GRIME II Launches March 31: Everything We Know About the Surreal Metroidvania Sequel

The original GRIME landed in 2021 as one of the most visually distinctive Metroidvanias on Steam. It earned an 81 on Metacritic, a 9/10 from IGN, and a cult following that wanted more. Now they are getting it. GRIME II launches on March 31, 2026 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Same day, all platforms.

If you are looking for something darker, weirder, and more mechanically ambitious than most Metroidvanias coming out right now, this is the one to watch.

What Is GRIME II?

GRIME II is a surreal action-adventure Metroidvania developed by Clover Bite and published by Kwalee. You play as a Formless, a mimic entity that absorbs enemies and reshapes them into usable combat forms. The entire game world is obsessed with art, creation, and body horror. Think less Castlevania corridors and more a living sculpture gallery that wants you dead.

The first game earned its reputation through a parry system built around hand-like tendrils. GRIME II keeps that foundation and expands on it with a new Molds system, deeper environmental combat, and a substantially larger world.

The Molds System

The core new mechanic. Every enemy you defeat can be absorbed and transformed into a Mold. These Molds grant special abilities that you can slot into your build. The options include:

• Projectile attacks fired from absorbed enemy forms
• Thrown enemies used as living weapons
• Stun abilities that crowd-control groups
• Summoned forms that fight alongside you in battle

This creates a loop where exploration feeds directly into build variety. The more enemies you encounter and absorb, the more combat options you unlock. It is a smarter take on the classic Metroidvania power-up structure.

Combat and Progression

GRIME II features over 30 weapons, 20 armor sets, and more than 40 unique abilities. The parry and grasp system from the original returns in an evolved form. You launch hand-like tendrils to deflect attacks, seize enemies mid-fight, and absorb them for resources or Molds.

Environmental combat plays a bigger role this time. The world itself becomes a weapon. Hazards, traps, and destructible elements can be used to your advantage. But enemies exploit those same elements, so positioning matters as much as reflexes.

If you enjoyed the combat in games like Dead Cells or Hollow Knight, GRIME II sits in a similar space but with a heavier emphasis on enemy absorption and build customization.

World and Setting

The sequel takes place in a new kingdom filled with civilizations and characters that revolve around art and creation. The art direction remains one of GRIME’s strongest selling points. Every environment looks like a surrealist painting brought to life, mixing organic shapes, hands, and grotesque sculptures into interconnected areas.

Each zone has its own culture and visual identity. NPCs populate these areas and offer quests, lore, and context for the bizarre world you are tearing through. The original GRIME was sometimes criticized for being too opaque with its storytelling. GRIME II appears to address that with more direct character interaction.

Developer Commentary

Director and Producer Yarden Weissbrot narrated a gameplay overview trailer showcasing the expanded ability system. The trailer demonstrates how parrying can be done from a distance, how traps can be activated to chain damage, and how health-stealing mechanics integrate with the Molds system.

Platforms and Technical Details

GRIME II launches on March 31, 2026 on:

• PC (Steam)
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S

All three versions release the same day. There is no Switch version announced. A free demo is available on Steam right now if you want to try before you buy.

Minimum PC specs:

• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• 8 GB RAM
• Nvidia GT 1030 or AMD RX 550
• 20 GB storage (SSD recommended)

The game supports Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud saves, full controller support, and adjustable difficulty options.

Should You Watch This One?

The Metroidvania genre is packed right now. Hollow Knight: Silksong set a new bar earlier this year. Emberbane is building hype with its elemental twist. Never Grave brought a strong roguelike hybrid to the table. But GRIME II is doing something none of those games attempt: a full enemy-absorption system that turns every fight into a potential new tool.

If you want a Metroidvania that leans harder into RPG build variety and Soulslike combat weight, GRIME II is the most interesting option launching this month. The demo is free. The launch is six days away.