Lacking Scope
Beautiful World
Engaging Exploration
Yonder's gorgeous world provides plenty of activities while avoiding combat. It's an approach that's not for everyone, but those that do like it can't recommend it enough.
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Lacking Scope
Beautiful World
Engaging Exploration
Yonder's gorgeous world provides plenty of activities while avoiding combat. It's an approach that's not for everyone, but those that do like it can't recommend it enough.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles - PlayStation Experience 2016: Debut Trailer | PS4
An open world adventure that does away with combat, Yonder's beauty is ultimately undone by its mundanity.
In the end, Yonder isn't inventive, exactly, as the multitude of ideas and cross-media inspirations converge somehow into something infinitely familiar. Missions are cut down to absolute basics to fulfill an open world quota, but it's possible to forgive this when traipsing through this aesthetically pleasing land and helping these delighted folk. And as importantly, there's bravery in eliminating things like combat and leveling, allowing Yonder a rare, distinctive brevity.
A meditative game about exploring and gathering that offers great beauty but not much else.
One cannot comprehend who Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is meant to serve.
All told, Yonder is that kind of game that has value, but only a very specific kind of gamer will be able to find it. Yonder isn't a bad game by any means, but it's clear that it tries to do too much at once and doesn't stop to make sure that anything is that fun in practice. Mediocre gameplay mechanics aside, it's a relaxing game to play with your coffee in the morning, and the presentation value is a definite plus. We'd recommend this to anyone looking for a relatively shallow game that doesn't take a whole much of a time investment; for what it is, Yonder is a decent game, though it's hardly a must-play.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a lovely, sedate open world adventure game that inexplicably gates its crafting mechanic behind an obtuse, tiered system that renders it moot.
Yonder is obviously a fantastic game for adults to play with their children, and for slightly older children to be allowed to play unsupervised. Even for adults it's surprisingly beautiful, and a soothing breath of anxiety-calming non-violence. But the older you get, the less mileage you might receive from Gemea.
Overall, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a charming and visually pleasing experience that will remind you immediately of 3D Legend of Zelda titles, mainly The Wind Waker, in how the towns, island, and citizens are portrayed. The questing and story progression is okay, but it may become boring and tedious for some looking for more of an action oriented affair. The side activities alone, as well as with the crafting and farm management are what many will have to enjoy to get the most out of Yonder. Otherwise, if you are looking for something deeper, this may be a rather boring expedition.