Caravan SandWitch review – Space for optimism

Watch any wholesome or cosy game showcase and you’ll likely receive the impression that this popular genre of indie games is predominantly made up of cute-looking puzzles and customisation-heavy life sims. There are, however, also titles that veer into the territory of their AAA brethren in terms of scope and visual dazzle, without sacrificing a mindset of inclusivity, non-violence and socio-political commentary. New sci-fi exploratory adventure Caravan SandWitch is one of those gems, delivering on the promise of its delightful demo.

From French developer Plane Toast (whose name helps to explain the punny title of their debut release), and published by Dear Villagers, Caravan SandWitch kicks off when trainee space pilot Sauge receives a distress call from her sister Garance, who vanished six years previously. Sauge immediately rushes to the source of the alert – the siblings’ home planet of Cigalo, which Sauge abandoned long ago.

Sauge arrives back to find Cigalo in its economic death throes. Once a lush world, it was exploited by mega-corporation the Consortium until an incident, four decades previously, resulted in an out-of-control electromagnetic storm that made operations on the planet impossible. The Consortium promptly withdrew from the planet, leaving its imported human population to either return to the Space Cities or eke out a living in highly challenging circumstances. Resources must constantly be scavenged from corporate ruins, crops are dying as the sun gets harsher, and yet Caravan SandWitch offers a very different take on a dystopian future.

Made with Unreal Engine, Caravan SandWitch presents a setting – officially described as a “Sci-fi Provence-like world” – that is rundown and peppered with decaying structures, but is nonetheless vibrant and inviting. The population of Cigalo are just as colourful, including quirky nomads, self-aware robots and a frog-like aboriginal species known as Reinetos. Then there’s the cloaked SandWitch watching you from afar.

Hands down one of the most visually striking and aesthetically memorable games of 2024, Caravan SandWitch gifts players with an open world that is a joy to explore, either on foot, or in a customisable off-road van that Sauge is offered during her search. Set to Antynomy’s dreamy, slightly mournful indie pop soundtrack, you’re free (mostly) to traverse the map with no time pressures, threat of combat, and death from falls. Even if the van gets stuck, you can respawn back in town. A further smart feature is the ability to instantly portal to your vehicle if you’ve trekked too far away from it.

While the map of Cigalo isn’t as vast as something like, say, Horizon Zero Dawn (which you can kind of consider Caravan SandWitch’s AAA cousin), you’ll find yourself revisiting zones for new experiences. Exploratory progress is gated by technology requirements, and Sauge must collect components to build equipment like a motorised zipline pulley, van grapple hook and portable charging port to access different areas, and advance to the next story chapter.

You can simply roam around looking for the components, or you can earn them as rewards by helping the locals in various side quests. This second option is by far more efficient and emotionally satisfying, as Sauge, and the player, receives a glimpse into characters’ stories, which are often relatable and poignant. A bearded old man in cowboy boots and little else prepares a meal in an act that pays tribute to his long-dead partner; a robot wants to make a tomb for their “child” shut down by the Consortium; and a young couple fret over their baby’s future on Cigalo. For South Africans, that last arc will likely hit especially hard as many people are torn between committing to their beautiful but problem-plagued country or leaving with their skills to escape relentless daily struggles and pursue opportunities elsewhere.

There’s a lot of melancholy in Caravan SandWitch, but also, importantly, positive attitudes and pragmatic optimism. Characters talk about their painful experiences but also consciously learn from them, and draw strength from their community. Paired with its feel-good stance, the game features an unusual amount of healthy, affirming LGBT+ representation.

Caravan SandWitch definitely isn’t a game that should be rushed. Everything about it encourages a leisurely experience. For the record, you’re looking at around nine hours for a comprehensive but not complete playthrough.

If you ignore its tendency to crash (although patches are clearly remedying this), there’s only one thing that lets down Caravan SandWitch, and that’s the game’s abrupt ending. After a lengthy build-up of its intriguing core mystery, the big reveal just isn’t satisfying. Players are faced with two choices, you pick one, and maybe a minute later the credits roll with a few accompanying photos to show the fate of Cigalo’s inhabitants. As a side note, if you are curious about the alternate ending, you don’t need to replay the whole game. You can just reload the final autosave from the menu and run through the final sequence.

Caravan SandWitch’s disappointing conclusion does a lot to undo good feeling generated by the rest of the game. However, the title still remains too special for it to be dismissed, especially if you’re seeking an indie release that is both sophisticated and wholesome.

Caravan SandWitch is out today, 12 September for PC (through Steam and the Epic Store), Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.