Pepper Grinder is an action-platformer developed by Ahr Ech and published by Devolver Digital. The game was originally released for PC and Nintendo Switch on March 28, 2024; it later saw release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on August 6, 2024.

When the seafaring adventurer Pepper ends up shipwrecked on an island, she awakens just in time to see a pirate and her gang of Narlings robbing her of all her treasure. When she gives chase, she's swiftly dispatched and kicked off a bridge. Thankfully, she manages to grab hold of a weapon while tumbling down into the abyss: a giant drilling device whom she christens with the name "Grinder". Now armed with a pointy, spinning weapon of death and traversal, Pepper sets off across the biomes of this land in order to reclaim her fortune. With interest, of course.

The crux of the gameplay is the aforementioned drill, which Pepper uses to do just about everything: from through sand and dirt, picking up objects like keys, control machinery like cannons and giant mech, and so on and so forth.

Trailers: Announcement Trailer, Launch Trailer

This game provides examples of:

• Action Girl: Pepper is moving around at high speeds and fighting monsters and bosses.
• All There in the Manual: The game's backstory, explaining that most mainland nations are at war, leaving the surrounding islands and waterways as unchecked playgrounds for treasure hunters and pirates, is only present in the SNES-style game manual on the game's official website.
• Fair-Play Villain: In the World 3 boss stage, following the convoy chase sequence, Mint will give you an armor gem to overfill your health before fighting you.
• Gentle Giant: The giant cyclops that can be seen strolling around in the background of some levels in World 1 ends up assisting you in Level 3-4, Breaker's Pass, offering his hands as platforms at various points.
• Grappling-Hook Pistol: In addition to her drill, Pepper also has a hook to that can be used on grapple points to swing across gaps and briefly latch onto walls.
• Humongous Mecha: Pepper can use her drill to activate a giant mech that can cause destruction in its wake.
• In One Ear, Out The Other: In Level 3-4, Breaker's Pass, one of the checkpoints in located inside the head of the island's friendly giant. For the record, he does have a brain; it's just very tiny and floating near the top of his skull.
• Meaningful Background Event: During the final boss fight, Mint can be seen crawling her way up into the arena from stage left.
• Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: Mint teams up with Pepper to land the final blow on Emperor Nero.
• Name and Name: The game's title technically counts as this. Pepper is the player character, while Grinder is the name of the drill.
• One-Winged Angel: After defeating Nero's first phase, he transforms into a giant skeleton creature that takes up the entire throne room.
• Pooled Funds: Pepper does this at the end of the game, after realizing she and Mint landed in the deceased emperor's treasury.
• Stat Overflow: At the curiosity shops, you can spend your coins to purchase up to four Armor Gems that serve as extra hit points.
• This Is a Drill: Pepper's main use of attack and transportation is a drill, and Mint has two of these as well.
• Time Trial: Every level, including boss fights, has a time trial that's unlocked after you first beat the stage. There are three stages of reward — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — with Silver unlocking the music track for that stage while the other two gift you new stickers.
• Video Game Dashing: Pressing the jump button while drilling gives you a burst of speed, which quickly becomes vital for making many of the game's jumps and for dodging attacks from bosses.
• Virtual Paper Doll: The skull coins you collect are used purchase alternate hair and cloak colors for Pepper in the curiosity shops, which can then be changed at any point on the map/level select screen.
• Wake-Up Call Boss: The first boss (Beetle Rider) requires a strong understanding of how the drill controls while digging in order to weave past the boss's barrage of bullets in the second and third phases of the battle.
• When All You Have Is a Hammer…: The drill is used for everything from transportation to combat to opening and activating things.