Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Jan 11, 2021
    90
    Grindstone on the Nintendo Switch is a puzzle game with origins in the mobile market, but don't let that deceive you: this is a real gem that will grab players' attention from the very beginning for hours on end, and where everything is delightfully addicting and marvelously executed. Anyone who thinks a game with origins on mobile devices cannot deliver a good experience on the Nintendo Switch should take a good look at Grindstone as soon as possible.
  2. Jan 10, 2021
    90
    In Grindstone, each movement must be planned, taking into account not only the game itself, but the resources that we will obtain for the future, under a constant risk / reward system and all involved in a wonderful and colorful puzzle game. It's a masterpiece of the genre.
  3. Jan 5, 2021
    90
    Grindstone is a fantastic puzzler that has well and truly gotten its hooks in me. What usually starts out as plans for a quick five-minute session soon unravels into hours. The wait from Apple Arcade to Nintendo Switch has been worth it, and Grindstone ends 2020 with a bang.
  4. 90
    Grindstone is an example of a game which hits all the right notes and keeps up a quality in gameplay throughout that many struggle to maintain. The divine gameplay mechanics give a wonderful sense of control in spite of the randomness of how enemies fall, and the inputs of buying equipment or using currency to give temporary boosts gives ample opportunity for improvisation if things don’t go quite your way. I only wish there were more to play.
  5. Jan 2, 2021
    90
    A puzzling masterpiece, Grindstone is easy to learn but hard to master. With a ridiculous amount of content and varied gameplay, Grindstone is the total package.
  6. Dec 20, 2020
    90
    Honestly, Grindstoneis a game I’m ecstatic I finally got to try. If I hadn’t known it was originally for mobile, I wouldn’t have believed it. This is a high-quality adventure, and a reason I keep following the work of Capybara Games. It’s full of content, amazing art, and challenge galore. Yet it never gets so hard that I decided to stop playing for very long. Honestly, this is the best puzzle game I’ve played in a decade. It’s tremendous fun, and the only real downside is that sometimes the difficulty will spike unexpectedly. If you have a Nintendo Switch and are looking for a game to grind away the hours, this is a wonderful choice.
  7. Dec 17, 2020
    90
    One of the best puzzle games of the last decade and a perfect fit for the Switch, with its mix of tactical puzzle-solving, extreme violence, and charming visuals.
  8. Dec 21, 2020
    88
    Grindstone is a puzzle game you can’t miss if you like the genre. Accessible but also tough, fun and full of content.
  9. Dec 28, 2020
    80
    Compelling to a fault, with a hypnotic and exhilarating central conceit, Grindstone is a tiny bit special. Hopefully, it won't be dismissed by players for being a mobile port, or being mistaken for a "match-three" game akin to Candy Crush – it's not. A full-featured, elegantly designed experience, Capybara's action-puzzle-tactics game is a tiny marvel and we'd strongly recommend it to any and all Switch owners. Ever-so-slight resource exhaustion is the only thing letting it down, but it's easily forgiven when smashing seven shades of shawarma out of creeps is so flipping fun. We say it's time to reverse that well-worn idiom and put your yes to the Grindstone.
  10. Dec 27, 2020
    80
    Grindstone is the sort of puzzler that appeals to hardcore genre fans and casual gamers alike with its immediately gratifying gameplay.
  11. Dec 27, 2020
    80
    Grindstone is arguably the most metal puzzle game of all time. The gameplay demands strategic thinking, but the presentation wants players to play at breakneck speeds to match the inner fury of the main character. At some point, whittling down the options for movement and executing huge combos becomes second nature, and that's when players can share in the intensity of what's on display. While a few remnants of its mobile design do hold it back from perfection, it's easy to recommend Jorj's bloody adventure to just about anyone.
  12. Dec 18, 2020
    80
    Grindstone is an excellent puzzle game, packed with a very long and challenging campaign and a solid gameplay that revisits match-3 mechanics in a different way.
  13. Dec 18, 2020
    80
    Another hit puzzle game from Capybara Games. Not on par with their Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, yet a very fine experience.
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 22
  2. Negative: 4 out of 22
  1. May 22, 2021
    6
    The game is pretty addictive, and the visual presentation is really nice. However, if you can get it on mobile, you probably are better offThe game is pretty addictive, and the visual presentation is really nice. However, if you can get it on mobile, you probably are better off playing it there.

    At its core, the game is a mini-game without much depth, similar to candy crush or minesweeper. A lot of effort has been put into making it seem like it is more, but most of it does not work. There is a ton of gear, and almost all of it is flat-out useless. There is a world map, but no branching, so it is only a glorified "next" button. There is an inn, and it becomes tedious pretty much right away, when you have to go back there every time between stages to refill your hearts and repair gear, .
    At some point, the levels increase in difficulty by making it harder to build chains. But it does not feel challenging, just tedious, when you flop around the board without ever really getting things going.

    Seems like a lot of effort was put into all the wrong places. Ironically, I would probably rate the game higher if it was the same game, just without all the dysfunctional fluff. The core mechanics are fun and addictive, and I got a lot of playtime out of it. And it could be a really great game, if the RPG elements worked.

    As of May 2021, the game has a bug, where it does not recognize when you complete a certain type of challenge.

    All in all, buy it on sale if you are really into casual games or look for something to waste time on the train. It's perfect for that.
    Full Review »
  2. Dec 21, 2020
    9
    What will you got, if you take some puzzle-solving gamepaly, mix it with barbaric violence, sprinkle it with a pinch of humour and wrap it allWhat will you got, if you take some puzzle-solving gamepaly, mix it with barbaric violence, sprinkle it with a pinch of humour and wrap it all up in charming visual cover! You got it right you get the Gridstone!

    I could say a lot about why I liked the game and what's interesting about it, but I don't want to waste your time so I'll be very brief and just tell you what I didn't like.

    I have only one complaint about game interface, it can be a little bit clunky when using a controller, but it is understandable, since the game was originally made for mobile (iPhone/iPad).

    9 gridstones from 10!
    Full Review »
  3. Dec 20, 2020
    10
    Super jeu de réflexion, on s'y laisse vite prendre.. a vrai dire des les premières secondes ! Très bien pensé, également le mode defi quiSuper jeu de réflexion, on s'y laisse vite prendre.. a vrai dire des les premières secondes ! Très bien pensé, également le mode defi qui empêche de se lasser! Bravo au developpeur Full Review »