Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles has provided an experience that I haven’t found in gaming for a long time. Each and every time I have booted it up, I have been filled with a sense of glee, excited to get back into this beautiful world. While not all of the systems work as well as the developers may have hoped, I have found myself loving almost every minute of my time spent in Gemea and the world of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a perfect mix of strategy focused on resources management and adventure games that very few other games can offer.

Yonder’s world is as endearing as it is captivating, but the Animal Crossing/Harvest Moon-esque content that fills it, although accessible and plentiful, isn’t quite as robust as it appears to be. Whilst most of the game’s fun quests and opportunities have meaning and depth, a large portion of them feel needless and tacked on, merely to bolster longevity. Still, overall, it’s hard not to be allured by the game’s diverse and truly relaxing foundation.

Yonder is the type of game I wish we had a lot more of on Xbox. Its quaint and relaxed nature is a breath of fresh air and an easy recommendation for families playing together. While its more structured story leaves less post-game life to live compared to its genre counterparts, it also manages to find a comfy middle ground between simplicity and depth. It's approachable, adorable, and sows the seeds of happiness in its characters and players alike.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a unique game.