How Gris Became My Favorite Game

Gris is one of my favorite games and I want to talk about why I like it and what it means to me.
Script Help: / funnelchest94
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Also I am pretty sure I'm pronouncing Gris wrong. I think it's supposed to sound like " grease," but still, please do let me know in the comments if you have the correct pronunciation. Tell me all about it.

[@iankennedy9462]

I loved Gris... Any game that can make me sob without saying a word is definitely a masterpiece.

[@e.kathrynsshadows]

Gris is for people with trauma. My interpretation of the game is directly impacted by my experience and thus unique to me. I cried through so many sequences and I've been using the concepts to examine my own grieving process.

[@galendrai]

beautifully said.

[@tsorevitch2409]

Lots of people without trauma liked it very much

Can't look at images/videos/gameplay about Gris without immediately wanting to cry in happiness and sorrow. What a game, I really need to replay it in some quiet hours in the near future. It was similarly impactful to me, although like you, not directly through the feeling of grief, but rather depression + connecting emotions. Cathartic, I would say. Awesome video, thanks for making it!

[@iankennedy9462]

Just reading this comment in tearing up 😭

[@aneladgam]

Not anyone's mom here: haven't played a game since Sonic on Sega Genesis and this is the first video I've stumbled that's given me serious fomo. Beautiful stuff 🤌💕 Thank you for sharing!

[@safi6749]

I read a comment saying The stone breaking ability helped Gris survive the harsh wind but also destroyed her mothers statues and she became a but sad.Thats when that little buddy help her regain her empathy

[@zacharyhailey2120]

Sheesh Evan, this may be my fav video of yours yet. So good. So many important things that you shared. Thanks for your personal investment in this, and for sharing your story a bit more with us. Your candidness is an inspiration!

[@DaveMcGarry]

I'm 50 and have been a gamer for as long as I can remember and have been playing this game with my daughter who is 7. She said to me "Daddy why is this game so dramatic?" Which blew me away that she recognised this. And it really does. Fantastic game.

[@Weighty68]

Game bangs, video bangs, outro bangs. What a remarkable video :0

[@evanonline8409]

This comment bangs, weighty.

[@bizbaby]

I hope this channel’s creator is doing well. I found your channel on a late night dinner cook and I binged every video, even some I’m not interested in. You have a really well paced style and perfect for night time easy viewing. The story of your anxiety really touched home and I hope you find the love to make more of these wonderful videos

[@ItsJCrew]

I loved Gris, and your video really sums up what makes this game so special. Thank you for making this and for being so honest about your experiences with anxiety

[@CorruptedSave]

I really liked this game quite a bit, and it was among my favorites of 2018. I understand why some people may have found it boring, because some people really seem to need there to be mechanical stakes in the cards to be invested in playing a game. However, I think the inability to fail (beyond just turning off the game) is actually sort of uplifting if we think about it thematically. You can fall, but you always have the opportunity to climb up again whether it's the second try or the 20th or 100th. I know that this game is really open to interpretation, and intentionally vague about the source and style of grief being conveyed. But when I originally played it, my takeaway was that the game was about a miscarriage. The player character is like the little soul of the unborn child with her unformed limbs and incredibly small size, and the singing represented the connection to the mother, which was the statue. At some point, in the blue area, you even climb through the abdomen of the statue to get to her hands. So I saw it as the journey of the mother's grief of letting go of someone she was connected to but never got to meet, and finally accepting it at the end and not letting the tragedy be a source of anguish. And that's when you are able to ascend the constellation. Constellations being things that are ever-present in the sky, not to be forgotten, but also distant and weightless. The life that you represent is not crushing her as a burden that could break her apart or drag her down, but now a weightless part of the starry sky that represents her psyche. I realize that's a hyper-specific take, and probably not fully the intent of the developers, but that's what's so great about this title. It's a games-as-poetry type of experience. And poetry isn't for everyone, which is fine.

[@elisha2358]

Nah, it's about grief after a girl lost her mother. Look for the hidden cut scene you unlock when you find all collectibles. It should be on KZbin.

[@gregorychristensen5165]

I loved Gris. It was in my wishlist for a while and I ended up listening to the soundtrack first and needed to know how it fit to the game and was hooked for the moment I started playing. Hearing you talk about it, I felt very similar my first playthrough. It was hauntingly beautiful. Great video!

