Eastward

Eastward is a beautiful adventure, full of complexity and memorable characters that makes a world full of pixels seem larger than life.

83%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

86% User Score Based on 6,554 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 36 reviews

Platforms

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About

Eastward is a single player role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by T'K FjBn and was released on September 16, 2021. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Eastward is a beautifully detailed and charming adventure RPG, from Shanghai-based indie developers, Pixpil and published by Chucklefish. Escape the tyrannical clutches of a subterranean society and join Eastward’s unlikely duo on an exciting adventure to the land above! Discover beautiful yet bizarre settlements and make new friends as you travel across the world by rail. Inspired by 90s Japane…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+15

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,554 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

grinding198 negative mentions

Stunning pixel art and beautiful environments that create a captivating atmosphere.
Engaging story with lovable characters that evoke strong emotional connections.
Fun gameplay mechanics that combine action, puzzles, and cooking elements.

Pacing issues with excessive dialogue and cutscenes that can feel tedious.
Combat mechanics can be clunky and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge.
The story can become convoluted and leaves many questions unanswered by the end.

story
5,362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The story of *Eastward* is a mixed bag, with many players praising its emotional depth and charming characters, while others criticize its pacing and convoluted plot. The narrative begins strong, drawing players into a whimsical yet dark world, but often meanders with lengthy dialogues and side quests that feel disconnected from the main storyline. While the art and music are widely appreciated, the overall coherence of the story leaves some players feeling unsatisfied, particularly towards the end where loose ends and plot holes detract from the experience.
- “The characters are unforgettable, and every moment of the story pulls you deeper into its world.”
- “In Eastward, you journey with John and Sam through a beautifully crafted world, solving puzzles, battling enemies, and uncovering a heartfelt story full of twists and surprises.”
- “The storytelling is both heartfelt and immersive, drawing you into its unique universe.”
- “The story feels painfully quantity over quality.”
- “The story is already a very (very) slow burn, but then chapter 6 comes along and inserts a couple hours of complete nonsense filler just as the story is finally getting going.”
- “The story is eastward's weak point.”
gameplay
1,854 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay of *Eastward* is often described as a blend of classic Zelda-style mechanics with simple combat and puzzle-solving elements, featuring a dual-character system that allows players to switch between protagonists John and Sam. While many players appreciate the charming visuals, engaging story, and unique cooking mechanics, they also note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and simplistic, often overshadowed by lengthy dialogue and cutscenes. Overall, the game is seen as more narrative-driven, with gameplay that is enjoyable but not particularly deep or challenging.
- “Eastward had me hooked from start to finish with its stunning art style, incredible music, and captivating gameplay.”
- “The gameplay has the perfect balance of challenge and the way you engage with a variety of gimmicks is very fun.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of adventure, RPG elements, and exploration, and it’s a ride you don’t want to miss.”
- “The last six hours of my gameplay felt like a fight against my attention span, with a constant internal argument as I tried my best to just finish the game.”
- “The gameplay flow is also really bad, too many fetch quests and filler content.”
- “The gameplay is poorly paced and never rises above okay.”
music
1,824 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "Eastward" has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many players praising its nostalgic chiptune and vaporwave influences. However, some reviewers noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, with a limited number of tracks being reused frequently, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, the combination of captivating visuals and a charming soundtrack makes it a standout feature of the game.
- “Eastward had me hooked from start to finish with its stunning art style, incredible music, and captivating gameplay.”
- “The music accompanied the game so well and really set the mood.”
- “The soundtrack has to be one of my all-time favorites of any game... especially the cooking theme.”
- “The soundtrack gets old fast when it's the same 5 songs repeating again and again.”
- “What I did notice, however, was a large absence of music (or really much ambient noise throughout large periods of the game) to the point I wasn’t sure if I had somehow muted some track. I had not.”
- “My biggest gripe is that there is a lot of reused music.”
graphics
1,733 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics of "Eastward" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and intricate details that evoke nostalgia reminiscent of classic games like "Earthbound" and "The Legend of Zelda." Many players appreciate the charming character designs and the overall aesthetic, which is complemented by a captivating soundtrack. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are exceptional, they sometimes overshadow the gameplay and narrative, leading to a disconnect between the game's artistic presentation and its storytelling.
- “The artwork is absolutely exceptional.”
- “Eastward had me hooked from start to finish with its stunning art style, incredible music, and captivating gameplay.”
- “The pixel graphics are nostalgic, the music is pretty good.”
- “Of course, unfortunately, there are times when the game isn’t entirely clear with what is where, with the art style making it a little hard to distinguish between foreground and background elements (both of which may be traversed at some point during the game).”
- “It is weird that a game with so much care and attention to graphics has at the same time such an unbalanced gameplay and incongruent story/dialogues.”
- “The charming artwork and animation pulled me most of the way through the game, but the lack of story payoff and an increase in combat clunkiness over meaningful progression just made the slog unbearable.”
emotional
401 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Eastward" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and character development, particularly the touching father-daughter relationship between John and Sam. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, as they navigate a beautifully crafted world filled with both whimsical and poignant moments. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a lack of emotional depth in certain character arcs, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses and create lasting connections with its characters.
- “I laughed, I cried, and I was completely invested the entire time.”
- “The storytelling is both heartfelt and immersive, drawing you into its unique universe.”
- “At its core, it is a father-daughter love story between the two characters Sam and John, making the gloomy setting of the world a little brighter and heartwarming.”
- “Boring story, characters, dialogue.”
- “Slow paced and honestly quite boring story.”
- “Gorgeous graphics, horribly boring story, simple but decent combat and mind numbingly easy puzzles.”
grinding
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
6%
93%
