Carto

Lore & Background

Carto was developed by Taiwanese independent studio Sunhead Games. The game's setting draws inspiration from several tribal cultures, incorporated as references by the developers. Lee-Kuo Chen of Sunhead Games cited the French artbook L'Atlas des géographes d'Orbae as a key influence for creating a believable world. The core mechanic—placing map tiles to alter the environment—originated from a concept Chen had noted in his design notebook: 'Like Carcassonne, but you are able to travel on the tile you place.' He revisited this idea and began prototyping after finding it promising. Humble Games unveiled the game in June 2020 with a trailer, and it was released on October 27, 2020, for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Reader's Guide

Carto received generally positive reviews on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch according to Metacritic, while the Windows version met with mixed or average reviews. OpenCritic reported that 79% of critics recommended the game. Marcus Stewart of Game Informer rated it 8/10, calling it 'adorable, pleasant, and deceptively tricky' and praising how new twists keep gameplay fresh, though noting it becomes 'surprisingly challenging in good and bad ways.' Stephen Tailby of Push Square rated it 7/10, describing its 'unique gameplay hook' and satisfying puzzles, but felt it had 'so much potential that isn't quite reached here.' Will Aickman of Adventure Gamers gave it 3.5/5 stars, highlighting its 'lush visual style, resembling watercolors from a children's book come to life' and concluding that while 'a bit too relaxed at times,' the game is 'full of heart and almost impossibly cute.' The game's significance lies in its novel map-manipulation mechanic and its warm, narrative-driven approach to puzzle design.

Did You Know?

• The game's tile-placement mechanic was inspired by the board game Carcassonne.
• The game's art style resembles watercolors from a children's book.