Introduction
The game SCHiM was released on July 18, 2024 on all of the major platforms. The Steam version is the version I will be reviewing today. SCHiM was developed by Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman. It was published by Extra Nice, Extra Nice B.V., Playism, and Active Gaming Media. I would
Overview
What is a SCHiM? A SCHiM is a black blob which can travel in the shadows. The game SCHiM is a series of puzzles that require you to navigate through the shadows to get to your goal.
Gameplay
I explained in the overview that you play as a SCHiM, which is a creature that lives and travels in the shadows. Your objectives will require you to travel through the shadows to get to the next location. This is complicated by the fact that some shadows are moving, and you may have to at some points manipulate objects to get the shadows you need. Additionally, you can move the camera around to make the shadows change. There doesn’t seem to be any upgrades you can get for your Schim. I was hoping for some upgrades to give you more hops between shadows.
Graphics
SCHiM looks very nice. It runs at a constant 60 FPS on Steam Deck. Everything about this game is super smooth. This makes all of the shadows and other environmental elements pop.
Sound
The music and sound effects are calming, and unintrusive.
Story
There really isn’t a story in the game. Does a puzzle game need a story? I think it would have been nice to have a reason to keep working your way through the areas.
Value
SCHiM is a fun game, however at 24.99 it is difficult to say that it is a good value. Again, the game is fun. There isn’t much to the game aside from the sharp visuals and the primary game mechanic. I would recommend that if what I have said has appealed to you, try out the demo for yourself.
Conclusion
SCHiM is a puzzle game by developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman. Extra Nice, Extra Nice B.V., Playism, and Active Gaming Media published this game. You can purchase SCHiM on the Steam store for $24.99. I can tell that a lot of work went into SCHiM just by looking at the gorgeous graphics and animations. The animations are buttery smooth, and the game never deviates from a solid 60 fps. Likewise, hopping from shadow to shadow is very challenging and fun. I would have like some reason behind the mechanic of the game. Despite how fun it is, after a while it does get stale.
