GrimGrimoire (2007)

Developer: Nippon Ichi Software, Vanillaware
Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software, Koei, Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 7 player ratings
Main story: about 15 hours

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A spellbound puzzle box where you command summoned creatures across an enchanted academy, replaying haunted days with growing knowledge until the mystery unravels.

mysteriousmagicalcerebralmethodicalfantasticalatmosphericloop-drivenstrategic

About

GrimGrimoire allows players to take on the role of Lillet Blan, a young magician who is admitted to a prestigious and mystical magic school; however, on the fifth day of school, everyone mysteriously vanishes. Lillet awakens the next day to discover she is once again living out the first day of school; but her memories from the previous days are intact, giving her the opportunity to solve the mystery behind the disappearances and prevent the tragedy from occurring.

What players say

A console RTS wrapped in Vanillaware's lush hand-drawn art and a charming time-loop story, with approachable rune-and-familiar tactics. Well-liked but a commercial flop, giving it a quiet cult and hidden-gem reputation.

Screenshots

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More by Nippon Ichi Software

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.