During my time playing Grow Home, I witnessed colossal-sized vines create an interconnected network that reached up into the everlasting sky — all while I scavenged alone for hundreds of small crystals.

It’s that type of game.

Created by a small developer team stemmed from Ubisoft, Grow Home is one of the finest indie gems gamers can find on the market right now.

Story

For the most part, Grow Home doesn’t have much of a narrative.

Players will take control of B.U.D., a small robot who’s tasked by his mothership to oxygenate his home world by growing a giant beanstalk and harvesting its seeds.

The game only lasts about three full hours and once B.U.D. returns to his spaceship after hours of climbing, there is fairly little to come back to.

This, however, isn’t the reason gamers should give Grow Home a chance.

Grow Home’s charm and glamour comes from its minimalistic environment and experience.

Throughout player’s time with Grow Home, most will only see a few sheep, oxen, small caves and some asteroids.

Yes, there are only a few things to actually see, other than your magnificent beanstalk, but that’s what makes Grow Home special.

It’s focused and it doesn’t stray away from what makes it different than other independent titles.

Gameplay

As a third-person adventure, players will operate “Star Shoots”, which can be navigated anywhere the player sees fit, to help traverse Grow Home’s open world.

As more Star Shoots are connected with floating “Energy Rocks”, the more the beanstalk will grow.

It’s a rather simple system that players can lose themselves in for hours.

B.U.D. is also relatively simple to maneuver.

Similar to cult-classic, Octodad, the usage of B.U.D.’s arms are based on two separate shoulder buttons, as falling hundred of meters is fairly common throughout your play through.

Ubisoft makes climbing back up easy with its Unit Engine — a physics based system that allows B.U.D. to interact with any object in the world.

Even though climbing can become a little monotonous, Grow Home’s short duration is appropriate. By the time you get to the mothership, Grow Home’s geometric graphics and relaxed adventure wears off it’s welcome and finding the remaining power-up crystals can be mundane and tedious.

Final Verdict

Looking for a game to pass the time on a lonely evening? Grow Home is your game. Ubisoft neatly ties in easygoing climbing mechanics, with a sweet, charming atmosphere. For an eight dollar experience on Steam, Grow Home is a game every indie-lover should give a chance.

Score: 4/5

@Lukeoroark

lr514812@ohio.edu

 

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