This drill-wielding platformer lets you dive through the earth like a dolphin torpedo

GamesThis drill-wielding platformer lets you dive through the earth like a dolphin torpedoWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Ahr Ech)

Pepper leaping into the air with her drill in Pepper Grinder.

What’s the word for when something’s like a dolphin? Dolphinesque? Cetecean? Oh, “delphine” apparently. There you go, we’ve both learned something today. The protagonist ofPepper Grinder, she’s delphine, she is.

It takes some adjusting, learning to navigate obstacles, leap over gaps, and ambush enemies with this more flowing and momentum-driven form of movement—through most of the first level, I feared I might just be too clumsy-handed for it. But it eventually clicks, and when it does, it creates a wonderful flow state that can carry you through a whole level without ever slowing down.

Speedrunners, take note: you’re going to have a lot of fun mastering this game. A time attack mode for each level gives you concrete goals to aim for, but I found myself replaying levels in the demo just for the joy of trying for more and more seamless runs.

(Image credit: Ahr Ech)

Pepper leaping out of a sandbank in Pepper Grinder.

That isn’t the only way to enjoy them, however. Each level is also bristling with secrets to discover—usually found behind drillable walls—encouraging you to take another slower, more observant journey through them. And then there are the jewels and coins scattered through each level, clearly demonstrating the most ideal path—learning how to grab all of those without stopping is its own challenge, and the faster you can do it, the higher your place on the leaderboards.

The result is that each of the seemingly simple levels is wonderfully layered, a little playground to be poked and prodded at along your way to mastering it. It’s not a new formula, for sure—you can trace Pepper Grinder’s roots all the way back to Sonic the Hedgehog, and at points it reminded me of the rather more recent OlliOlli World—but the combination of very deft level design with a satisfying new form of movement is an electric one.

(Image credit: Ahr Ech)

Pepper drilling through a level in Pepper Grinder.

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If you like the sound of delphine drilling, give it a try for yourself—the demo is available nowand all through this month’s Steam NextFest.

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