Credits: Schim Game

Explore the unique world of SCHiM, a 3D platformer where you jump from shadow to shadow in a vibrant light environment. Launching on all platforms on July 18th, with a demo available on Steam.

Simply put, it's pretty unique. I checked out the demo on Steam, which has been available since May 30th, with the full game set to launch on all platforms—Steam, Xbox One/Series X|S, PS4/5, and Nintendo Switch—on July 18th. Even though I didn't get the hang of the controls right away, I still state the initial experience enjoyable. The smooth three-color graphics, which you can tweak to your liking, feel familiar at first glance. But it's not as ordinary as it seems, because your character is actually a shadow.

SCHiM is a game about jumping from shadow to shadow in a relaxing and lively environment. This 3D platformer takes elements of light, shadow & animation and adds them directly to the gameplay, delivering an experience that you will only find in SCHiM.

• A story of a person losing their shadow - A schim is the soul and spirit of an object or living being. Everything in the world has one, and it should never be separated! You need to find your way back to the human you belong to, before it's too late!
• Unique 3D platforming - You can only move in the shadows, so you'll need to find clever ways to leap into the shadows of animated objects and moving beings to use them as your pathways.
• A beautiful abstract world - The color palette changes in each level to capture the setting, time of day and mood of every location you explore.
• Each level has a story to tell - Each new level has its own living scenery with small stories to uncover, inspired by real Dutch/European cities and rural locations.
• Hidden in the shadows - There are lots of hidden items to discover in SCHiM, and when you find them, you help other schim restore the connection to their thing.

SCHiM began as Ewoud's exam project in early 2020, developed with Nils' Indie Game Studio Extra Nice in the Netherlands. What started as a unique shadow-based platforming concept quickly garnered attention online, prompting a shift from a small-scale project to a full-fledged game. Inspired by Dutch/European locations & aesthetics, SCHiM is now a collaborative effort that blends creative vision with local inspiration.