Caravan SandWitch Review: Living In Post-Apocalyptic Harmony

Caravan SandWitch and Plane Toast might allude to a food-based truck simulator travelling the globe and bringing joy to others through various breads, fillers, and the occasional cold meat selection. Maybe on this planet, but not on Cigalo.

Cigalo doesn't have much to offer, what with the Consortium ravaging the land of its resources and leaving behind redundant robots, a small colony of humans, nomads, and the native Reinetos. And a message. That message was received by Sauge, who returns to Cigalo, as the message in question was sent by her sister, who went missing six years ago.

Caravan SandWitch gets off to a slow and steady start and mostly remains that way throughout by design. The locals, who stayed on Cigalo while Sauge pursued a career as a pilot, are welcoming and pleased to see her, though not entirely sure what brings her back home. There's an innocence in the community; needs are the focal point, and everyone chips in together. And, while there's an underlying narrative of danger that will conclude Sauge's Cigalo chapter, it's mostly carefree.

Caravan SandWitch Review: Sand Doesn't Get Everywhere

Exploration is the name of the game, and Sauge is free to wander on foot and is also provided with transport, which is the only active vehicle around. It soon becomes apparent that that little mini-map on the screen is glitching due to some jammers that need to be disabled. Cue childhood friend Nèfle, a scientific genius, that introduces Sauge to the world of component-gathering, gadgets, and a flurry of side quests.

Sauge can roam as she pleases in Caravan SandWitch, though she does need to upgrade her van and its gadgets through Nèfle by components in the wild, categorised by rarity. Each time Sauge has said parts, a notification via the Toaster messaging system calls her back to the village, signalling the start of a new chapter. The caveat is that any side quests are abandoned, but at least Nèfle will tell you what quests are active and an opportunity to proceed or not.

These side quests don't affect the main narrative, though it's encouraged as the nature of the game is to explore, and clocking in at around six or so hours for the first completed playthrough, it's worth doing everything. Caravan SandWitch is very relaxed in its approach, and there's no pressure to rush through in any order, no threat of enemies, no fall damage(!), and no time limits. However, to gain access to certain areas and obtain elusive quest items, Sauge must upgrade that van.

Planet Caravan

The van can be improved with a scanner, a grappling hook and a hacking device. Without delving into spoiler territory, not that it's much of a spoiler, they're all necessary for progression, take time to unlock, and are available in a specific order. A zip-wire device is probably the most frustrating one when you don't have it, but there's a reason why it takes time, and that's to do with the story and Sauge's purpose in being on Cigalo.

What's most striking about Caravan SandWitch is the visuals. The colours are beautiful, the soundtrack is excellent, and there are numerous points of interest to stop to appreciate the scenery and general vibes the game gives out. Plane Toast has put its heart into this, which comes from the presentation initially but more so through the community and world-building. It's not a massive game, though it's self-contained within a small conclave of 'survivors' who are quirky yet relatable.

Though there's no pressure, and the game is undoubtedly a calming experience, it adds a bit of urgency with its storytelling. It's not so much that it has to be completed within a set time, more so that you're intrigued about what will happen next. Who are the SandWitches of the title? What's Nèfle's agenda in all of this? How do I unlock the zip-wire? Plus, a host more.

Caravan SandWitch Review Summary

By the time Caravan SandWitch reached its conclusion, with alternate, albeit brief endings, I was so satisfied with the experience that the credits were a reward for my investment. After putting aside the Steam Deck, I found myself humming Antynomy's single and thinking about revisiting Cigalo sooner rather than later.