Carto’s creativity is constantly on display in ways that surprised and delighted me essentially at every turn. 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 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 is the best game i’ve played in two years, and i’ve tried and played many games in the past two years. i think the difference between my review and the others is that the game is sort of for a selected taste, you have to endure not being stimulated 24/7. it’s very calming and peaceful and overall just a fun puzzle game and i haven’t seen anything like it before. the animation is beautiful, the soundtrack is good, and overall the play through is excellent and i thoroughly enjoyed it. after enjoying it so immensely, i’ve searched for games similar to it but i’ve yet to find anything and i genuinely think it’s unmatched in its own aspect. i loved it. however, if you don’t like to solve puzzles and actually think with very little guidance, it might not be for you.
This was a fun little puzzle / adventure game. The artwork is beautiful, and the story is really simple to follow. It’s a nice short game. You can finish it in a weekend. I think the gameplay is pretty unique. You need to build and continue to change the map in order to complete each level. So, part of the puzzle is making sure you have the map built in a way that you can reach the places you need to go; and part of the puzzle is figuring out what you need to do when you get there. For the most part, cut scenes are replaced by little illustrated scenes. The character dialogue is quick and to the point, but clever. It’s an “easy” game but as an adult I found it just challenging enough to be fun.
Carto is a nice, very clever puzzle-game which offers brand new mechanics 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.
It’s a well-crafted children’s book come to life with some puzzles that will absolutely leave you stumped and trying new things. I was happy to see a chapter select option upon the games completion as well as the reveal of hidden collectibles I can’t wait to go back and find. I would have liked if some of the environments had a little more going on in regards to the aesthetic detail, but I also acknowledge their design better reflects the nature of a map as is its intention. 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 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.
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.
Wholesome and beautiful. I finished it in a bit over 6 **** puzzles are creative and not too hard. The art style is impressive. The story keeps it short, and there is some some light humor (mostly puns). A must buy on sale.
Ignore the complainer (posting multiple reviews under different names btw and should be banned) whining about the game not being "kid friendly". Not sure where it was ever claimed to be "kid friendly". Nothing like just looking at a few screen shots and making an assumption, I suppose. Game is pretty solid. Not mind blowing, but worth a try. Good puzzles, decent adventure, cool map building concept.
Artwork and map manipulation concepts are beautiful but by chapter 3 characters start talking way too much and not being much interesting, my kids lost interest at that point, as to make things worse the puzzles become too complex for their age. The game needed a better director to meet it's target audience.
Summary Carto is a chill adventure game wrapped around a unique, world-shifting puzzle mechanic. Use this power to explore mysterious lands, help a quirky cast of new friends, and guide Carto on her journey home.