Grimoire Groves takes the feelings of a good action game – the thrill, suspense, the quick attacks – and puts them towards non-violent means: planting and helping flowers.
When it comes to action games, what normally comes to mind is killing. It’s just natural that action would mean fighting and destroying enemies in games, typically. Grimoires Groves is a procedurally-generated action game where you equip different-colored spells to take on flower “enemies” who need planting or helping. You will need to gather resources in various areas, which can be used to create spells later on, as well as change out the spell you are using to benefit the flowers that need your help. If you are unable to help these flowers, they will zap your power, and you will be teleported back to your home without being allowed to explore the entire area.
There are boss fights in the game as well. with giant plants throwing out smaller plants of different colors that need help and quick reactions. It does feel like an action game without the violent act of actually hurting anyone around you. I got the chance to play a bit of Grimoire Groves at The Mix at GDC, which showed a lot of promise. I do not often find games that fit the action category like this game does, and I really fell in love with the cute pastel visual style and the procedurally-generated levels that seemed ever-changing and full of varied enemies.
The spells that you are casting have beautiful visual effects as well – bringing flowers together, sprinkling glitter powder on them, and watering them so that they can take root into the ground. It’s just a fun, intense, yet peaceful game that is unlike any I have ever played before.
Grimoire Groves is currently in development, but in the meantime, you can follow its creation on the developer’s site.
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