Caravan SandWitch is that cozy street journey you didn’t know your gaming coronary heart wanted. It’s like in case you have been put in a Mad Max film, nevertheless it ditched the chaos and went on a sluggish, soulful journey by a post-apocalyptic world. You play as Sauge—who, sure, is as effortlessly cool as their identify sounds—rolling by the dusty stays of your house planet in a barely busted, extraordinarily lovable van, looking for his long-lost sister. There are not any weapons and no game-over screens. It’s all simply vibes, discovery, and an entire lotta coronary heart.
The second I booted it up, I used to be hit with the sport’s artwork model like a heat sunbeam by a cracked window. The world of Caravan SandWitch is straight-up beautiful. Assume delicate brushstrokes, glowing sunsets, and rustic ruins wrapped in flora that appear to have a narrative of their very own. Whether or not I used to be zipping throughout sand-swept hills or poking across the skeletons of previous industrial websites, each cease alongside the best way felt like a portray I needed to reside in. And the character designs? Adorably bizarre in the easiest way. Everybody I met regarded like they belonged in an indie comedian, full with their very own quirks that make them lovable.
The narrative unfolds gently, like a letter from somebody you haven’t heard from in years. It’s intimate, earnest, and full of moments that tugged at my delicate gamer coronary heart. I wasn’t simply chasing after Sauge’s sister; I used to be speaking to unusual, lovely individuals who’d carved out lives on this crumbled world. There’s no dramatic exposition dump, no over-the-top cutscenes—simply real connections and slow-burn storytelling. Additionally, facet be aware: the hunt log is styled like a social feed, which is weirdly charming and made retaining observe of duties really feel like I used to be scrolling by a really healthful model of Instagram.
Now, concerning the van—my rusty, trusty journey buddy. Driving round Caravan SandWitch is a deal with…more often than not. It’s obtained that quirky indie-game physics really feel, which is cute till you’re attempting to do a good flip and by accident barrel-roll off a cliff (sure, that occurred, and no, I don’t need to speak about it). As you progress, you get some funky little upgrades, like a scanner and a grappling hook that opens up new exploration routes. Nonetheless, the dearth of quick journey did take a look at my persistence. Generally I simply needed to skip the scenic route and get again to the plot, however the recreation was like, “No no, darling, benefit from the journey.”
What I actually appreciated was the sport’s daring option to go full pacifist. There’s no fight right here, and actually, it was a breath of recent, post-industrial air. With out the strain of enemies or dying, I may simply…exist, discover, and soak within the temper. It was therapeutic in a manner that few video games dare to be. It let the emotional beats breathe, and gave me time to attach with the world at my very own tempo. Not each recreation wants to lift your blood strain, and Caravan SandWitch is aware of that.
That mentioned, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it was all clean crusing. I bumped into a couple of technical oopsies: body price drops and awkward animations. There additionally appear to be one too many facet quests that felt like glorified errands (e.g., go discuss to X, then again to Y, rinse, repeat). None of it broke the sport, nevertheless it did make me sigh and breathe in a bit of deeper. A bit of polish and selection within the quest design would’ve gone an extended solution to preserve the momentum flowing.
However regardless of these tough patches, I discovered myself lingering in Caravan SandWitch longer than I anticipated. There are nooks and crannies begging to be explored, tiny environmental particulars that whisper tales in case you’re paying consideration, and a hauntingly hopeful ambiance that sticks with you. Even after the credit rolled, I discovered myself hopping again into my van simply to revisit locations I’d missed and examine in on the characters I’d grown weirdly hooked up to.
Backside line? Caravan SandWitch is a soulful street journey by a world that feels forgotten and delightful on the identical time. It’s not attempting to be a blockbuster—it’s right here to let you know a narrative, maintain your hand, and possibly make you’re feeling a bit of one thing in that dusty gamer coronary heart of yours. Is the sport imperfect? Certain. Is it definitely worth the journey? Completely.
This evaluation relies on a retail copy of the sport supplied by the writer.
Caravan SandWitch
- Artwork Fashion 9/10
- Story 8/10
- Gameplay 6/10
- Efficiency 5/10
7/10
With a hand-painted artwork model, quirky characters, and a slow-burn narrative that unfolds by heartfelt connections, Caravan SandWitch embraces exploration over motion. Whereas its indie physics and lack of quick journey can take a look at your persistence, the journey itself is the reward. Regardless of some technical hiccups and repetitive facet quests, its dreamy ambiance and emotional depth make it a journey price taking.
