a sale. But when that sale does arrive, give Schim your consideration: it’s a quite beautiful little game with an intriguing concept and even a good message to give to its players.

While a satisfying audio-visual experience, SCHiM's design is but a shadow of its true potential.

I'm not a fan of jumping puzzle games, but SCHiM managed to win me over. Its minimalist art style, inventive use of shadows and movement, and the idea that the game makes sure that messing up doesn't feel too frustrating, kept me engaged level after level.

SCHiM is a sweet little platformer that takes a joyous childhood idea and turns it into a heartwarming story that’s engaging and enjoyable. It shows off some great silent storytelling that connects you to the main characters by way of a great introduction and finale, despite losing some steam in the middle. SCHiM showcases an undoubtedly wonderful mechanic against some striking backdrops, and while it doesn’t quite get into high gear, there can be no denying that this shadowy hop-fest is great fun, and that some of the finer details will certainly bring a smile to your face.

Schim bases its entire game on a single gimmick. Despite the intriguing concept of jumping between shadows, it doesn't entertain as much as it should, offering neither a challenge nor a relaxing pastime. The plot is somewhat non-linear and ill-suited for the game. It's a shame because the core idea is solid, but the lack of notable level design and original mechanics makes it a fleeting distraction, failing to provide lasting entertainment or be memorable.