Grapple Dog
Grapple Dog
Game
Game2024
Pepper Grinder
Developer Ahr Ech, MP2 Games
Pepper Grinder is an action-platform video game developed by indie developer Ahr Ech and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released on March 28, 2024 for Windows and Nintendo Switch. It was also released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 6, 2024. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
322 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 28, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
84
LovedLoved
158 positive · 30 negative
95% range 78–89%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 158 | 30 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 63 | 3 | 38 |
| Mastodon * | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 9 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
771 of 896 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
84% recommend · 154 yes, 29 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 183 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,113 of 1,290 positive).
Players praise the drill-based movement and level design as creative and satisfying. [1][2][3] Many find the game short, with a playtime of 3-6 hours. [4][5][6] Some reviewers criticize the boss fights as tedious or frustrating. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [9]
The game has a good idea and was fun at first, but once I got to the first boss I spent about an hour and a half trying to beat it. Afterward every single boss was just hard and tedious to beat. Although the levels are great the bosses are a pain in the ass. In addition this game is very short so I recommend you get it when its on sale.
- [1]
I finished the main quest and found all the tokens. Very good platformer. I'm huge Donkey Kong Country fan and you can feel that kind of energy in the game. The Level Design is very imaginative and I hope that in the future they make some DLC because they had a lot of good ideas that could be explore more. The game is not that hard but some bosses can be tricky.
- [2]
Super smooth, satisfying, crunchy gameplay. Each stage feels unique. Difficulty level is on point, and length too. Short and fun game. Just make sure to play on a controller, using the analogs.
- [8]
The bossfights stink tbh. Not saying its a bad game but it makes the game feel like a chewing gum that you chewed on for to long and now your stuck with the saliva taste until you beat the annoying bossfights and get another gum. Besides that its a good game that is especially fun if youre into jump and runs.
- [3]
If you're into platformers with a unique twist/movement mode, you're gonna love this! It's short and sweet but with a bit of replayability in the form of getting all the coins in each level and also just the joy of mastering its mechanics. When you nail a section of the game or pull off some movement trick you've been trying it's hella satisfying! The boss fights are a lot of fun and I feel like the finale wrapped …
Summarised from 34 of the 302 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Pepper Grinder sits at 84% positive across 188 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Pepper Grinder received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 86% of critics. Pepper Grinder won the award for "Best Platformer Game" at Intel Level Up 2017.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 322 · most liked firstPepper Grinder! Took around 6 hours to beat. That was an aight game! The drill mechanic was fun, and it had some cool moments! That being said, it wasn't perfect, as the heavy focus on precision felt like it hurt the game at times, and level design was sometimes questionable. It was a nice game tho!
neutral · AI labelView post →In terms of the vibe of Pepper Grinder, it's different from level to level! My favorite vibe that I've caught so far is this level, I love the backdrop and the music is a bop! One consistency is the graphics, which look cool and are really clean! I'm enjoying all of the different vibes in this game!
positive · AI labelView post →Next game is Pepper Grinder! ngl I know very little about this game, but I've seen this game getting more and more positive buzz recently! Pretty much what I know is that it's a 2D platformer, but I haven't even seen a screenshot of it! The cover art is cool tho, so I think it's going to be good!
neutral · AI labelView post →In terms of the gameplay of Pepper Grinder, my first impressions are: it's pretty fun! It's a 2D platformer, with the main mechanic being the drill! The drill can be used for combat, but is mainly used as a cool way to traverse the levels. It's a pretty challenging game, but I'm enjoying it!
positive · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder! 3 hours in! This is a pretty cool game! They use the drill mechanic in a lot of neat ways, and it's a lot of fun! ngl tho, I'm getting absolutely whooped lmao it's a challenging game! The fast paced and precision based gameplay is tough, but it's satisfying when you get good at it!
positive · AI labelView post →This track is called "Ice Flow"! Pepper Grinder was an awesome game! The game was a 2D platformer that featured a drill mechanic, which gave the player the ability to traverse the level in cool and unique ways! The game also had a nice graphical aesthetic and a banger soundtrack! It was a fun time!
positive · AI labelView post →This track is called "Prickly Situation"! Pepper Grinder was an awesome game! It was a challenging 2D platformer that had a ton of unique mechanics, it was fun to play through! The game also had a nice graphical aesthetic and a bumping OST, it'd be cool to see a follow-up to this game someday!
