REVIEW / Caravan SandWitch (Swap)

Caravan SandWitch is that cozy street journey you didn’t know your gaming coronary heart wanted. It’s like in the event you have been put in a Mad Max film, nevertheless it ditched the chaos and went on a gradual, soulful journey via a post-apocalyptic world. You play as Sauge—who, sure, is as effortlessly cool as their title sounds—rolling via the dusty stays of your property planet in a barely busted, extraordinarily lovable van, trying to find 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 via a cracked window. The world of Caravan SandWitch is straight-up attractive. Assume tender 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 Whether or not I used to be zipping throughout sand-swept hills or poking across the skeletons of outdated industrial websites, each cease alongside the way in which felt like a portray I wished to dwell in.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 filled with moments that tugged at my tender gamer coronary heart. I wasn’t simply chasing after Sauge’s sister; I used to be speaking to unusual, stunning 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 preserving monitor of duties really feel like I used to be scrolling via a really healthful model of Instagram.

Now, in regards to the van—my rusty, trusty journey buddy. Driving round Caravan SandWitch is a deal with…more often than not. It’s acquired that quirky indie-game physics really feel, which is cute till you’re making an attempt 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. Nevertheless, the shortage of quick journey did take a look at my endurance. Typically I simply wished 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 contemporary, post-industrial air. With out the strain of enemies or dying, I might simply…exist, discover, and soak within the temper. It was therapeutic in a means 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 boost your blood strain, and Caravan SandWitch is aware of that.

That stated, I’d be mendacity if I stated it was all easy crusing. I bumped into a couple of technical oopsies: body charge drops and awkward animations. There additionally appear to be one too many facet quests that felt like glorified errands (e.g., go speak to X, then again to Y, rinse, repeat). None of it broke the sport, nevertheless it did make me sigh and breathe in slightly deeper. Somewhat polish and selection within the quest design would’ve gone a protracted technique to maintain 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 the event you’re paying consideration, and a hauntingly hopeful environment 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 verify in on the characters I’d grown weirdly hooked up to.

Backside line? Caravan SandWitch is a soulful street journey via a world that feels forgotten and exquisite on the identical time. It’s not making an attempt to be a blockbuster—it’s right here to let you know a narrative, maintain your hand, and possibly make you’re feeling slightly one thing in that dusty gamer coronary heart of yours. Is the sport imperfect? Positive. Is it well worth the trip? Completely.

This evaluation relies on a retail copy of the sport offered by the writer.