In the vibrant and abstract world of SCHiM, players embark on a unique adventure, guiding a lost schim back to its human. SCHiM is coming later this month to PC and consoles; it’s an indie game that’s been hot on QD’s radar.
SCHiM, it’s an interesting name, but what does it mean? What’s the story behind it? Eager to learn more, we asked the game’s developers all about it.
A schim, as explained by SCHiM’s creator Ewoud van der Werf, is the soul and spirit of every object or living being.
“Everything in the world has one,” Ewoud said.
“SCHiM comes from the Dutch word schim, which roughly translates to shade. It is also used in the way when you just missed something in the corner of your eye. And sometimes it is used when something is a remnant of what it used to be.”
This beautifully crafted game looks to combine intricate puzzles and platforming mechanics, seeing players navigate through the shadows of a European inspired world.
The concept of SCHiM was conceived during Ewoud’s final year at a game design school. As part of his final exam project, he collaborated with Extra Nice, a game studio where he had previously interned.
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Ewoud’s fascination with shadows and their potential in gameplay led to the creation of SCHiM.
“I knew I wanted to make a game with shadows… And the idea for shadow hopping and the art style soon followed,” Ewoud explained.
The game’s unique mechanics and artistic style were born from this initial vision, setting the stage for what would become a beloved project.
Initially envisioned as a small release on itch.io, the overwhelmingly positive reception of SCHiM during its early stages encouraged the team to expand their project.
“We never expected the overwhelming reception which ultimately made us turn it into a full-blown project,” Ewoud said.
This enthusiastic response propelled SCHiM to be developed for all major platforms, transforming a school project into a widely anticipated game.
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Following its latest showcase at Steam Next Fest, SCHiM received glowing feedback from players and critics alike.
“The reaction has been really great so far… We are really happy to see more people play SCHiM! It is great to hear people talk about how it reminds them of their childhood,” he said.
At its core, SCHiM encourages players to find joy in exploration and discovery, and Ewoud’s message to players echoes that sentiment.
“Never lose your inner child,” he said.
This message is seemingly woven throughout the game’s design, reminding players of the wonder and curiosity that shadows can evoke.
From a school project to a global release, SCHiM’s dev story is a testament to the power of creativity and the universal appeal of a well thought out and designed video game.
It’s coming to PC via Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on July 18th.
Check out the trailer for SCHiM below
