SCHiM

SCHiM is a 2024 video game by independent German developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman, and published by Extra Nice for PC and consoles and Playism for the Nintendo Switch in Japan. The game received mixed to average reviews upon release, and received nominations at the London Games Festival and A Maze festival.

SCHiM
Windows and Xbox Series version cover
Developer(s)	Ewoud van der Werf, Nils Slijkerman
Publisher(s)	Extra Nice, Playism
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Windows Macintosh Nintendo Switch PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Release	18 July 2024
Genre(s)	Action, Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

As a schim, players must navigate through shadows in the game's environment to solve puzzles.

SCHiM is an action-puzzle game in which the player controls a boy and his titular 'schim', a frog-like creature that inhabits his shadow, and follows him through life stages, from his youth to study, graduation and career. The schim becomes separated from the man, requiring the player to navigate across shadows cast by the environment. Players control the schim by hopping around shadows, returning to the previously located shadow if they land outside one. They are also able to interact with objects throughout stages, allowing them to jump further or influence objects and characters that cast new shadows in the area. The game contains 65 levels.

Development and release

Development

SCHiM was created by Dutch independent developer Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman, with van der Werf responsible for art and programming, and Slijkerman designing the game, levels, narrative and motion capture elements. Van der Werf stated that the game's concept was inspired by memories of playing games with shadows as a child, with the game's title being a Dutch expression for a shadow. This concept was first implemented, with the developers then brainstorming the "general lore (and) rules of the world, the schim characters, and what they mean to the game".

SCHiM was developed by van der Werf in the Unity engine, creating custom shaders for the game. The minimalistic line art design of the game, which began as silhouettes, were influenced by the work of The Adventures of Tintin artist Hergé and Dutch illustrator Joost Swarte, as well as using similar techniques as the video games Sable and Manifold Garden. The game's environments drew from Dutch locations and landmarks, which became a "core ingredient of the game" after positive feedback from playtesters. Van der Werf, who has color blindness, designed the game's visuals with the intent to limit the palette to four colours, although expanded this to having each level have its own color scheme based on the "time of day, temperature or events in the story".

Release

SCHiM was announced during the June 2022 Day of the Devs digital showcase. In April 2024, the game's release date of 18 July was announced at the Nintendo Indie World Showcase, followed by an official demo and trailer in May. PLAYISM published the game in Japan, featuring a new cover designed by Japanese illustrator Keiichi Arawi.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	67%

Review scores

Publication	Score
Edge	5/10
Hardcore Gamer	3.5/5
IGN	7/10
Nintendo Life	7/10
Nintendo World Report	8/10
PC Gamer (US)	57%
Push Square	6/10
TouchArcade	4.5/5
Multiplayer.it	7/10
Vandal	6.5/10

SCHiM received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Accolades

SCHiM was nominated for the 'International Innovators' award at the 2022 London Games Festival as part of its Official Selection. The game was also nominated for the 2023 A Maze festival.

External links

• Official website