positive · AI labelView post →This track is called "Pepper Grinder"! Pepper Grinder was a cool game! The drill mechanic was used in a ton of creative ways, and there were mechanics outside of the drill that were a blast to use too! The game also featured a wide variety of different locales and settings! It was a fun experience!
positive · AI labelView post →A SNES-inspired instruction booklet I wrote/designed for Pepper Grinder, which we made available as a PDF on the game's Steam page. I'll be making more of these for future Devolver releases too. Manuals are back, baby!!!
neutral · AI labelView post →This track is called "Play it Cool"! Pepper Grinder was an awesome game! The drill mechanic was super unique, and it made traversing the levels a ton of fun! The game also had a cool art style, and the soundtrack was full of bangers! The game offered a nice challenge and was a blast to play through!
positive · AI labelView post →Devolver Delayed Showcase: 2023 - 2024 Edition. TL;DW: These Devolver games have been moved to **2024**: * The Plucky Squire * Stick it to the Stickman * Skate Story * Anger Foot * Pepper Grinder These games are still confirmed for **2023**: * Gunbrella * Wizard With A Gun * The Talos Principle 2 * The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood * Karmazoo * McPixel 3 DLC
neutral · AI labelView post →[OpenCritic] Pepper Grinder Reviews (79 Top Critic Average 86% Critics Recommend). -IGN 7 / 10 -PC Gamer 80 / 100 -Game Informer 8 / 10 -GameSpot 8 / 10 -Shacknews 8 / 10 -God is a Geek 9.5 / 10 -Game Rant 3.5 / 5 -GamingTrend 70 / 100
neutral · AI labelView post →Devolver Delayed Showcase | 2023 - 2024 Edition. Switch games mentioned in the showcase: Delayed to 2024: - The Plucky Squire - Pepper Grinder Not Delayed / Still coming in 2023: - Gunbrella - The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood - Broforce: Forever DLC - Mcpixel 3 DLC
neutral · AI labelView post →Played and finished Pepper Grinder from @ahr-ech.bsky.social in one sitting! The more I played, the more I clicked with its flow. It’s challenging without being brutal, and plenty of skull coins and speedruns are left to keep me busy for a bit!
positive · AI labelView post →The game has a good idea and was fun at first, but once I got to the first boss I spent about an hour and a half trying to beat it. Afterward every single boss was just hard and tedious to beat. Although the levels are great the bosses are a pain in the ass. In addition this game is very short so I recommend you get it when its on sale.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here's my #NintendoSwitch #indiegame highlight for today! 🎮👍🏼 Game - Pepper Grinder Developer - @ahr-ech.bsky.social Publisher - @devolverdigital.com Release date - March 28, 2024
neutral · AI labelView post →The first game I was assigned to be producer on at Devolver has just released, and it's really pretty brilliant, so please go play it! Pepper Grinder is out now on Nintendo Switch and Steam ❤️
neutral · AI labelView post →i beat this game Pepper Grinder by @ahr-ech.bsky.social and i loved every second what a lil banger this game is, like a SNES/Genesis gem that never dropped it was $6 and immediately upon starting it, it had me hooked the soundtrack alone is also $6 and worth it support people making great games
positive · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch.
neutral · AI labelView post →I had high hopes for this game and I'm more than disappointed. ------------ Let's start with the positives MUSIC -Music ranges from good background music to bangers, congrats to the artist, I must say they killed it ARTSTYLE -Artstyle is also really good, vibrant pixel art, nice backgrounds, colors are popping CONCEPT -The concept is fresh, drilling in a platform game hasn't been explored as a main mechanic as far as I know ------------ Neutral points LENGTH -The game is fairly short, it can…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pepper Grinder was the best time I ever had with a 2D game involving speed digging through sand. It's THAT fun.
positive · AI labelView post →I found myself between games with @destinythegame.bungie.net 's upcoming season launching next week. So tonight I tried @ahr-ech.bsky.social 's Pepper Grinder...and my goodness is that a great game! I bought it at release, but it's currently 40% off on Steam. store.steampowered.com/app/2076580/...