[@capabartz7380]

I think that youve made a really beautiful piece of art about a beautiful piece of art. I hope that some day you have the energy and feel inspired enough to make more videos but if not you’ve left your mark on this platform and you should be proud of the work you’ve done. Because it is truly spectacular

[@Andra_JD]

I just finished the game, and seeing Gris be able to use her voice was the momenti broke down... I've been struggling a lot with not being heard, and that part really hit me. GRIS is a beautiful game. It's definitely a creative masterpiece.

[@mnedix]

I played this game with my SO who is not a gamer, and she loved it. We just got lost in it and we had to make active efforts to play only an hour or so every evening so we don't finish it too soon. Same with Journey which was even shorter than Gris. I strongly believe that a lot of the negative reviews came form people who purposely ave it a thumbs down just because it made them feel something which uneased them or made them afraid of something they weren't able or equipped to understand. While most gamers choose to escape into flavors of violence (be they pvP or PvE) some others chose to build, create and feel.

[@noctiluca_x]

I think you've summed up exactly what i feel about this game. When i first played Gris i was in a really, really bad place and in many ways it helped me feel less alone. The soundtrack is so beautiful, but also very painful to listen to now since it reminds me of the time i was in a bad place and all the grief that comes with it, so it's something i can rarely listen to without crying hahaha. Great video, thanks for this! It feels good to find people who've felt what you've felt. :)

[@TisaTinkers]

I adore games like this. Journey, sky, and similar games are just so wonderful. when a story is told wiyth just music and visiuals. ugh. Im so excited for NEVA

[@andreadiscua5691]

Hi evanonline❤ I really appreciate this video! You're awesome

[@olegdepapa]

I accidently discovered this game a few days ago and I fell in love with it. I never cried playing a game before. It's so beautiful. Ethereal. Makes me think. There's happy elements too, and so many surprises.

[@doominator988]

I just finished waching whiplash and youtube hapened to show me your video on it. After that I watched this. Great content keep it up, im glad I found this chanel!

[@kgordy]

This is very well done, thank you!

[@SaketVaibhav]

Hey Evan, I watched your video on Whiplash and landed here. Before I tell you how much I loved it, I wanted to say I hope you're doing much better now. I LOVED this video. I feel what you felt about the game quite often. You put to words a lot of this I've just felt so far. In addition to that, you've made me fall in love with this game even before playing it, I'm definitely giving it a shot. Thanks a lot for this video.

[@dillonwillhelm2476]

I guess this means you’re someone’s mom…. Congrats on becoming a mother I guess. Cool video too

[@evanonline8409]

I’m on my mommy shit

[@user-fr5id8bs2q]

I played Gris yesterday and I was overwhelmed by everything in the Gris too. Especially the graphics, sounds, and stories that express her spiritual growth. I felt uncomfortable seeing some negative comments so your video saved me. Thank you for creating this video.

[@hermakopijn127]

Same it is honestely sad how poeple are hating a game that nomada studio's worked very hard on i even cried like 10 times in the ending Nomada must make a sequel to this game

[@energy5993]

man i just love you, you just told the correct thing about the game, i played the game when its launch and this is my favorite game ever, i hope you doing ok today and stay strong, love your video so much!!!!

[@pietro_ferrari]

An wonderful masterpiece

[@pedrocrb]

great video!

[@Simon-et4hu]

Great essay! It’s my first time on your channel and I like it. Also I loved the end. Edit: here’s one more sub towards you being a big youtuber :)

[@nathanburg]

I loved this game. Couldn’t put it down. I’ll be forever seeking something as good.

[@chancegowan]

10/10. Thanks for another great essay, Evan! Excited to give Gris a try!

[@benjamaing859]

Beautiful video

[@roel.vinckens]

I am immensely enjoying Gris. Not by immediate relation to trauma (although who can't relate to that?), but for the beauty, the atmosphere and the gentle intelligence of this unique creation. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the anxiety. All the best.

[@da_drood-digitalart]

You spoke my mind brother 🙌💙

[@AlejandroMorgado]

This video perfectly sums up how I feel about this game.

[@angelh1743]

Very well said. Your video comments at the end. I'm gonna have to check GRIS for myself. It sounds very interesting. Because of you I now know what GRIS is. So thx.

[@Angeltjee]

fuuuck Gris made me cry, the darkness surrounding her just made me relate towards my chronic depression. Thanks for helping me understand my tears :D

[@civilwarfare101]

I dropped this game years back mainly because I got burnt out from trying to beat in one day. I may return to it. Honestly, I have really hate online discourse lately. I just become jaded to the whole thing. The whole point of online communities was because finding stuff to talk about media in real life is really hard. Yet, there is so much fucking petty infighting that it's goddamn pathetic.

[@evanonline8409]

Yeah, it’s pretty exhausting. It feels tough to find good faith conversations sometimes. At this point, most of my contribution to online discourse comes from these videos, and I think I’ll keep it that way lol.

[@civilwarfare101]

@@evanonline8409 Sometimes, online discourse can come together. But it is so rare and with all the mountains of trash

[@laurenloertscher1319]

Never played this game, but I ran across the sound track and was curious what video essays people had made about it. I checked out another one of your essays and liked it a lot. Kinda sad there aren't more for me to enjoy, but whatever you're up to now, I hope it's going well 🙂

[@sagnotron]

It really is a masterpiece 🥹

[@vividcolorsofem]

Thank you ❤

[@crystalllllll]

This game meant a lot to me also and I was so sad and moved when it ended

[@user-th3nf7rf9n]

Totally agree ,Gris is a MASTERPIECE

[@cuttlefish6439]

The first time I played gris I cried and had a whole new outlook on life

[@spaceowl5957]

That joke at the end was amazing

[@SpitfireTheWolf]

I found this game during the pandemic and I lost my grandpa during the end of the year. I feel like this game helped me cope a lot more and it’ll remain as one of my favorite games of all time

[@itsmebroseidon7993]

Your video makes me feel like you need a hug and like I wanna give you one, bro

[@clown-cult96]

If a game like Gris is boring and does nothing for you, I’m going to safely assume that you’ve never had anything truly bad happen to you. If that’s the case, good. I’m happy you haven’t had to be subjected to grief, depression, pain, fear, anger and anxiety. In real life, that’s getting harder to avoid. But you don’t get to invalidate and shut down people who have experienced those things and find games like Gris to be a relatable way to escape from, confront and work through their pain.

[@fuka8315]

This game means so much to me, I clicked on the video by error, and just hearing the first notes made me tear up, I found this game at the lowest point of my life, it gave me a playable way of portraying this part of my life, I can't play it without crying, the game in itself is magnificent, the music is so powerful, but the best part of the game isn't the game, it's what it mean for the player, every part of the game is linked to a part of my life, the part with the turtle saving the character, for me was the most powerful moment it's linked to someone I met who changed my life and helped me getting better, and who saved my life. This is my favourite game and it will be for ever.

[@xDragonchiefx]

Played Gris today for the first time. 100%'ed it. I cant say I LOVED it... I think I like journey a little better maybe. Still I think the game was great. Im 27 and I've already had YEARS of therapy. A game that got me during that was Undertale. Seeing as how I was acting similar towards a friend as a hidden yet main character in the game and how that emphasized some attachment issues. So for me Undertale has a special place in my heart. FFWD to today... I really liked Gris. I can understand some people would call it boring. There is no real challenge. There is no combat, you cant even fall off platforms and die. So there is technically no challenge. Still, it almost got me to cry. I suppose if I was more vulnerable today instead of just cozy and happy, I might have. Its a beautiful game. Gris is good. Its sweet, short and nice. Not everyone is going to get curious at the walking rocks like I was. And thats okay. Enjoy it or dont, Gris was enjoyable to me

[@Ramuk]

Gris was quite the experience. And it helped me a lot. After finishing it, I found out the next day that a family friend passed. I was upset, but I was also accepting of it.

