Caravan SandWitch PC review - Many nice folks suggest that we go for a drive

I love it when people make open world games without combat. You just get to go around and explore, it’s pleasant and very different from what most games offer. Caravan SandWitch does all this and more because it’s also sort of a Metroid-like. The only thing I like more than exploring in games is getting to return to places with new tools that let me explore even more. It doesn’t hurt that the game’s quite lovely, is very low on bugs, and has some solid storytelling and world-building to boot. All of that combines to make this a very worthwhile little game that doesn’t wear out its welcome with bloat.

Caravan SandWitch begins with the main character, Sauge, preparing to leave her home in Space City to return to Cigalo – the desert planet from which she hails. Her sister went missing six years prior, but Sauge receives a distress signal from her ship, so she sets off in the hopes of finding her. The story isn’t exactly high stakes for most of the game’s runtime, however, as you’ll mostly be scavenging for parts to build new upgrades for your van. This will allow you to find out more and more in order to solve the mystery of what exactly befell the sister in question.

It doesn’t take long to get driving in the game. Unlike many other Unreal Engine games from small teams, Caravan SandWitch‘s game feel and controls are smooth. There’s a certain weight to Sauge’s movements and the driving feels fine, even if it can accelerate and stop a bit too immediately. Regardless, getting around feels nimble and easy. The game is divided into multiple chapters, most of which have their own sidequests that must be completed before moving on to the next. Chapters tend to end once you’ve collected enough components to create the next new gadget for the car and the game tells you just which side quests you’ll miss out on if you choose to progress.

Components are broken into four rarities – green, red, yellow, and purple. Each one is added as the game goes, so you’ll only find green and red components earlier in the game. Components are found all over the place and you’ll need quite a few of them to reach your goals. The way the game is paced and balanced in regard to what you find is convenient, as you start finding new components right when you need them. Hunting these down is quite entertaining too. Caravan SandWitch‘s open world isn’t huge but it is handcrafted, which I prefer any day of the week. Locations are all mostly fairly memorable too.

Your van initially doesn’t come with any abilities, but you’ll unlock tools at a steady pace. For the most part, there’s a radar that lets you scan for items of interest, and a hook that allows you to pull doors down and latch onto poles for climbing, but both of these get more functionality down the line. While you explore, you’ll find many locations that can’t be accessed without these abilities, meaning you’ll need to come back later. It leads to that classic Metroid game loop here, as you’re consistently seeing just how much you can interact with using your current toolset. There are quests, though, which usually require finding an item or ferrying another character around.

Thankfully, exploring isn’t as simple as just using the right tool, as you’ll need to thoroughly look around to see what is powered by a cable and where you’ll be able to reach. It all works very well and makes for an enjoyable experience. Caravan SandWitch doesn’t last horribly long. I finished it and did most of the side stuff in around seven-and-a-half hours. I’d say it’ll take about nine to finish them all. That being said, a few of the quests that last the entire game require you to find things strewn all over the map. I finished all but one, where I was missing a single item with absolutely no indication of where I could find it. Naturally, I just gave up instead of poring over the entire map.

The game has a binary choice at the end, but since it reverts back to the pre-final mission part of the game when you reload your last save, you’re free to continue exploring or redo the final mission to see the results of the other choice. One aspect I disliked is that, since the reward for exploration is mostly components, there’s no real incentive to really pick the place clean once you’ve acquired the final upgrade. I wish there were new items to craft with the components at this point, even if if they were just palette swaps of the main character’s clothes or what-have-you.

Caravan SandWitch is a great, relaxing open-world game with terrific visuals and world design. Its combat-free approach was a good choice and its exploration is satisfying. It’s on the short side but I like how focused it is. Adding bloat or lazy tricks to make the game last longer wouldn’t have done any favours. As such, this is an easy one to recommend.