positive · AI labelView post →Week 33: Digital: - Pepper Grinder - Warm Snow - Cookie Cutter - Nuclear Blaze - Bassmaster Fishing - Castaway Physical: (the Yugioh game got damaged during shipping and I need to buy a new one.)
neutral · AI labelView post →I played Pepper Grinder on Switch this past week and had a really great time with it. Fun mechanics and movement, definitely worth checking out if you're after a short, sweet, unique platformer with collectables!
positive · AI labelView post →I was surprised by the luke-warm reviews of this game, but I get it now. Despite looking like a joy to play, this game includes a lot of clunky moments that really suck the joy out of it: bosses with long periods of invincibility, enemies without clear indications of their attacks. I wonder if they had some sort of anti-playtest sentiment because I have no idea how they fumbled this so close to the finish line.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pepper Grinder is a god tier “feels good” game. 15 bucks for physical is a great deal.
positive · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder, a simple but brilliant game about a girl and her drill, is one of 2024's best games. @patrickklepek.bsky.social spoke with the game's designer about SNES games in a PS5 world, the joys of Donkey Kong Country 2, and much more. remapradio.com/articles/mee...
neutral · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder is now available on iOS and Android through Crunchyroll Game Vault! www.crunchyroll.com/games/card/p...
neutral · AI labelView post →Played through Pepper Grinder this past week, fun little game! The player uses a big drill to dig through the ground to solve puzzles and bash enemies, all presented in a cute pixel art style. #peppergrinder
positive · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder | Steam Demo Available Now.
neutral · AI labelView post →I sadly wasn't really a fan of Pepper Grinder. There is no one aspect that's so bad the game is unplayable, rather a lot of tiny things that begin to build up the longer I played; resulting in an overall unpolished feeling experience. I don't wanna dwell on the positives of the game too much because their all apparent from the trailer, cool concept, interesting movement, etc. The problem is with the underlying game design that inform the rest of the game. Unlike what the trailer would suggest…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Mod @gbmento.bsky.social has a new edition of their "Indie Game of the Week" series on Giant Bomb and this episode looks at developer @ahr-ech.bsky.social's Pepper Grinder! Read why they think it never wears out its welcome! User Blog: www.giantbomb.com/pepper-grind... #games #gaming #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →as far as my personal game awards, i want to tell you to play Pepper Grinder. play Children of the Sun, Indika, 1000XResist, Crow Country, Nine Sols, Until Then, Thank Goodness You're Here, I Am Your Beast, Mouthwashing, SomnaBuster. give them love. give them what mainstream can't.
positive · AI labelView post →Pepper Grinder – DRILLfomercial Trailer – Nintendo Switch. Coming March 28. Demo available now.
neutral · AI labelView post →[Steam] Pepper Grinder ($7.49 / 50% off).
neutral · AI labelView post →14. Pepper Grinder - 5 hrs 42 min This is easily one of the best and most interesting platformers I have ever played. Tight controls. Fun mechanics. Well designed stages. Biggest down side were the bosses. They were the pits. Gorgeous pixel art and a bangin' soundtrack too. I really DUG this game.😎
positive · AI labelView post →Loved playing Pepper Grinder on the Steam Deck, feels like an easy recommendation for anyone that likes fun platformers and has the Deck. Very well made @ahr-ech.bsky.social ! My only frustration was the end boss, it felt like a complete departure from how comfy the rest of the game was 🫣
positive · AI labelView post →[Second Wind] Bears in Space, A Difficult Game About Climbing, Pepper Grinder, and Frogmonster | Yahtzee Tries.
