If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you’ll be sure of a few things by now. One, I hate exceedingly long tutorials that interrupt gameplay. Two, I’m a big sucker for the roguelike genre (like Pepper Grinder), and three, I believe that Devolver Digital simply cannot miss.
That isn’t to take credit from the developers who create the games Devolver publishes. I’m just saying that Devolver Digital seems to have a knack for finding and publishing the most unique of the bunch. Every Devolver Digital published title I’ve reviewed in my time with TryHardGuides has, at the very least, stood out for its unique gameplay mechanics, premise, and presentation. Even with the titles I wasn’t personally super fond of, I could confidently say that anything that bore the Devolver Digital publisher logo was going to be, if nothing else, very unique and interesting.
Pepper Grinder is not an exception.
In this charming little platformer, you play as Pepper, a tiny blue-haired pirate with a ton of attitude who finds herself washed up on a beach and her precious treasure being stolen by what I can only describe as Narwhal Goblins. Using your grinder, which is a sort of hand-held drill that would impress even the cast of Gurren Lagaan, you plow your way through enemies and terrain alike to get back your gold, gems, and anything else precious and shiny that these Narwhaloblins have stolen from you.
Pepper Grinder’s premise is short and sweet, and it doesn’t need anything longer than a short, dialogue-free cutscene to sell you what’s happening. The world of Pepper Grinder is delightfully colorful, interesting, and easy to immerse yourself in. The large, colorful levels serve the platforming well, but I was particularly interested in the numerous monster designs. The aforementioned Narwhal enemies and giant ladybugs are particularly interesting additions. There are a lot of bugs in the game in general, actually, and by that, I mean insects hoarding your gold and not gameplay-interrupting glitches.
For all the praise I’ve given the game’s presentation, Pepper Grinder’s most unique feature is the main gameplay mechanic.
If you haven’t guessed, the big focal point of Pepper Grinder is Pepper’s Grinder—the giant hand-held drill she picks up in the opening cutscene. This drill is your main weapon, creating a nigh-irresistible force when pointed at enemies, but it also serves as the game’s primary platforming tool.
![Pepper Grinder Water](https://tryhardguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pepper-grinder-water.jpg)
When you spin your drill, which connects with some soft terrain, namely the countless patches of beach sand located throughout the island-themed levels, Pepper’s Grinder will begin to tug forward at speeds you can’t acquire just on foot. Turning can be slightly negated by turning, but for the most part, your drill will send you rocketing off in the direction it’s facing. When it leaves a patch of sand, it gains an even greater burst of speed, sending you flying into the air, further if you activate a boost just before.
Platforming in Pepper Grinder is all about using the speed from drilling through patches of sand to ascend to heights Pepper can’t reach on her own. Navigation is a test of your physics knowledge and your ability to control the swaying pull of drilling machinery.
![Pepper Grinder Stage Clear](https://tryhardguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pepper-grinder-stage-clear.jpg)
Controlling said drill is far easier with a controller, which the game will warn you about when booting up on Steam for the first time. When the drill moves in a direction, it wants to stay moving in that direction, which can make turning feel like tugging on the reigns of a bucking horse. With a controller’s thumbstick, smaller, more nuanced movements can prevent you from getting stuck on an area because you just can’t get the angle right.
Boy, it is hard to express just how satisfying it is to get the mechanics to work for you. Flying from sand pit to sand pit, quickly scaling up a giant wall with nothing more than momentum and a dream is an utterly exciting little mechanic that gives this game so much life.
Each level introduces new puzzle mechanics and twists old ones to make the platforming all the more interesting. As early as the third stage you’ll be dealing with trap door puzzles and deadly landmines that make you think twice about how you go drilling forward.
The game’s boss fights are thematically and mechanically interesting, challenging your knowledge of the game’s mechanics to gain victory in fights where the odds are stacked against Pepper. While generally fun and not too challenging, I spent a LOT of time on the first boss fight because I just couldn’t figure out how to dodge the boss’ projectiles. If I’m being honest, this is probably a skill issue.
![Pepper Grinder Boss](https://tryhardguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pepper-grinder-boss.jpg)
To top off my series of praises of Pepper Grinder, I want to say that the game’s sound design is excellent. The sounds of the drill, Pepper’s little frustrated grunts when hit, and everything are just so well put together in a way that I struggle to describe. It’s one of those games with crispy, satisfying-to-the-ear sound effects, to say nothing about the fantastic score that presents a new soundtrack on every level.
Pepper Grinder reaffirms my belief in Devolver Digital’s exceptional eye for unique and engaging indie titles. From its charming premise to its delightful presentation and innovative gameplay mechanics, Pepper Grinder captures players’ attention and keeps them engaged throughout. Fans of platformers are sure to get a ton of enjoyment out of this unique take on the genre, with its fun mechanics and unique presentation as well.
The Final Word
Pepper Grinder undoubtedly shines as another gem in Devolver Digital’s diverse portfolio, reaffirming their reputation for delivering standout indie games that captivate and entertain. Pepper Grinder is sure to delight platformers with its unique mechanics and treasure-collecting glory.
10
Try Hard Guides was provided with a PC review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website! Pepper Grinder is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch.