Caravanners

Caravanners is an ambitious open-world co-op game developed by a solo dev that has faced significant criticism upon its early access release. Players highlight multiple delays, poor communication, and a community atmosphere that can be hostile to criticism. The game offers a large map with diverse biomes, a dynamic weather system, and the promise of caravan and camping adventures with friends. However, many users report severe technical issues including poor optimization, frequent stutters, graphical glitches, and a confusing, unpolished UI. Gameplay elements such as driving mechanics, map usability, and mission systems are often described as frustrating or broken.

Despite its potential and novel concept, the current state of Caravanners leaves players disappointed due to lack of polish, bugs, and empty game world. While some appreciate the developer's ongoing efforts and vision, the consensus suggests the game is not yet ready for public consumption and requires substantial improvements before it can fulfill its promise.

Highlights

Players praise the core idea of an open-world caravan adventure with friends, appreciating the large map and diverse biomes. The dynamic weather system and the concept of sustainable exploration receive positive mentions. Some commend the developer's dedication and responsiveness to community feedback. The game supports ultra-wide resolutions and offers a unique blend of camping, jobs, and vehicle upgrades, which many find promising for future updates.

Several reviewers note the enjoyable social aspects and the potential for a cozy, laid-back gameplay experience once bugs and optimization issues are addressed.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on poor optimization causing stutters and crashes, an unintuitive and inconsistent UI that lacks basic features like a minimap or autosave, and broken or tedious gameplay mechanics such as driving physics and mandatory driving tutorials. The game world is frequently described as empty and lifeless, with repetitive assets and little meaningful content. Graphical glitches, low-quality textures, and awkward animations detract from immersion. Additionally, the developer's communication and community management have been called unprofessional and toxic, with reports of bans for critical feedback. Many players feel the game was released prematurely and recommend waiting for significant improvements.