Like at least some others, I first became aware of Pepper Grinder in November 2022, when the game debuted a reveal trailer. However, this was more of a re-reveal, the title having first been shown in June 2017 in a now unlisted YouTube video on the channel of the solo developer, who goes by the moniker Ahr Ech.
One year later, I got the chance to play Pepper Grinder at gamescom 2023, where it was one of my games of the show. I only had around 15 minutes or so with it at the time, but I left the demo booth lauding the
level design, art style and rumble feedback. One of my colleagues, Jordan Biordi, was also impressed by the title when he got hands-on with the first three levels last month, calling to attention Pepper Grinder’s “stylish look, groovin’ soundtrack and a genuinely unique mode of gameplay.”
Now, on the verge of Pepper Grinder’s release, my thoughts on the full version echo my initial impressions: this is a great platformer that makes adept use of its more or less unique gimmick — Grinder, the super-powered drilling device which allows the titular main character, Pepper, to “dive in and out of earth like a dolphin swims through water.” What keeps it a ways apart from modern indie classics such as Hollow Knight or Celeste, though, is the fact that, despite the lengthy development process, Pepper Grinder still feels like it could have used more time in the oven to iron out some pesky bugs and to expand on the 25 stages or so it ships with.
The story is fairly straightforward as Pepper Grinder opens with the aforementioned Pepper, as she is shipwrecked on a pirate island where she is robbed of her treasure by an army of narwhal-like
creatures called “Narlings.” Armed with the drill called Grinder, you control Pepper as she burrows through terrain and water in order to regain the riches she’s lost. There are a few other story beats present here, but the lack of any sort of storylines or cutscenes makes it quite clear that the narrative hasn’t been much of a focus.
“…at its core, Pepper Grinder is a buttery-smooth platformer, with a banging soundtrack and an eye-catching visual style.”
Rather, the main strength of Pepper Grinder is the gameplay, which relies almost solely on the drill. It’s simple, but the burrowing mechanic that the drill allows facilitates traversal, combat, and puzzle-solving. This makes Pepper Grinder feel like a combination of Mr. Driller and Ecco the Dolphin — and I mean this as a compliment.
Truly, the drill mechanics make for some of the most satisfying platforming I’ve performed in years. It’s also worth mentioning here that, for the most part, this is quite the accessible platformer, with generous checkpoints and accessibility options that allow the game speed to be reduced to 0.5x, for example. Nevertheless, the bosses can still prove to be a challenge, but they are nothing that can’t be overcome with a little bit of trial and error.
From a technical point of view, Pepper Grinder ran great on both a docked and handheld Steam Deck, it being the only platform I was able to play on for this review. I also played exclusively using a DualSense controller, and I am as impressed with the rumble as I have upon trying out the game at gamescom: it perfectly showcases the ferocity and sheer power of a high-speed drill and makes the whole experience much more immersive.
Sadly, though, Pepper Grinder suffers from some glitches, with one more significant than the others. According to an email I received from PR after I finished the game, Ahr Ech discovered a bug which might “render the final boss invincible on load if the player happens to die.” I haven’t encountered this in my own time with the game, and I have been informed that a fix is being deployed ASAP, but this is a disappointing issue nonetheless.
Having said this, on three separate occasions, I have had bosses completely, inexplicably freeze into place and have once even gotten Pepper stuck in terrain, with only a fully dislodged Grinder left to control. The silver lining is that none of the bugs I experienced have been game-breaking in any way, but I am still concerned about the state of the game just before release.
I am also concerned with the overall package that Pepper Grinder has on offer. As I mentioned, it took me about six hours to roll the credits, and that was after I dabbled with finding some secret coins peppered about each level and tried to unlock one or two hidden stages. Mind you, a game being short is not a problem in and of itself. It also helps that Pepper Grinder is adequately priced for what it is.
However, I am left wishing either that there were more worlds to sink my teeth into and/or that the ones that are present here evolved the gameplay loop in further ways than they do. And whereas I appreciate the time attack mode included and some of the other minor ways to spend time with the game, they all did little to keep me coming back to Pepper Grinder for more.
Before I wrap up, I’m happy to report that the visuals and music of Pepper Grinder are both highlights. On the one hand, the 2D-pixel art style is both charming and expressive, whereas on the other, the
soundtrack composed by XEECEEVEVO is a delightful blend of jazz and lo-fi, which often kicks into gear at just the right time.
In the end, despite my two qualms being the occasional bugs and the overall game package, at its core, Pepper Grinder is a buttery-smooth platformer with a banging soundtrack and an eye-catching visual style. For most people, myself included, that is and will be more than enough.