[@Broeckchen]

In my opinion, there has been a growing issue since perhaps the early 2000s where caring about stuff was increasingly equated with embarrassment. You're only cool if you don't care. Tv show characters coldly snark at each other to make the viewer laugh. Roasting becomes more popular. KZbinrs build whole careers around pointing at kids enjoying themselves or people caring about media or activism and yelling "CRINGE!". There is a counter movement to that by now, but in those reviews, I sense the remnants of this trend. It's as if these people are scared of showing any sign of being emotionally affected. They might permit themselves to feel anger or laugh, but the soft nuances of sadness, relief, attachment... those are seen as weak and taboo. Gris is a game all about softness. About changing. About being malleable. It's not about fighting anything concrete. It's about the incredibly hard battle of healing and self-actualization. I think these people can sense that enjoying this game is all about vulnerability. And that's not something they can allow others to catch them showing. Which is a shame, because vulnerability is also something that forges bonds between us as humans. Under each video about Gris, I see comment sections full of people being vulnerable, and receiving gentle connection in return. They lower their guard and get to experience how a normally very volatile entity, the internet, blossoms into a soft outpour of "I understand" and "me too". Yes, these people will never meet and talk in the real world. But that moment of connection across the world, where we are viscerally reminded of our own humanity and the humanity that surrounds us... that's a magic and comfort we all deserve to experience. I hope that most of the writers of those reviews are just young. I hope that they just haven't lived enough yet to hold experiences and memories in their heart that resonate with the song of Gris. When I was a child, my father read "The Little Prince" to me and I barely understood any of it. The book was cute to me, I liked it. But it was also just so-so in my opinion. Way less interesting than fairy tales. Then I grew up. I reread that book every few years. And each time, I understood it more. The scene about the drinker once confused me, now it makes me cry. The story of the fox was always my favorite, but only now do I truly understand what it means to tame and be tamed like the fox. The rose always stood out vaguely as special, but only now do I understand what makes her Unique, and why her tale is a painful story about love and appreciation that comes too late. I hope some of them will, in a few years, see this game in their libraries and decide to do a quick playthrough to kill some time. And suddenly find their hearts filled with something that wasn't there before, as Gris' wounds gently touch all of their own still aching scars. Here's to resonance and life lived.

[@carterbot8472]

Its so weird to stumble upon situations like this. Your editing was good, you had some sort of gain; however, your channel has went cold. One year, 4 posts. 3 thousand people enjoying the content enough to subscribe. and yet only 33 comments on this video. I wouldn't have came across the channel if not for whiplash becoming free with adds. I have to wonder why exactly you quit, and what's next for this platform Evan. Regardless, I wish you luck. and hope your day, and life, are going well.

[@digimonalvatrax2738]

Ah ill give it a try :)

[@jonathanj.3695]

Gris is not a game. It's an emotional art piece. This is why there are several people who can't appreciate it. They don't know how to appreciate art.

[@shiraso7706]

HOW CAN PEOPLE BE SO LAME gris is such a good game like how brain dead do you have to be in order to think it's BORING?? TT i had to pause like 5 times in the middle of it just to recollect myself and the ending makes me cry every time i see it anywhere

[@winstochurgle9133]

What a gold channel. But where's the author now?

[@lol-rc9ok]

I am crying at the end but did you really have to end it with a joke I love gris I think it’s an amazing and beautiful game

[@decayinsilence]

🖤

[@inamurphy7447]

I can not disagree. This game had a huge impact on my life. I played this game in 2020, one of my hardest years of my life. This game made me find comfort and peace. I cannot emphasize my feelings during the play time. I was playing and streaming to my friend and we were being funny about my horrible double jumping experience and tried to make this game experience fun and joke about some characters. By the end of the game my friend cried. No matter how much we tried to make it fun, it hit us hard. This is an absolute masterpiece. I have been recommending this game to everyone I meet and especially those who has been going through grief. This game makes me feel at peace.

[@Menjoood]

Surprisingly good video.. real shame you apparently stopped making these.

[@evanonline8409]

Thanks for the comment! It means a lot. I took a break on the videos, but am now back working on another. Hopefully it’ll be out in the next few weeks!

[@SmallRelia]

You'll most likely not see this but I don't care. I have lost my own mother when I was 4 years old and seeing someone describe Gris as a game is just simply wrong. It is a journey that I have lifed through and I love this game. I just hope others would see it as well.