neutral · AI labelView post →basic platformer with a little twist. one of the few decent games where the trailer sums up everything this is not remotely challenging and, if it weren't clear, there's not a lot to it. it just kind of looks and feels nice. video game equivalent of a walk thru a local park I guess
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game frustrated me. When this game allows me to drill during the level(which doesn't happen often after the first chapter) it feels somewhat good. But when this game decides to challenge you in somewhat different mechanic it starts to get frustrating. Combat? It sucks from start of the game till the title screen. Janky hitboxes + constant "why was I damaged at this particular moment" turns combat segments in repetition of one particular meme from GTA:SA. Additionally devs love to throw a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This Platformer does almost everything wrong. It starts with a good concept then does almost nothing with it. By the half way point, it basically throws the drilling thing away. The collectibles are useless as you can only use them for f*cking stickers, a key or color swaps. The enemies are the most annoying most frustrating things possible. In a Game who's mechanics want you to go fast, they serve not as speed bumps but as potholes. With quite literally the most Frustrating movesets. It feels…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished the main quest and found all the tokens. Very good platformer. I'm huge Donkey Kong Country fan and you can feel that kind of energy in the game. The Level Design is very imaginative and I hope that in the future they make some DLC because they had a lot of good ideas that could be explore more. The game is not that hard but some bosses can be tricky.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game 103: Pepper Grinder The key word here is: satisfying. A momentum-based platformer that revolves around using this huge ass drill to dig through sand and jump out of it. Chaining multiple jumps while keeping the flow going is the name of the game, and it is as challenging as it is fun.
positive · AI labelView post →now streaming drill-platformer PEPPER GRINDER, the new game from Devolver Digital twitch.tv/the_jenna
neutral · AI labelView post →My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →working through my "games I bought when they when on sale and then forgot about" backlog once more with Pepper Grinder. as a Mechanics Sicko this game really speaks to me
positive · AI labelView post →I 100% "Pepper Grinder"! 🫑 I saw this game on a Nintendo Direct like a year ago and bought it right away (on Steam as I just got my Steam Deck back then) but played it until now 😅. I liked it a lot! It's a platformer where you have to use a drill to traverse the levels, with different things and...
positive · AI labelView post →Time for Pepper Grinder! This was a gifted game by BrayBray, excited to finally get around to it after trying out the demo years ago! www.twitch.tv/kyriathanatos
positive · AI labelView post →Peppergrinder is kind of nice until you reach the final boss. Then its just frustrating and makes you hate the rest of the game. On top, there is no story at all.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →thinkin about how fun Pepper Grinder was to run, man i wish that game took off more it's so GOOD
positive · AI labelView post →Super smooth, satisfying, crunchy gameplay. Each stage feels unique. Difficulty level is on point, and length too. Short and fun game. Just make sure to play on a controller, using the analogs.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →you should play this game, I beat the final boss and while I think my problem with him was a skill issue because I wasn't a huge fan of the combat in the game, the platforming was really really fun and I will definitely be coming back at a later point to 100% the game(actually maybe not everything, those stickers seem like hell to get all of)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute little game that I first saw in a video from videogamedunkey a few years back, wondering when it would finally come out. Then a few years later I played it at Gamescom in 2023 and wishlisted it. Now that I finally played it, I would recommend it to you, but it does have a few problems, depending on your expectations. The game is short: the first playthrough, without going for 100%, can be finished in about 3 hours. The individual levels each have their own quality and unique mechanics,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →pretty fun short little game. It ends too quickly, and the bosses were pretty difficult
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun at the start, but the first boss is just pure bullcrap
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →3. Pepper Grinder Momentum, propulsion, inertia. The core language of platform game design since The Time Before (1985). A peak, modern example of how to make this new and novel, Pepper Grinder is a wonderful, concise, replayable experience that feels overlooked in a packed year for indie games.
positive · AI labelView post →hi! i really liked the demo for the funny drill game and it is out now so i have obtained it. would you like to see? i am streaming Pepper Grinder at the following web location www.twitch.tv/beanluncheon
positive · AI labelView post →Oh, these games were all fantastic. KNUCKLE JET was my favorite of the night, every inch of it oozing with anticorporate ire, like a punk Rocketeer. It's also SUPER smooth; closest I can remember in recent years was that sand-digging Pepper Grinder. Every inch of this game absolutely slaps!
neutral · AI labelView post →the mechanics are really fun and the music is great, but its a bit too short and a bit too easy. there are collectible stickers you could waste time trying to collect if you really wanna get 100% but they feel like they're there just to artificially add more playtime. worth playing if you get it on sale
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Charming art style and neat mechanics ruined by awful, irritating boss fights. Ended up turning game speed down to 0.75x for the second phase of the final boss—yep, a two-phase boss fight in a game with 4 health and almost no invincibility after getting hit—only for the game to kill me DURING THE QTE TO FINISH OFF THE BOSS. Screw this game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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