Caravaneer 2
- December 30, 2020
- Dmitry Zheltobriukhov
- 83h median play time
Get on Steam"Caravaneer 2" is a post-apocalyptic trade simulation game with turn-based combat, featuring detailed economics and a rich, branching story. Transport goods across a desert wasteland while managing your crew, animals, and vehicles, facing the dangers of getting lost or attacked by bandits. With old-school visuals and challenging gameplay, this indie game from 2014 offers 4 DLCs, bug fixes, and user experience improvements in the Steam release.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Caravaneer 2 features a remarkably complex and engaging economy system that enhances the trading experience.
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original flash version, with a well-developed story and character interactions.
- Despite its simple graphics, the gameplay loop is addictive, combining trading, resource management, and turn-based combat effectively.
- The combat system can feel tedious and unbalanced, especially in larger battles, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Some players find the user interface and tutorial overwhelming, making it difficult to grasp the game's mechanics initially.
- The game can be punishing, with a steep learning curve that may deter casual players from fully enjoying the experience.
- story54 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as engaging and enjoyable, with a mix of interesting characters and branching narratives that allow for player choice and consequences. However, some players find the quest log vague and the story occasionally forgettable or rushed, with a steep learning curve that can detract from the experience. Overall, while the story may not be the main focus for everyone, it effectively complements the game's complex economic systems and gameplay mechanics.
“While the game does have its flaws, such as the ease at which entire cities can run out of money or the slow process of finding unemployed workers, the game's phenomenal framework and captivating story make up for them.”
“The story itself feels much in the vein of the old Fallout or Wasteland games in that you have many ways of approaching problems and the dialogue doesn't take itself too seriously.”
“You have a very fun and engaging storyline where many of the choices you make genuinely impact the game at some point in the future, and where your choices create a reputation that other AI will need to consider when interacting with you.”
“Biggest gripe is the quest log is frustratingly vague.”
“The game has a bit of a rough learning curve and the story and huge text dumps are very front-loaded, which can be off-putting.”
“Better quest updates and guides; a lot of quests that I finished are marked as open and very little info is provided, so at certain times you have no idea what to do or where to go next, it becomes confusing!”
- gameplay39 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of trading, exploration, and turn-based combat, offering a satisfying loop of buying, traveling, and selling goods in a dynamic economy. While the combat can become tedious in the late game and some mechanics feel underdeveloped, the overall experience is engaging, especially for fans of sandbox RPGs. Players appreciate the depth of the trading system and the immersive world, despite the minimal graphics typical of indie games.
“I absolutely love Caravaneer 2 and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and addicting gameplay experience.”
“The game's simple yet captivating gameplay loop of traveling from town to town and finding the best prices for goods provides an incredible sense of satisfaction.”
“The simplicity of the game's core mechanic, buy, travel, sell - seems suspiciously bland at first glance, but with an economy that reacts to in-game events, player behavior, and AI supply and demand, you're unlikely to play two games exactly alike.”
“The only downside I experienced with this game was the combat mechanics; as late game when you have a decent sized group of people, one battle takes a while.”
“Only thing that is missing is auto-battle, because later in game fights become very frequent, which transforms the game from 'trading with some fighting' to 'fighting with some trading', and fighting mechanics are making fights feel like a chore after some time.”
“Your gameplay doesn't particularly change, except for the fact that most of the time you'll be wandering to another part of the map or building relationships with other people.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and outdated, typical of indie titles, but this minimalism is often seen as part of the game's charm. While the visuals may not impress, players appreciate the addictive gameplay and complex mechanics that compensate for the lack of graphical sophistication. Overall, the focus remains on engaging gameplay rather than high-end graphics.
“I adore this game; I've been playing it for years on flash sites, and it never gets old, regardless of the sparsity of the graphics.”
“Classic graphics, addictive gameplay.”
“The graphics are nice, the real-time economy is well thought out, and the battles are challenging.”
“The graphics aren't wonderful, but that's part of the charm in an odd way.”
“Unfortunately, the graphics (actually, all the artwork and animation) are minimal, but that's okay for an indie game as long as the gameplay is fun.”
“Graphics are kind of outdated, though the combat is fun and the economic system makes this game special.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players enjoy the deep, obsessive nature of resource collection and character progression, others find it becomes tedious and boring as they progress. The need for extensive grinding to build and upgrade the caravan can lead to frustration, especially in the later stages, despite some rewarding moments in combat and trading. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate a grind-heavy experience, but may deter players seeking a more streamlined narrative.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Interesting at first, but the further you progress, the more tedious, annoying, and boring it becomes (see escorting 17 people to Hempton).”
“This game revolves around grinding to build your caravan.”
“But a boring combat system and grindy character progression make this a miss.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and appealing style, with many users highlighting the impressive apocalyptic ambiance that enhances the overall experience.
“The apocalyptic atmosphere it has is amazing.”
“Very nice style and atmosphere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by amusingly awkward word choices, likely due to the developer's European background, which adds a quirky charm. Additionally, the depiction of post-apocalyptic tribal and religious conflicts is both engaging and comically entertaining.
“My only (very minor) complaint is that some of the English word choice is humorously off - for example, 'pacific' in place of 'pacified.' I'm fairly certain the dev is European, so it totally makes sense.”
“The post-apocalypse tribal feud and religious feud part is really cool, and hilarious.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack, particularly the OST, enhances the experience, with players finding the music enjoyable during travel and recommending it as a fitting background accompaniment.
“I recommend playing with the Burntime game OST playing in the background.”
“The music when you're traveling is very enjoyable.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in this sandbox RPG is highlighted by its creative and compelling quests, alongside interesting character design that enhances player engagement. The immersive survival mechanics and enjoyable combat further contribute to a rich character experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Wasteland and Fallout.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to shape their heroes in unique ways that reflect their personal playstyle.”
“I love how the choices I make during the game impact my character's growth and relationships with others, making every decision feel meaningful.”
“The variety of skills and abilities available for character customization adds a layer of strategy that keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its optimization, making it well-suited for casual play while also appealing to players who enjoy technical gameplay and resource management.
“Beyond that, it is superb for casual play and those who gain enjoyment from technical gameplay, optimization, and resource management.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's fantastic gameplay and numerous advancement opportunities, contributing to its strong replayability.
“Fantastic gameplay, countless opportunities to advance in the game, and definitely replayable.”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and different character builds, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
