Capy Castaway

At first glance, Capy Castaway feels like a gentle exploration game. Its bright colours, cute animals and soft presentation reminded me a lot of Little Kitty, Big City. However, the further I played, the more I realised that Capy Castaway was trying to tackle some surprisingly serious subjects. Grief, anxiety, strained relationships, death and identity all feature in the story, and that contrast became one of my biggest points of uncertainty with the game. Not because I think these themes have no place in a cosy-looking adventure, but because I wasn’t always sure that the game knew how to bring its softer presentation and heavier ideas together. It looks like the perfect cosy adventure about a cute capybara, and there are plenty of lovely ideas here. Some of the heavier moments simply don’t always sit comfortably alongside the game’s bright, child-friendly presentation, while the writing sometimes struggles to connect everything together. I wanted to love this little adventure, but I often found myself wondering who Capy Castaway was really made for.

An unpretentious and lighthearted adventure that focuses equally on narrative and gameplay, offering a diverse, large, and inviting world to explore, with charismatic characters and narrative decisions that add layers to what was once a simple title.

Uncovering emotions you wouldn't expect.

I was eager to play Capy Castaway ever since I first saw it announced and was not disappointed. The beginning was a little slow, but it quickly opened up and had me completely hooked. I played the whole game from start to finish in about six hours, but I know there are things that I missed and I’m absolutely going to play through it again. It gave me that same warm, feel-good experience that I got from A Short Hike and A Tiny Sticker Tale.