SCHiM Reviews
Quiet and aesthetically pleasing, SCHiM has good ideas about the use of shadows in 3D platforming, but doesn't make efficient use of them enough to stand out as it could.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
SCHiM uses shadows in delightfully creative ways, turning ordinary objects into astoundingly helpful tools. This wholesome, vibrant 3D platformer offers an adventure that shouldn't be missed.
There was basically never a moment where I didn't find the game fun to play, and choosing to make my way through its story over the course of a week rather than all in one sitting alleviated the potential repetition of its gameplay. The aesthetic of SCHiM is fully complementary to the experience, and I find myself being unable to stop thinking about the game after rolling credits. In SCHiM we have another example of how less can definitely be more, a fitting title for the summer season and all of the shadows and shade we're sure to be seeking out.
Some people will think the gameplay is too boring and others may love its unique and creative concept too much to care. In the end, I found myself right in the middle. 🚲
In a way, SCHiM manages to transport us to a time when the simple act of jumping over tiles, lines and shadows on the floor turned into epic adventures in the fertile world of a child's imagination.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Throughout Schim, you can only watch this man’s life from a few steps behind, and when the time is right, you find him as hope returns and the man finds himself at the same time. There are some beautiful, abstract sequences as the man goes through these stages of depression, development, and betterment, and the lead-up to the final moments are appropriately dramatic and satisfying, completing what is a pure and wholesome experience that casts a bigger shadow than you may expect.
SCHiM is a relaxing and artistic little game. With a clever take on platform puzzles, a cute little shadow frog, and a surprisingly heart-wrenching story, this charming title is sure to find a cozy spot in the pond you call your Steam library.
Simple but great gimmicks can be hard to stretch into a complete game, and SCHiM definitely struggles a bit to cross the finish line. It does cross it, though, and the inconsistent results are nonetheless charming and occasionally inspired. SCHiM is a diamond in the rough that really deserves a polish, but even without it, the sparkle can still peek through.
Ewoud and Nils have crafted a special little game that has brought this writer right back to his childhood, when I'd find ways to gamify the world around me. I find myself glancing at the shadows in my world, wondering about the path I could craft to get from one end of the park to the other, because of this game. And any game that carries a feeling or a new perspective into your reality is a great one. SCHiM is a throwback to childhood joy: a reminder that tapping into your imagination and letting yourself experience the beauty of the world around you is necessary for surviving the otherwise draining experience of being an adult in the modern world. It's simple, it's short, it's sweet. And it's one I wholly recommend for gamers of all ages.
SCHiM is certainly not a game like the others. While it offers a rather simple platform experience, its artistic direction sets it apart from the competition. The title remains accessible, with some sequences that require a little more brain-teasing. Jumping from shadow to shadow is utterly enjoyable. The fairly short straight-line adventure (3h) is sufficient, however, as towards the end you feel you have to repeat the same actions over and over again. Nevertheless, in my opinion, it's a must-do experience if you're looking for something refreshing.
Review in French | Read full review
SCHiM is a wonderful puzzle-platforming experience that kept me mesmerised with its creative level design and satisfying gameplay. It felt so rewarding working out the perfect route to take through a level, whilst the clever variety of ways that it allows you to move between shadows ensures that each level brings with it plenty of little surprises. It was just a real treat to play, with the delightful world and clever gameplay loop ensuring my time with SCHiM will stick with me for a long, long time.
SCHiM is worth jumping at. It’s approachable for most players and unearths a deeper story about life’s unexpected lows and highs.
SCHiM is the perfect recreation of one of our childhood games. With fun and challenging gameplay, unique and minimalistic art style, and a relatable and touching story that empowers every other aspect of the game, it's a platformer that stands out among its peers.
SCHiM is gorgeous to look at with a very unique artstyle supported by a very chill soundtrack. Sure, the gameplay loop gets old as it doesn't really evolve past the initial concept, but it's still quite fun to play in short bursts.
SCHiM is unlike any platformer I've ever played, telling a genuinely moving story, with tight and clever platforming. It's also gorgeous, as every level is beautifully put together.
Jumping from shadow to shadow, SCHiM's platform ends up being washed out and superficial, less alive and stimulating than it could.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
SCHiM is truly a fascinating game concept that seamlessly blends platforming, exploration, and puzzles to deliver an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking experience. The way it intertwines these elements creates a captivating and immersive world for players to get lost in. You can expect to be challenged and entertained in equal measure as you navigate through this unique and innovative game. The only thing that knocks it down a rating for me is purely the frequent crashes I experienced.
Sometimes you have games that are not a SHiM (dutch saying) of a standard game. This is such a game. It is not a dime a dozen game that you see regularly. In terms of gameplay, the game does not do anything special, but the level design combined with the graphics make the game unique and perhaps never seen before. This is a title that is relaxing and yet offers enough challenge to get your brain working every now and then.
Review in Dutch | Read full review