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, particularly in the late stages where tedious puzzles, fetch quests, and excessive dialogue detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the farming DLC as a refreshing alternative, many express frustration with the repetitive and filler content that makes progression feel laborious. Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of meaningful rewards for grinding, leading to a tedious gameplay experience that can overshadow its narrative and artistic merits.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Puzzles are likewise easy, but short enough to be fun and not too tedious.”
- “In late game (especially chapter 7), it introduces a litany of tedious timer-based puzzles, which are antithetical to fun.”
- “The exploration is hampered by tedious fetch quests and clunky, frustrating combat.”
- “It's tedious, slow as hell, and has far too much dialogue (and yet 90% of that doesn't relate to the story at all, it's just yakking to fill time).”
atmosphere
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, immersive music, and detailed environments, creating a vibrant and engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of lighting and sound to enhance emotional depth, with many noting a nostalgic charm reminiscent of classic RPGs. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, drawing players into its unique world and storytelling.
- “The environments are gorgeous and the music fits the atmosphere and emotions amazingly well.”
- “Absolutely incredible story, style, gameplay, and atmosphere.”
- “From start to finish, the color palette, lighting and atmosphere are top-notch and really show off the best aspects of pixel art.”
- “Maybe one day I'll replay this and might actually like it as much as I wanted to, but atmosphere alone is a hell of a crutch to prop up mediocrity with.”
- “The world setting, the atmosphere of Eastward makes you want to dive in and get lost in it, then land on your face because it was so shallow.”
- “Worth playing for the atmosphere even though its pace and plot are uneven.”
humor
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Eastward" is a standout feature, blending quirky, Earthbound-style wit with heartfelt moments, creating a unique emotional experience. Players appreciate the well-written dialogue and lovable characters, often finding themselves laughing at the absurdity and charm of the interactions, even as the story takes darker turns. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be inconsistent, with certain dialogues feeling drawn out or lacking in genuine wit, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “Beautiful settings, vibe-y music, lovable characters, fun puzzle and action sequences combined with chill and humorous side quests.”
- “The dialogue is well-written and sprinkled with humor, helping to foster an emotional connection between the player and the characters.”
- “The game gets progressively darker in tone as you play, taking breaks here and there to lighten things up with well-written humor.”
- “It's clear to me now that the developers prioritized neither quality nor quantity, as most characters have a horrible tendency to vomit text box after text box of the most mind-numbing, unfunny, and painfully episodic paragraphs of hot air whenever they are given the slightest prompting.”
character development
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
9%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the art style and character design while criticizing the lack of depth in character arcs and storytelling. Some players feel that the potential for meaningful character growth is squandered by shallow dialogue and a focus on style over substance, leading to a frustrating experience. However, a few reviewers noted that certain characters do exhibit well-crafted development, suggesting that while the overall execution may falter, there are moments of genuine connection and personality.
- “The character development, both protagonists and NPCs, is quite well done.”
- “I can not speak on the game in its entirety but I will say that as far as I've experienced; this game is without a doubt unique and deserves to be praised for its unique story and heart-touching character development.”
- “The story takes a character development-forward approach where it invests a lot of the story into character interaction with the main plot kind of occurring in the background for a lot of the game.”
- “It’s just a complete misunderstanding of character development and it hurts to see so much potential for something great to just fall flat on its face.”
- “Character development is basically non-existent.”
- “The shallowness of character development and dialogue just kills the experience for me.”
replayability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
50%
18%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it highly enjoyable and worth revisiting, while others criticize its limited incentives for replaying after completing the main story. Many note that the linear design and lack of choices diminish the replay value, making it less appealing for completionists. Overall, while some aspects encourage multiple playthroughs, the consensus leans towards a significant lack of replayability.
- “It has easily become one of my favorite games ever, and the replayability is insane.”
- “Replay value: I'd play it again just to reread dialogue and remember characters.”
- “All around this game is very good in every aspect and has a very high replayability.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there may be limited incentives for replaying the game.”
- “There is no replay value, as there are no choices to make and you can't even backtrack.”
- “This all just kind of leads to a serious lack of replayability, at least for me.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and performs well with mouse and keyboard, many users report significant bugs and freezing issues, particularly when using a controller. Overall, players have experienced glitches and slow performance, leading to frustration, especially at the game's start. Updates are anticipated to address these stability concerns.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Bug free experience.”
- “The game is slow as all hell even with the fast forward option, and is super buggy with a controller.”
- “At the moment, at least for me, it's broken in the beginning so I wouldn't recommend it. I will keep it in my library since it does look like a decent game, but not getting to play the game because it freezes at the beginning is a deal breaker.”
- “Con: buggy but to be expected until updates are released.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
56%
22%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback. While some players report no crashes or major bugs and commend the performance, others experience significant stuttering, frame rate drops, and loading issues, even on high-end hardware. The game shows potential but could benefit from further optimization to enhance the overall experience.
- “No crashes, bugs, or performance issues whatsoever.”
- “Performance is something that I can praise Eastward for at least.”
- “Even for those of you who fell off your playthrough of the original for one reason or another, we’d encourage you to consider coming back for Octopia—this is a much better-paced game and, some performance issues aside, it’s lost none of the charm that made the original so popular.”
- “However, the bad news was it wasn't completely optimized.”
- “However, the game had a lot of stuttering issues immediately, and I wasn't even able to go into the second room due to the game freezing on the loading screen.”
- “There were also occasional performance issues, where frame rate would drop to a near standstill.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game appears to rely heavily on ad placements, which some users find appealing due to the high-quality artwork and visuals showcased. However, there is a sentiment that the gameplay is too linear, limiting exploration and engagement with the beautifully designed environments. Overall, while the visuals are praised, the monetization strategy may detract from the overall experience.