SCHiM Review (Switch)

SCHiM is the kind of narrative-focused puzzle platformer that screams indie darling.

You know the type; you play as some odd creature in an otherwise realistic world and the plot isn’t really about the happy little shadow creature trying to find his master. it’s actually an allegory about how unsustainable capitalism is, and the ways modern life conspires to tear some part of your soul away which you’ll probably never get back.

The kind of game that, though the actual platforming mechanics are fairly simple, and it’s not what you would call ‘fun’ in a traditional sense, you still think fondly when reward time rolls around.

SCHiM’s one of those artsy, emotionally complex games that I’m an absolute sucker for.

Players take on the role of a shadow creature attached to a young boy, through the game’s opening tutorial levels you watch as he grows from a toddler to a teenager and eventually an adult.

After the poor guy is dumped and then loses his job (we’ve all been there) he’s separated from his happy little shadow creature, and with it, his shadow.

Thus it’s up to you to reunite our shadow-dwelling frog thingy with his owner by hopping from shadow to shadow, hoping the next leap is the one home.

SCHiM is an isometric puzzle platformer that asks you to find the best route through an area to a particular shadowy goal like a truck, or a cat that will whisk you off to the next level while sticking to the shadows.

It’s a simple but fun setup that sees you chaining jumps and interacting with the environment to create new shadowy pathways by moving barriers, piloting forklifts, and tinkering with traffic signals to hitch a ride on a passing car.

Each set piece isn’t too complex but does change things up just enough to keep it interesting.

The punishment for failure is also minimal as whenever you end up landing in the light you’re given one final jump to get back into the shadows and if you don’t you’re taken back to the last stable shadow you were lurking in, however, sometimes this can be a lot further back than you thought it would be.

This map-based platforming works well for the best part, but SCHiM doesn’t always communicate which way you need to go very well. On several occasions, I thought I was on my way to the exit only to find it was on the other side of the map.

The camera can also be rotated 90°, which shows you new areas to explore and adjusts the direction of shadows you’ve already navigated which often reveals a new way forward. It’s a clever little mechanic, but one I would occasionally forget I could use because my brain assumes isometric means fixed perspective.

This isn’t the end of the world though because each level is packed full of small stories, and fun little details that do a great job of world-building in subtle ways.

In fact, subtle is the best word to describe SCHim. It has a peaceful vibe thanks mostly to its gorgeous, almost draftsman-like art style that feels like a cross between the kind of two-tone polygonal art you would often find on 80s computers and an architect’s plans with empty space used to enhance your feeling of isolation as well as help to draw your eye to a potential route through the world.

This is coupled with a subtle, minimalistic score that melds well with the hustle and bustle of each slice of life present at every level and helps to draw you further into the mundane yet fantastical world of SCHiM.

Final Thoughts

SCHiM is an absorbing isometric platformer with some smart mechanics, a beautiful minimalist art style, and a strong emotional core at the centre of it. It might not be the most complex game in the world, but its relaxing vibes and stark yet engaging narrative will keep you happily hopping along from beginning to end.