Grim Trials, an action roguelike from developer Glory Jam, casts players into a macabre yet stylish afterlife. You take on the role of Avelin, a newly deceased woman who, upon arriving in a realm of reapers, is recruited to become one herself. To earn her place and, more importantly, to seek out her still-living loved one, she must endure a series of treacherous “trials” against sinful souls. The game’s core loop is a familiar but well-executed one: descend into a series of procedurally generated rooms, defeat enemies, and collect resources. Death is not the end but a return to the Reaper Academy, a hub world where you can spend your collected souls and materials to permanently upgrade your stats and craft new gear for your next attempt. The game wears its inspiration on its sleeve, drawing heavily from the acclaimed Hades, but it attempts to forge its own path with a heavy focus on a crafting system that adds a unique layer of depth to the genre.
Gameplay: A Familiar but Satisfying Scythe
The combat in Grim Trials is a fast-paced, top-down affair that will feel immediately comfortable to fans of the genre. You have a main melee attack, a ranged/light attack, and a special attack that charges up over time. The movement is fluid, and a dash mechanic allows for satisfying dodges, though it is on a cooldown, preventing it from being spammed. The variety of weapons and abilities you can acquire on a run, combined with the crafting system at the hub, offers a good degree of build diversity. The enemies are varied and their attacks are well-telegraphed, making combat a test of skill and reaction rather than a frantic button-mashing exercise. While some players may find the hit detection to be slightly off at times, the overall feel of the combat is tight and responsive.
Narrative and World-Building: A Tale of Loss and Rebirth
The narrative of Grim Trials is a key element that helps to distinguish it from other roguelikes. The central motivation of Avelin, to reunite with her loved one, provides a compelling reason to keep pushing through the trials. The hub world, the Reaper Academy, is populated by a cast of distinct and interesting characters who serve as mentors, fellow reapers, and vendors. Interacting with them between runs provides a gradual unveiling of the world’s lore and personal backstories, reminiscent of the narrative progression in Hades. While the story is not groundbreaking, the character interactions and the central emotional hook are strong enough to keep the player invested and eager to learn more with each new run.
Visuals and Audio: A Polished and Thematic Presentation
The visual style of Grim Trials is one of its strongest assets. The game features a polished, dark fantasy aesthetic with a distinct art style that is both grim and visually appealing. The character designs are sharp, and the environments, while sometimes lacking a little diversity in the early game, are well-detailed. The game’s use of color, especially in the abilities and special effects, makes combat feel dynamic and visually impactful. Complementing the visuals is a fantastic soundtrack that combines heavy metal riffs with dark fantasy ambiance. The music is a perfect fit for the fast-paced, high-stakes combat, and the sound design for attacks and abilities is crisp and satisfying.
Challenge and Replayability: Trials of Endurance
Like any good roguelike, Grim Trials is built around the concept of permanent progression and replayability. Each death is a chance to grow stronger, whether it’s by unlocking new abilities or crafting better gear. The procedurally generated levels, while having a set structure, ensure that no two runs are exactly the same. The game’s difficulty is well-balanced, starting out manageable and ramping up as you progress through the trials. The real replayability, however, comes from the crafting system. The ability to craft specific weapons, armor, and potions allows for a level of control over your build that is not always present in the genre. This encourages players to experiment with different playstyles and to farm specific resources to create their ideal build.
Overall Impression: A Worthy Contender in the Roguelike Arena
Grim Trials is a formidable and promising title. While it clearly takes inspiration from genre giants, it introduces enough of its own elements, particularly the deep crafting system and a compelling central narrative, to stand on its own. The core gameplay is fluid and satisfying, the presentation is polished, and the permanent progression system provides a strong incentive to keep playing. For fans of roguelikes and action RPGs, Grim Trials offers a rewarding and challenging experience that is well worth the investment of time and effort. It is a game that knows what it wants to be and executes its vision with a high degree of polish, proving that even a familiar formula can feel fresh and exciting with the right tweaks and additions.
