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One of My Favorite Games Just Launched on Apple Arcade

Gris is a breathtaking puzzle-platformer about processing grief.

shelbybown
shelbybown
Shelby Brown Editor II
Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
Credentials
  • She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.
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Shelby Brown
illustration of a young woman with red hair, eyes closed and mouth open

Gris is one of my favorite mobile games.

 Apple

Apple Arcade added Gris, a stunning game about healing from painful experiences, to its catalog of games on Friday. Apple Arcade subscribers can check out Gris for no extra charge. Otherwise, you can find Gris in the App Store for a one-time $5 payment. 

See at Apple Arcade

The game opens on a young girl, Gris, who has suffered a heartbreak and lost her voice. She begins to wander through a colorless world of ruins. Along the way she learns new skills and begins to heal. The skills manifest in Gris' dress, which becomes an important tool for you to complete levels. You can't die in the game, making perseverance and patience constant themes. The game dives into symbolism with its use of environments, colors, obstacles and more, which leaves a lot of the game open for your interpretation.

A soothing soundtrack fades away to moments of quiet, when you can hear only Gris' footsteps and the whisper of wind. The game also plays with color, alternating between stark wastelands, sun-drenched temples and lush forests.

Read more: Hindsight Asks Players to Confront Loss, Grief and Find Acceptance

Apple Arcade adds new games and content updates every week. If you're interested in trying Apple Arcade, you can get a three-month free trial with the purchase of a new Apple device, or one month for free if you're signing up for the first time. Open the App Store and tap the joystick icon at the bottom of the screen to launch the service. 

Try Apple Arcade See at Apple
Try Apple Arcade