Parin and her magical drill set out to save her monster friends in an inventive, unexpected Action RPG from Falcom. The Sound Team's rock score is genuinely delicious and the Japanese release keeps its charm despite the language barrier.
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Category
Action RPG1 player7+
Description
Parin, a young girl wielding a magical drill, explores the Monster World to save her friends trapped by evil Phantoms. Published by Nihon Falcom, released in Japan in December 2004. Drill-based combat with platforming elements, varied stages with secrets, equipment and drill bits to unlock, inventive rock soundtrack by the Falcom Sound Team. Japanese edition.
Gurumin review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Warm cel-shading, an endearing heroine and a world of adorable monsters: Falcom's game unfurls a colourful whimsy of great gentleness. The roundness of the design and the vividness of the hues overflow with childlike charm. This visual direction, polished and joyful, stands as an underrated gem of the handheld action RPG.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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An underrated gem
Armed with a magic drill, a little girl explores the world of monsters in this Falcom action-platformer, brimming with charm, humor, and snappy combat. Overlooked because of its childish look, it hides genuine generosity of content. A joyful adventure far deeper than it appears, perfect for all ages.
Is Gurumin still worth playing in 2026?
Gurumin is a Nihon Falcom action-RPG in which Parin, a little girl armed with a magic drill, explores the Monster World to save her friends captured by Phantoms. The drill-based combat system, snappy and satisfying, the warm art direction and the good-natured mood make it a charming and surprisingly rich adventure. The Japanese version stays accessible to non-bilingual players thanks to clear gameplay. For fans of cute and polished Falcom action RPGs, it is an endearing gem, pleasant at any age.
