Developer: Studio Plane Toast
Platform: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch
Genre: Adventure, Casual
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Caravan Sandwitch is an indie exploration and adventure game where you play as Sauge, a young woman traveling to find her missing sister, who got lost over 6 years ago. It was developed by Studio Plane Toast and published by Dear Villagers. Caravan Sandwitch is currently available on Windows, PS5, and Switch.Â
Caravan Sandwitch is a single-player game where you play as Sauge, who explores around the world and can collect many items along the way. Sauge has returned to her home planet in search of her sister, who has left a trail of messages behind her. In what seems like a sci-fi-inspired planet, Sauge explores the beauty that lies within this abandoned world. The game plays out in chapters, where Sauge pieces together the mystery behind her sister’s disappearance whilst bringing things back to life, helping out, and meeting different people in her little van.Â
The controls for Caravan Sandwitch are extremely simple. Everything is mainly done with movement keys (WASD) and the E to pick up items, F to open your inventory and phone, and shift to run. With R, you enter and exit your van that was given to you by Rose. These controls make it extremely easy to play this laid-back game.
The art style of Caravan SandWitch is filled with stunning 3D-drawn cartoon visuals that make the player seem like they’re reading a storybook. The colour palette is soft pastel with a warmth that comes from the dynamic weather and great heeps on details in the environment. The game has an essence—the essence that captures an alluring, vibrant, calm atmosphere. This world that is created in the game is made so effortlessly that while riding the clunky little van, you can find yourself going on forever on end just admiring the scenery that this game has. The cosy, semi-open world really lets the player indulge in the beautifully crafted world. The charm to the game is added through the distinct character designs and personalities you meet, which encapsulate the true meaning behind wandering Sauge’s home planet. I would say that when playing this game, there is a great admiration for the visual art of this game. With the visuals, the melodic, mellow music that is accompanied by the story is really nice. You hear this summary, a guitar melody that works beautifully when exploring the different areas. I love the addition of earthly sound effects like birds chirping, wind whooshing, and the van driving it makes the game feel surreal.Â
Caravan SandWitch is a game that has a gracefully crafted narrative that really hooks the player. It creates this calm, cosy feel for players to enjoy the easy-going gameplay. The main aspect of this game is the world, where you get to explore sandy stones, artful towns, rugged fields, and stunning scapes. The world is made in a way where the differences bring a great effort to the exploration that the game requires players to do. I love how nothing in the world looks the same, and the variety goes beyond what you could imagine. Having the in-game viewing spots adds such charm, which perfectly encapsulates the cosy warmth Caravan SandWitch gives off. The beauty that comes with the exploration is done through Sauge’s van, which is great for progression as you can equip it with many gadgets. Besides just getting to drive the van, there is no worry about dying, and driving it off a cliff will do you no harm! While exploring the world, you get to take on quests, which add to the gameplay, and they all follow a similar pattern of reworking wires, opening locked doors, and fixing up what’s around you. The game has a good sense of main and side quests but lets players enjoy their time in between by doing whatever their hearts desire. Caravan SandWitch is a game that has a nice story that gets players to roam around and interact with people and items to uncover the next part of the story. It never gets boring but rather creates a calming atmosphere.
Caravan SandWitch is a game where you can take your van and drive it along sandy dunes and coasts and explore the vastness that this playful world has to offer. The charm comes from the stunning visuals and interactions that are told through a well-crafted narrative. Enjoy a cosy, semi-open world with quests that get you to take on a sense of adventure. If you’re looking for a game that you can wind down to, then be sure to check out Caravan SandWitch.
Overall: 8.5/10
