(Botanical Utility Droid), and are tasked with oxygenating its homeworld by growing and climbing a "Star Plant", a giant beanstalk, and harvesting its seeds.
The player can reach a small distance and grab onto any part of the environment, allowing them to push and climb objects.
[2][6] Creatures and other plant life can also be found throughout the game's islands, as well as environmental features, such as caves and water currents.
[11] Completing this final objective unlocks a special suit that allows the player to jump twice as high, and finishes the game.
Grow Home began development as an experimental project created by an eight-person team at Ubisoft Reflections, initially being launched internally for the staff.
After testing the project, management at Ubisoft decided to officially launch the title, which was developed into a full game inspired by Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and WALL-E.[3] Grow Home has a minimalist, low poly graphical style.
[14][15] It uses procedural animation and physics-based gameplay, which allow objects and the player's actions to adapt to any part of the environment.
[17] The game was created using the Unity engine and, unlike other Ubisoft titles, it does not require Uplay to run.
Destructoid's Ben Davis said that he got "more than enough enjoyment out of exploring the world", and Eurogamer's reviewer Christian Donlan called the game's map wonderfully generous and varied.
[8] Rock Paper Shotgun's John Walker said that the main character's movement is "deeply involved in the world", calling its animation the reason the game is "so special".
Donlan wrote that Grow Home is the best rock-climbing game he has ever played, stating that the "initially bewildering" controls allow the player to move through the world "with real skill".
[23] Davis called it the most entertaining aspect of the game, but also stated that the walking controls were awkward at times.