Carto Reviews
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.
Carto is creative and very well developed, with a consistency that can be experienced between five and eight hours. Get ready, then, to study and reconfigure maps like a real cartographer, in a fascinating world full of inventive puzzles and a rich adventure. Fitting the pieces that the game gives us is much more like a work of art than a simple map.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
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...
Anyone looking for a quiet puzzler with great soundtrack my find his new favourite game in Carto.
Review in German | Read full review
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.
Carto's heartwarming story is backed by its inventive (and challenging) take on puzzles and exploration
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 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.
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 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
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.
It’s hard to imagine someone who would play Carto and have a bad time. It’s that committed to low-stress, just-engaging-enough fun and a world you’ll like traipsing about for a couple of hours.
Carto captivates with its mix of inventive puzzles and relaxing pacing. The main concept of manipulating the map to solve puzzles and tasks is quite interesting, and various situations explore it in creative ways. The challenges are accessible, but there are sections with obscure solutions or steps that hinder progress a little. The chill tone is reinforced with a colorful universe reminiscent of an illustrated book, simple text and diverse themes approached with humor, making exploration a delight. In the end, Carto is a charming and different adventure that is worth checking out.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
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.
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.
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.
-Suarez Miranda,Viajes devarones prudentes, Libro IV,Cap. XLV, Lerida, 1658
Carto is a wholesome and relaxing short title that could help you to make a rainy afternoon a bit better.
Review in Slovak | Read full review