Grunn

Grunn is a first-person exploration game, inspired by a rural area of the Dutch countryside, where the player is hired to perform basic maintenance tasks on a garden. The assignment includes trimming grass, watering plants, collecting trash, and tending to the surrounding area. A small nearby village can also be visited, offering additional locations to explore. Although the setting initially appears peaceful, the environment gradually reveals unusual behavior and unexplained phenomena, creating a sense of unease beneath the ordinary routine.

The game is structured around a limited timeframe of several days, during which the player must complete tasks while navigating an increasingly unsettling atmosphere. Many tools required for gardening are missing at the outset, and certain restrictions, such as not going out after dark, are communicated through notes and environmental cues. Simple interactions, such as using a mirror or digging with a trowel, can produce unexpected results, encouraging players to investigate the area closely and monitor how objects, locations, and events change over time.

Progress is influenced by exploration and the discovery of items, including Polaroid photos that serve as hints directing the player toward keys, locations, or other points of interest. Some puzzles use traditional adventure-style interactions, while others rely on observing patterns or returning to areas as conditions shift throughout the weekend. The world changes both across days and at specific times, prompting players to establish routines, revisit earlier locations, and anticipate new developments.

The environment features elements of local garden folklore, such as gnome decorations, alongside wildlife and everyday objects that gradually take on a more ambiguous or mysterious role. Interactions with the town’s inhabitants are limited by language barriers. As the game progresses, the garden, village, and surrounding paths present new areas to reach and additional hazards to avoid.

Multiple endings can be achieved depending on the player's actions, discoveries, and ability to navigate the environment safely. Knowledge gained during one playthrough carries over into subsequent attempts, allowing more efficient routing, access to new areas, and strategies for avoiding dangers. While the core activities remain centered on gardening and maintenance, the evolving world introduces risks and hidden events that reshape the experience from one run to the next.