Eastward

But Why ThoJason Flatt

60/10

Eastward is a great game. It’s beautiful, it’s a story well-told, and it’s very fun to play. But for me, the entire experience was tainted by what I quickly and inescapably perceived as racist and sexually exploitative depictions, which is just such a monumental shame of a thing to tarnish an otherwise incredible experience. I mean, this game has an entire virtual RPG video game built into it that you can play. But I simply can’t rate this experience highly with how tarnished my view of it all is. I love playing it, I recommend playing it, but I also insist you judge for yourself these charact...

WellPlayedEleanore Blereau

10/10

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

KeenGamerCallum Davis

9.5/10

Eastward is an action-adventure RPG by Pixpil that really blew me away recently. A good story well told, with fun gameplay, stunning visuals and a brilliant soundtrack? What more could I ask? It may not be for everyone, but I definitely won’t be forgetting Eastward any time soon!

WayTooManyGamesFerniWrites

9.5/10

Very few games are capable of catching my eye and leaving me spellbound. It needs to have that certain flair that grabs me with its hooks and never let’s go. For a decade now, I’ve reviewed several titles, and amongst them, there have only been two cases of a perfect ten. The reason for that is simple: I’m notoriously analytical. It’s why I’m single, but on the bright side, it allows me to dig into the core of an experience. Eastward immediately caught my eye upon its reveal. The go...

Checkpoint GamingVivienne Wright

9/10

Eastward is a beautiful and spirited pixel adventure lovingly developed by indie studio Pixpil, set in a decaying post-apocalyptic world. Being also published by the pixel favourite Chucklefish, it’s a clear sign for you to strap in for a marvellous visual and musical ride. You will laugh, you may weep, and you will certainly find a lot of mysteries that need solving.

Gamers HeroesJohnny Hurricane

85/100

Eastward will be on many shortlists for indie GOTY, and possibly on some main lists as well. If you like what you see, don't hesitate to pick this one up.

Nintendo LifeMitch Vogel

8/10

Eastward: Octopia may not bring many new ideas to a crowded genre, but this is an impressively well-executed expansion that nicely ticks all the boxes for a satisfying and relaxing farm sim. Although it has some rougher edges, the decent gameplay variety, interesting story, gorgeous visuals, and surprising amount of content all come together to make this one an easy recommendation to any fans of the original Eastward. 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 ...

DestructoidEric Van Allen

8/10

For as gorgeous as Eastward‘s graphics are, and as endearing as some of its characters become, and as much as I need its soundtrack on vinyl as soon as possible, it also falls short in some ways that leave its conclusion feeling a bit off. It’s one of the more promising debuts I’ve seen, and Pixpil has ensured I’ll be incredibly interested in whatever they do next. Eastward is something a fan of pixel art and good music, with a weakness for video game nostalgia, deserves to check out. It’s just also a journey that left me wanting a little more.

PC GamerDaniella Lucas

78/100

Spirited Away.

Nintendo WireAmelia Fruzzetti

7/10

Sometimes, all you need to sell someone on something is one sentence, or even one phrase. Tell a college kid a meeting has free food? They’ll be there. Tell a

Jump Dash RollRob Kershaw

6/10

Under Eastward’s glossy and well-designed exterior, there’s a confusing and overlong story that never really satisfies.

Metro GameCentralGameCentral

6/10

The 2D visuals are absolutely stunning, but the simplistic action and pretentious storytelling undermine what could have been a true neo-retro classic.