Caravan SandWitch [PC] | REVIEW

Whilst I love challenging video games, sometimes it’s nice to play something that’s a bit more easy-going where you can spend your time soaking in the world with little stress. That’s exactly what you do in Caravan SandWitch, which offers a relaxed yet engrossing experience for players that sees you explore a vast and wondrous landscape at your own pace – all without worrying about the risk of enemies attacking you or dying along the way.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Caravan SandWitch puts players in the role of Sauge, who returns to her home planet of Cigalo in order to find her missing sister. Her sister had actually been missing for six years so she’d expected the worst, but after receiving a mysterious distress call from her ship, Sauge simply had to investigate to see if she really was still alive. This means reuniting with old friends, re-visiting old locales, and stirring up old memories, but with Cigalo itself facing its own tough times, her journey ends up consisting of much more than simply trying to find her sister.

It makes for a heartfelt tale that will certainly stir up emotions for the player, whilst it also touches upon themes regarding protecting the planet that feel more relevant than ever in this day and age. It also holds many little mysterious that slowly unfold as you progress, with the journey a tantalising one that’ll keep players keen to find out more. Add to that a charming cast of likable and colourful characters, and you’ll quickly find that Caravan SandWitch really has a lot going for it as far as storytelling is concerned.

The most enjoyable aspect of Caravan SandWitch comes with exploring Cigalo’s vast landscape, with a myriad of areas to uncover that bring with them varied biomes and plenty to discover. On first glance, it’d be easy to see Cigalo as a bit of an open wasteland (and there are elements of the storytelling that tie into that idea), but as you open up new areas and take in each sight, it becomes easier to appreciate the beauty and wonder of your surroundings. And hey, whilst it IS an open world, there’ll also be areas that you can’t access until you have the necessary upgrades for your van, so there is a satisfying sense of progress to be found as you venture further across the world.

“Caravan SandWitch is a wonderful, easy-going experience that will keep players wrapped up in its world thanks to the satisfying pacing and enjoyable exploration mechanics.”

Speaking of your van, that acts as your main mode of traversal in the game, with players able to zip across Cigalo with ease when on four-wheels. The land itself is pretty big so the van is essential to get around, so it’s a good job that it’s fun to drive. The upgrades you unlock feel worthwhile too, whether that’s the radar to scan the area for important points, a hacking device to bypass technological obstacles, or the winch to pull at objects blocking your path. The only issue I did have with the van was that there were a few occasions where I’d get completely stuck in the environment, but these moments were few and far between, so it never really felt like a big issue. It’s easy enough to teleport back to the garage too, so it’s never a progress-blocking problem… just a small nuisance.

There’s a bit of platforming involved along the way too, with Sauge pretty handy at getting around when a nimbler approach is required. There are resources to find that are used to upgrade your van, small puzzles to complete, and sights to take in that require Sauge to go on-foot, so whilst driving the van feels like the highlight of Caravan SandWitch, your moments outside of it can feel just as significant. There’s no health bar, no enemies, or risk of dying when exploring too, with this very much a laidback experience where you can just soak in the world and enjoy the carefree approach. That might not be for everyone, but personally, I loved it.

Whilst you’re given a clear path of progression through Caravan SandWitch, there are plenty of side quests to complete along the way – some of which you’ll get when meeting characters in the world and some of which are given via your in-game social media app. These quests are pretty simple in design and mostly encourage exploration, but it always felt satisfying to complete each one and make that extra notch of progress to upgrade your van and push yourself forward. With plenty of endearing interactions shared with the characters of the world during these quests, they really do complement the experience as opposed to feeling just like extra padding.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It all comes together to make for a really delightful experience, with my playthrough coming in at around eight-hours in total (though I did spend a bit of time simply travelling the world and taking in all of its sights). It feels like the perfect length for the game though, with Caravan SandWitch well-paced and offering enough ideas in that runtime to keep players engaged.

Developer: Studio Plane Toast
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582650/Caravan_SandWitch/