Castaway

Critic reviews

• NintendoLife

  Oliver Revolta · Aug 31, 2024

  5.0

  Castaway most reminded us of inferior Zelda clones from back in the '90s. There’s just something about the slowness of the character that we found a bit frustrating. The overall simplicity of both gameplay options makes it difficult to fully recommend to anyone other than die-hard genre fans. There are no NPCs to talk to, no quirky alligators, villagers, or owls to add variety to the experience - all that’s left is an incredibly short and unoriginal, if pretty, action RPG.

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• Destructoid

  Joseph Luster · Aug 23, 2024

  8.0

  When everything comes together, Castaway feels just substantial enough to recommend. Many will still find it too short, but it’s not all bad if your only real complaint is that you want more. I love projects like this, and it’s something I’d be keen to see more of in the future. You can really tell when a developer is channeling something they adore and doing their best to put their own spin on it and show everyone what they can do with a specific set of tools. If this proves successful, I really hope Vinet is afforded the opportunity to revisit the world, or at least one in the same vein. For now, though, at least I can rest easy knowing I got my dog back before it even had time to miss me.

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• WorthPlaying

  Adam Pavlacka · Aug 20, 2024

  8.0

  If you're looking for a 30- to 40-hour adventure, Castaway is not for you. If you can appreciate a budget-priced, bite-sized love letter to a gaming classic, Castaway is right up your alley. For a busy gamer, the short play sessions are a plus, not a negative, and the speedrun mode adds additional replay value.

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• Siliconera

  Jenni Lada · Aug 19, 2024

  5.0

  I appreciated what Johan Vinet accomplished with Castaway, as it really does capture the same vibes as a GBC Legend of Zelda game would, but just wish there was more to it. The adventure mode feels like it cuts off way too quickly, with no resolution. The Tower is entertaining, but focuses on the weakest part of the experience and strips away the light puzzle solving and boss fights. It feels like Castaway is a teaser for something bigger. What’s here is fun, but strangely unfulfilling.

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• Nintendo World Report

  Jordan Rudek · Aug 16, 2024

  7.5

  Castaway offers a pleasant way to pass a few hours for those wanting a light Zelda experience or maybe for those who’ve never had one. Its roguelike mode is definitely a highlight if you’re looking for something a bit different, but it’s a good idea not to go into the game as a whole expecting more than a fun diversion. I’d love to see either a new setting for a sequel or new game modes added in the future as there’s a lot to like about the simple charm of this deserted island and its plucky hero.

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• Switchaboo

  Steve Whiting · Aug 16, 2024

  7.0

  For a brief moment, I felt like I was six years old playing The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening again, and for that Johan Vinet deserves immense credit. But when I say brief moment… You’re talking less than an hour of gameplay on offer for the main game, though The Tower provides some replayability. Castaway will of course be priced accordingly and that’s fine, but if you’re looking for something more substantial to get your teeth into there are plenty of other options out there!

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