Gris - Story and Analysis

A short talk about the story of Gris and my own personal analysis of what i think is happening throughout the stages of the game, along with basically a play by play of the major events.

It will contain lots of spoilers for those who haven't yet played it, so be warned

[RoryStarr]

My favourite metaphor was a subtle one. It's the orb in the water level where you swim up on it and it runs away. So you try turning into a rock, swimming faster, being more efficient--you chase harder. But then it occurs to you to just wait. And wouldn't you know it, the star comes back to you if you're just patient. No trick.

[akehaku]

Everytime I see the final scene, with Gris singing while the darkness tries to take over, and then her mother's statue starts singing as well, I cry. So badly. And cried right now lol

[River_StGrey]

Something else I liked with the giant bird section is that while it represents darkness and setbacks in the grieving process, you ultimately need to use it's qualities to progress in the story.

[bluefaecosplay]

I’m in the middle of grieving losing my baby from a miscarriage that happened last month after our second IVF cycle (I’d guess I’m in the depression stage). I played this game over the last couple nights. I was constantly on the edge of tears (not in a bad way), and was full on weeping as the credits rolled. I’m a cosplayer, and immediately decided Gris will be my next cosplay. Almost as a way to honor and say goodbye to my baby before moving forward.

[elusivo]

The last demon Gris faces before she takes her step is herself, I saw this as after facing and overcoming all the hurt you’ve felt, the hurdles you’ve leapt, and the darkness you stepped out of. The only thing standing in your way, the final demon that you’ve still yet to prevail, is yourself

[silverelgrandlow]

I was initially highly impressed with the beauty and the music of the game. It was introduced to me by a friend of mine. Coincidentally after this game, my grandmother who I have grown up with and is very close passed on. This game suddenly has a whole new meaning. And i love that this game can relate to anyone who has experienced loss, trauma, or pain in their lives. This game is more than words. And this can only be experienced when you play the game itself.

[zzlee]

I think the final form the dark things took is not her mother, but her self. Her mother got long hair

[psycheyt]

I like how each stage of grief and it's statue is connected to the gameplay. Like Denial- you DENY the conventional direction... Depression- the statue at the bottomest part of the water area... Acceptance - you sing while near the statue... wonderfully incorporated ❤️

[Pablorovirita]

This was an incredible analysis. You connected the colours with the abilities and with the stages of grief and the emotions one might be feeling when in mourning in such a perfect way...

Just a little something that I noticed you didn't point out: At 3:50 you walk through a hall supported by pillars that portray women covering their faces. You mention how it's symbolic of the main character having lost her support, her "pillar", but it's also interesting how each pillar shows the women being gradually turned into stone, with each statue being more... well, pillar like. I feel it's a metaphor for how sorrow and grief can be paralyzing, stopping your life in its tracks, slowly turning you into stone if you're unable to move on and get over that sadness.

[anakani_]

This game was such a sudden coincidence for me. Gris was purchased only because i found it so beautiful and refined, the music and overall smoothness made me eager to have it. And i had no clue what it's about. The fact is i lost my mother a year ago, and finding out Gris's plot shocked me and made cry at first. But i couldn't stop playing anyway and enjoyed it to the very last second.
Thank you for this video and all your thoughts, you helped me to find something new in the game i loved so much.

[ShehrozeAmeen]

I remember when I finished the first playthrough of this game, and completely breaking down in tears. From the frustration of completing the puzzles (which was so satisfying once I found the solution and got through them) through to that AMAZING chase sequence when passing through the underwater portion, even the trophies which pop up from time to time... It was especially the sequence when Gris sings her heart out, even when that manifestation of her self-doubt, that crippling image of her sorrow which drowns her and pushes her down... and coming out of it, strong... liberated, and a better person... I was shaking like a leaf, then I just wept.

This game, gives so much catharsis honestly. Especially that ending. I actually went out of my way to thank the team and let them know how much I appreciate all that they did. Would have also sent them an email thanking them for a job handled EXCEPTIONALLY well, but honestly, I cancelled that idea and found the facebook page of the game, and sent them a message.

This game, is the embodiment of catharsis, done exceptionally well.

[ErosMadelung]

Thanks for the kind comments, it is truly a special one and clearly connects with those who give it the chance or, need it to connect in some way. Best wishes to anyone who needs it <3

[itcho_boy_rob]

Something I thought of after watching your review was how the statue of her “mother” breaks apart completely in the beginning . I say “mother’ because I think deliberately they made it vague as to the statue being her mother. She could just as easily be a lover or a friend. Initially her “mother” falls apart completely. But when you see her again, she returns as missing her head. It’s like the acknowledgement that her mother as a person is gone but her body remains, dead. But it isn’t till the end she is brought back again, whole. As though she isn’t really gone. She is still there, always, in some way. And when you finally accept that she’s never is truly gone, but still there, you finally have the ability to move on. You can’t keep letting the darkness and the loss consume you. You have your memories and lessons you learned from your lost lover/loved one and you move on. This is just my way of looking at it having experienced grief in many ways in my life. I think you shared many good points. Well done. I cried as well playing the game. No shame in that. It’s healthy. Well done 👍🏼.

[VegaPhil]

I can't say that I connected with the story, although I knew what was being hinted at during the game, but the power of the beautiful artwork and music definitely had an affect on me.

[george-and-gracie]

Beautiful analysis! Thanks for showing me another way of looking at the story of this game! Also, very moving to read all the interpretations and stories from the other commenters. As someone who’s experienced depression for the last three years, I interpreted Gris as being a woman grieving about the loss of self (note: I didn’t see the memory sequence in my playthrough). The ending felt to me like she was finally moving on after regaining the capacity to love herself again. Because depression feels like a constant battle with yourself, I thought the black goo transformed into herself at the end of the story. The blue chapter read as especially beautiful to me since you see the stars in the sky first but than you fall into the black void. I had the feeling the game was saying: “If you want to go up, you have to go down first”. Kind of like how you feel worse the first few weeks of starting therapy because you must first confront yourself with your problems before you can start working on them. The game really made me feel that I could heal again.

[Lostboywithalostgirl]

I know its not as serious as a mother dying but my guinea pig died and at first i was in denial an wouldn't accept it and then out of nowhere i couldn't stop crying and this game helped me get thru it. I had him since i was in 8th grade and i graduated 12th grade a few months ago he died just a week ago. Rip Remmi 🖤

[reizak]

I finally played this yesterday and was wondering if someone else interpreted it in the same way I did. This is exactly how I saw the story. It's incredible how so much can be said without a single word.

[loganido]

What a truly a remarkable analysis, I completed the game twice and watched several videos and you came up with some details that I had never noticed.


This game is an absolute masterpiece, the way it combines every element of the game to add up to the story is just incredible. The colors, the music and even the abilities and the puzzles always have a meaning that fits the story. The final scene, with the mother singing and the colors exploding, it's so well put together that it makes me cry every time, it instantly makes you think of the people, or the relations that you might have lost, of all those rough moments (that darkness always menacing till the end). And to think of your personal evolution and the hits you had to take to grow stronger and get through them. It's simply so god damn beautiful, have never seen a game like this.

[SoEepyy]

i thought the statue were her old self and she was trying to feel in peace again with herself, leaving the old one "die" and becoming stronger,

[sarahharrison]

When there is red, anger holds us dead,
When there is green, beauty's to be seen,
When there is blue, transparent tears will ensue,
When hope flowers from a mother's kiss, she will find herself, Gris.