Grindstone is a puzzle game where epic adventures are just your 9-to-5. It’s your job to mine grindstones from the Creeps that lurk on the mountain in over 250 levels of intricate puzzles and hazards, all in the hopes of saving up enough grindstones to take your family on a much needed vacation.
The core loop involves drawing lines through same-colored enemies, called Creeps, to create combo chains. Larger combos yield more valuable grindstones, the game's primary currency. Players must carefully navigate the board, avoiding aggroed Creeps that attack between turns, while maximizing their combo potential.
As players progress through the game's over 250 levels, new mechanics and equipment are introduced. Special Creeps require meeting target combo thresholds to defeat, while equippable gear grants unique abilities. This layer of strategy and customization adds depth to the puzzle-solving experience.
Players consistently unlock new equipment, costumes, and challenges. Equipping powerful gear and witnessing the protagonist's abilities expand over time provides a strong sense of progression and accomplishment. Grindstones earned can be used to purchase new equipment, further enhancing the player's capabilities.
The difficulty curve, while becoming quite challenging in later stages, is described as relatively forgiving. Players can experiment and learn the game's mechanics at their own pace, without feeling overly punished for mistakes. This accessibility is appreciated, allowing the game to be enjoyed in a relaxed, chill manner.
Chaining together large combos of Creeps is consistently cited as highly satisfying. The cartoonish, over-the-top visuals and sound effects when slaying enemies provide a sense of visceral feedback to the player's actions, enhancing the experience.
In addition to the main story levels, the game offers daily challenges, boss rush modes, and other optional content to extend the gameplay experience. The substantial number of levels, coupled with the different enemy types and equipment to experiment with, ensure a high degree of replayability.