[@Asexual_Individual]

I recently played "Spirit of the North", which is similar to Gris. No dialogue and relies heavily on visuals and music to tell the story and keep players invested, light puzzles, get new abilities as you go, etc. But while I liked Gris, I found SotN to be a boring slog most of the time even though I wanted to like it. I think the reason I liked Gris comes down to two major reasons. Gris kept its scenes and levels short, and used big sweeping music and visuals for the longer scenes, things generally not outstaying their welcome. Meanwhile levels in SotN were just too big and the slow movement speed meant it took forever to explore, especially at the end, and the world was just too empty. And also the story in Gris was very personal, a visual representation of the player-character going through grief. While SotN is about the world, one of those "bad things happened to the world and you'll have to work out what through carvings left behind", while the fox you're playing as is just the medium to explore the world; and that's only engaging if you care about the world, which I didn't.

[@hotelchupagato1196]

I totally agree that Gris is a masterpiece. The only thing I disagree with is the fact that it took FIVE YEARS to come into my life! I just recently got the game (2023), and I will enjoy it anytime I want now. It's just so beautiful in every way. In fact, I need to stop using the misnomer of it being a 'game' -- it's a gad damned piece of art! >)

[@ThibautMahringer]

Same, I just experienced it on iPhone of all places lol, but I was completely hooked on it. Can’t wait for Neva 😊

[@PikWiskey]

ill got it on my list for a long time and i think ill play it now but if you like platformer games in general with amazing artstyle you should try hollow knight if you not have tried yet

[@SS-pm3px]

How have you done the ink transition at 0.05 in your video?

[@alexhenson]

Gris reminds me of journey, but 2D Try it out ;)

[@plmilley]

The last scene with you speaking to the camera isn't captioned.

[@mimszanadunstedt441]

People get picky because they are trying to justify its cost, time effort money and hope. This leads into the game starting empty and barren, instead of pretty like it showed. Then they dont have a reason to go on and stop early. And this mirrors the stages of grief the game has us go through. So naturally people are going to shift the blame onto the game. But I realized in my journey, that its not actually the game you're giving up on justifying the price for. Suddenly, its your confidence in the decision you made to play the game, that makes you question 'is it worth it?'. And this causes you and the game to merge during the more harrowing portion. Then, out of thr darkness you learn how to draw on your inner beauty. Then you take this with you into the belly of the beast, and finally heal, having completed your journey.

[@KajiRider1997]

I got Gris the first year during christmas, My niece asked what you do in the game and even though she was 5 she instantly assumed it was a walking simulator. Then my grandpa passed away, then my great aunt passed away and then my cat Dylan passed away, all in a short time. We were even scared the following christmas because my grandma wouldn't wake up to go home. I suffered from psychosis during all of this. Griss got me through that grief. Komorebi 1+2 are the music of my soul Griss might be less than a action platformer but certainly more than boring. I think the people leaving the reviews just arent in the right space to see that.

[@fiertheflame4832]

I liked your conclusion, and you expressed why you liked this game fantastically, so I gave your video a like. Yeaaa so, I don't really like this game lmao. But I know what it feels like to like something others don't, so I ain't here to judge, just understand. And I do now. To me, this game got fire music, amazing art, but ok af gameplay. I dont even think its bad its just, nothing. If the engagment is low for someone, no amount of amazing music and incredible is gonna do anything. As for the story, all I'll say is, didn't do it for me. As for people's opinions pissing you off, its only natural when you really like something. I don't really think I can say anything helpful here, as I generally don't give a shit what random people have to say, but take it easy. Anyways thanks for elaborating on your love for the game, here was my take if you're curious.

[@IlyaWazuhiru]

I'm not a Twitter person and I was shocked to see the hate that the developers of TLOU2 received for helping their audience to grow up. Gris is one of those games that doesn't depend on the primitive "good vs evil" premise and has true depth, but only available to those who have seen some sh*t and/or have grown enough to perceive it.

[@darkshadows6328]

Gris the first stages of grief

[@Hchris101]

GRIS for the super nintendo

[@dylandog1289]

The folks saying GRIS is boring are people who didnt take the time to look into it. Its a journey-like. A game about feels. Anyone that bought it then was shocked by this needs to seriously look at their buying habits.

[@kushagra2380]

mb for being that guy but gris is french for grey and in the pronunciation u dont really pronounce the s at the end, i loved the video btw

[@davidransom4703]

a lot of people are naive and just don,t understand certain things

[@LinouGertz]

A video game being pure art: exists 15 yo playing CoD and being racists and sexists online: its boring

[@youngman6355]

The focus of the game isn't the game mechanics. It's an experience, yes. But it's not a fun experience.