- Buy Caravan SandWitch on Steam
- Buy Caravan SandWitch on Nintendo Switch
- Buy Caravan SandWitch on PlayStation 5
Read my full Caravan SandWitch review here.
I played a lot of really great cozy games this year, some of which I’ll link out to at the bottom of this article. But when it comes to the very best cozy game of 2024, I look for something that I can honestly recommend to the widest audience possible. Something with heart, a great story, and characters players will want to keep coming back to.
That’s why I’ve chosen Caravan SandWitch for my 2024 cozy game of the year. #CGOTY
Caravan SandWitch follows the journey of Sauge, a planetary expat returning to her post-apocalyptic home world that’s loosely based on the region of Provence, France. The planet in question, Cigalo, suffered a devastating storm that caused massive mining and processing equipment failure—and also claimed the life of Sauge’s sister. That is, until Sauge receives a mysterious S.O.S. ping from her sister’s fallen craft years later, sparking a cross-country journey to learn the truth.
The game itself is exploration-heavy “open-world lite,” centered around resource gathering and simple puzzles. Destroy data scrambling devices to open up the map, talk to different groups of people to unlock quests, and then spend your time in the world how you want. There is no combat, damage, or player deaths. Just explore the remains of a ruined colonization plot at your own pace, upgrading your trusty van to unlock additional tools and new ways to explore.
And what’s sweeter than minimalistic-yet-profound cozy game #vanlife?
Developed by Studio Plane Toast and published by Dear Villagers, this bite-sized open-world serves up just enough action to make for a short but satisfying road trip, never once overstaying its welcome.
That’s the gist of it. But why is it great?
Caravan SandWitch touches on all the themes that are important to me in a game. It’s beautiful, it’s inclusive, it’s unhurried, and it’s message of environmental stewardship is one that we need as a society now more than ever. At it’s core, Sauge’s journey is a time old tale of human vs nature, focused through the lens of small, mutual aid communities and indigenous land dwellers.
By helping with story and side quests, you’ll see the world as others see it, through their daily needs and future dreams. You’ll meet pockets of human communities, nomads who wander the desert, solo travelers, cunning outlaws, an old aboriginal species that looks a bit like frogs, and even robots. You’ll come to care about them, whether you are helping to return robo consciousnesses to the collective brain or ensuring your family and friends have access to clean water.
Through the pain and struggle of characters you quickly come to love, the consequences of limitless resource exploitation for capital game is made manifest. And the message is thunderous: If we don’t take care of our planet, she can’t take care of us.
Caravan SandWitch may be a tale as old as time, but hyper-focusing the player onto a few poignant futuristic vignettes makes the message of planetary stewardship fresh, intimate, and uncomplicated.
Between powerful and timely themes, relaxing and unhurried gameplay, and an unforgettable cast, Caravan SandWitch is a game you’ll feel good playing from bumper to tailgate.
Other cozy games I loved in 2024: