Carto Reviews
Carto's heartwarming story is backed by its inventive (and challenging) take on puzzles and exploration
Carto's main concept is compelling, but it runs out of steam in the mid-game and succumbs to repetition far too swiftly. It's nonetheless a beautifully-drawn title that's often a pleasure to play, but when it's tedious, it's really tedious. It's arguably the perfect title to play with kids and novices who are likely to be more forgiving of Carto's many shortcomings, but everyone else should approach with a little more caution.
Carto is a unique experience that perhaps doesn't make the most of its central puzzling mechanic. The puzzle-solving itself is fun, but the story ends up quite forgettable. If you're after a short experience to keep you busy for an afternoon, then Carto is for you - just don't expect to be blown away.
Much of the fun in Carto is that you never know what new things you'll discover next. It's a real joy to find new map pieces and see what new areas you can explore, as well as the new characters that you'll get to meet next. This is a super chilled out puzzle game and quite possibly one of the most relaxed and wholesome adventures that you'll have this year.
Carto is the kind of game you love to play on a quiet rainy day and I’m excited to play it over and over again.
While not being an all-encompassing experience, Carto allows you to explore a hand-drawn fantasy at your own pace. It includes camp-fire like folktales of family, growing up, and making your way in the world. The Carcassonne like map-making and editing system is unique and very rewarding. If you are looking for a small, fun game while waiting for some big titles to drop, give it a go. It's a lot of fun and very different.
Carto is a brilliantly simple puzzle game about literally moving the world to help those in need, all the while making a few friends as you try to make it back home.
A real strength of Carto is its cast of NPCs, written with real warmth and charm. The world they inhabit is also surprisingly well fleshed out, even though you can breeze through it in six or seven hours. This is a puzzle game, but it also tells a sweet, worthwhile tale about tradition and companionship. Combined with lovely visuals and chilled out music, this is a refreshing, relaxing game that's worth marking on your map.
Carto gets a lot of brain-bending mileage from its central mechanic.
Carto is a nice, very clever puzzle-game which offers brand new mecanics to change the world by twisting map pieces. Thanks to beautiful landscapes and very well thought enigmas,Sunhead's game only suffers from a lack of clues, which might drive the most impatient players crazy.
Review in French | Read full review
Carto is a strong contender for the title of 2020's best adventure. Involved, intimate gameplay and incredible attention to detail make even the smallest islands feel remarkably rich and expansive.
-Suarez Miranda,Viajes devarones prudentes, Libro IV,Cap. XLV, Lerida, 1658
Carto is a feel-good kind of game. Most of the puzzles feel clever, and the brisk pace means that the concept never lingers for too long. The story is very good with a cast of friendly characters and nary a conflict. It's the kind of game that you want to play at least once and feel good about once you reach the end credits.
It's a tightly packed shot of brilliance that manages the balancing act of spending just the right amount of time in an area and on an idea. I was left satisfied but still wanting more at the end of the adventure. The blend of soothing puzzle gameplay and optimistic story makes Carto both a top-shelf Switch indie and a welcome respite for this year.
Overall, Carto is enjoyable. The story, art, and even its relaxing music is something worth the play. I do wish it was a little bit longer just to know the world more. I would love to know the grandmothers’ own adventures and understand the beginnings of these magical cartographers. In conclusion, I wanted more from it.
As one of the most unique games that I've played in a long time, Carto blew me away with its clever gameplay and lovely world.
Having played so many of them, unfortunately the first thing I assume I’ll see when approaching any sort of puzzle game is that it will be something I’ve seen before...
A sweet, simple yet challenging puzzle game but not for those who consider themselves completionists or just don't want to give extreme attention.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Carto has a lot of heart at its core, with its endearing title character and family-driven narrative. The map-altering mechanic is user-friendly and offers a unique approach to the puzzle-adventure genre. While deceptively simple on its face, there are some challenges ahead and the going can get tough at times. With every map “riddle,” there seems to be but one solution to allow progression. The joy is in solving a particularly vexing one, when it all lines up just as it should. The main drawback was that at times, things felt somewhat disconnected and flat. The developers clearly wanted a game that was puzzle-driven, first and foremost, and the exploration elements aren’t nearly as developed. But Carto has so much charm and wholesome appeal, that it’s genuinely easy to like. The storybook visuals are so pretty and I love the upbeat soundtrack. The perfect cozy game to curl up in a blanket with, on a rainy afternoon!
Anyone looking for a quiet puzzler with great soundtrack my find his new favourite game in Carto.
Review in German | Read full review