
The Caravan SandWitch is an indie adventure game that was released for PC, PlayStation, and Switch on the 12th September 2024. Developed by French studio Plane Toast, and published by Dear Villagers. Caravan SandWitch’s gentle approach to exploration, beautiful world, and mysterious plot draw players into a sweet experience – even if the Switch sometimes struggles to keep up.
Caravan SandWitch – A Cosy Drive Across the Dunes
I started playing Caravan SandWitch as a particularly grey weekend set in over Southern England. As clouds rolled in and rain beat down on my roof, I rode across deserts inspired by Provence, and uncovered mysteries that hooked me. So, let’s take a closer look at why.
If you’ve driven your van across the sands in Caravan SandWitch tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Gameplay
We join our main character Sauge as she receives a distress call from her long-disappeared sister, originating from their home planet Cigalo. Sauge races to catch the last space-train back home, and quickly finds themselves helping out old friends, making new ones, and investigating the mystery of her sister’s disappearance.
Unlike most adventure games, there’s no combat to be found here, or even fall damage. Instead, the gameplay revolves around completing tasks for locals, solving environmental puzzles, and upgrading your trusty van.
A Trusty Steed

This beaten-up old van lets Sauge speed across the deserts of Provence-inspired Cigalo and explore all manner of nooks and crannies along the way. The van plays a crucial role in your journey. Not only does it trek across the landscape, but it also serves as a tool that helps unlock new areas. As you explore, you’ll gather materials to upgrade the van with attachments like a grappling hook or antenna. This opens up new paths to explore at the end of every chapter.
These upgrades are locked behind components you can find in the world or as rewards for missions. Like any sort of arbitrary limitation, the component requisites can stop progression in its tracks. The first few times I had built up a supply from exploring the world. However, after a while, it was an active search for them. But this isn’t too big of a deal, as the way you find these components is a fun part of the game too.
In the open world, they serve as little breadcrumbs squirreled away in derelict concrete buildings and broken-down machines. They reminded me of Crackdown’s orbs. I’d see them from afar, and I’d need to scramble up to them, like a moth to a flame. You also get them for helping out the residents of Cigalo with all sorts of bits and bobs.

People and Places
These side missions are pretty standard – collecting an amount of items, or climbing a ruin to flip a switch. They might not win awards for originality, but they do allow Caravan SandWitch to showcase two of its main draws – the writing and the characters. Your interactions with the characters ground the game in the relationships you build with the people of Cigalo. Whether you’re repairing water pumps or helping a group of nomads, the dialogue is heartfelt, drawing you into the game’s emotional core.
Finally, the world of Cigalo itself feels like a main character in its own right. The devs were inspired by the real world, namely the Provence region of France. This helps the world in its realism – it feels lived in like it exists beyond your van’s tires and Sauge’s story. The world is small, for an open world, but dense, with regions that have different vibes and feelings – from open dunes to shady forests. In the distance a vast storm boils, crackling with energy and menace, ever-present. Scattered in and amongst these areas are monolithic structures of grey concrete, contrasting excellently against the bright world. Left by the corporation that exploited Cigalo, they’ve become living places – locals have left radios, chairs, and pillows behind. It’s some of the most relaxed exploration I’ve enjoyed in a video game.

Graphics & Audio
Visually, Caravan SandWitch shines. The game’s Provence-inspired setting is a standout feature, with charming locales that evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth. The game’s art style is full of strong flat colours that feel like old travel posters from the 70’s. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch lets it down slightly, with noticeable performance dips, texture pop-ins, and occasional frame rate drops, which can detract from the experience. Still, the feat of porting such a game to the Switch alone is impressive. Though if you have the option of playing elsewhere, for now that might be for the best.
The audio design, however, is stellar across the board. The soundtrack perfectly complements the serene atmosphere of the game, offering a mix of calming, ambient tracks. It provides a melodic backdrop that makes the experience feel all the more personal. Now and then, you’ll crest a hill just as the music swells, and it feels almost magical.

Longevity
At roughly 8-10 hours of playtime, Caravan SandWitch isn’t the longest adventure, but it’s packed with meaningful experiences. The world is filled with side quests that flesh out the lives of the inhabitants of Cigalo, and your van upgrades encourage thorough exploration of every nook and cranny. Multiple endings offer replay value for those who want to experience the story from different angles.
If you’re expecting high-octane action or complex mechanics, you might find the game’s leisurely pace a bit too mellow. But for players who appreciate narrative-driven games with a slower pace, Caravan SandWitch provides enough content to feel satisfying without overstaying its welcome.
Final Thoughts
Caravan SandWitch is a cozy, thoughtful game that stands out due to its emotional depth and engrossing world. The lack of combat might deter some, but those who enjoy narrative-heavy adventures will find plenty to love here. At the time of writing the performance issues on the Switch make it that bit harder to recommend on the system. But regardless of platform, Caravan SandWitch offers a touching, memorable journey that lingers with you long after you’ve finished playing.
If you’re looking for a game that feels like a warm, emotional hug, Caravan SandWitch might just be the perfect adventure. And for me, on a cold weekend in September, it more than deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you’re into cosy games, take a look at my review of A Tiny Sticker Tale, or for something more fantastical, check out Rowen’s review of Creatures of Ava!
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