Carto

About Carto

Carto is a tile-based puzzle adventure game from Sunhead Games, released in October 2020. It blends RPG elements with creative map manipulation as players guide Carto, a young girl separated from her grandmother during a storm. Using her cartography powers, you piece together fragments of the world, rearranging them to shape landscapes and uncover secrets. The game’s charm lies in its tactile, drag-and-drop mechanics and whimsical art style. Available on PC, consoles, and Mac, it’s a single-player journey focused on exploration and environmental storytelling. The core hook? The world isn’t fixed, you’re constantly rebuilding it to progress.

Gameplay

Carto’s gameplay revolves around discovering and reassembling map tiles to alter environments. Each level starts as a fragmented grid; you drag pieces into new configurations to create paths, trigger events, and solve puzzles. For example, rotating a forest tile might reveal a hidden bridge, or shifting mountains could block a monster’s path. Combat is minimal, replaced by environmental challenges that require creative tile placement. The controls are simple but precise, with a focus on experimentation. Sessions often involve trial and error, testing how rearrangements affect the story and terrain. While the pace is relaxed, later levels introduce time-sensitive puzzles and branching choices that subtly alter the narrative.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate Carto 8.2/10, with 65% completing the main story. Average playtime is 12, 14 hours, though 30% extend it to 18+ hours via side quests. Metacritic’s 75 reflects mixed critical reception, but community moods lean positive, 70% label it “refreshing,” while 25% call it “overly simplistic.” Achievement completion sits at 82%, with the “Tile Master” trophy being the most skipped. Review snippets praise its “childlike creativity” and “charming worldbuilding,” though some note repetitive late-game mechanics. The game’s most divisive aspect? Its minimalist approach to combat, with 40% of players wishing for more interactive challenges.

PlayPile's Take

Carto is a solid pick for fans of gentle, puzzle-driven narratives. At $20, it offers a short but polished experience with strong replay value for map experimentation. The tile-shuffling core loop is inventive, though it tapers into routine rearrangements by the final act. With 40 achievements and optional challenges, it rewards careful players, but don’t expect a deep RPG. Ideal for casual sessions or rainy afternoons, it’s a charming, if brief, ode to curiosity. Skip it if you crave combat or lengthy worlds, this is a small, self-contained adventure.

Storyline

Separated from her Granny during a storm, young Carto must use her innate cartography powers to map and manipulate the world around her on her quest to be reunited. As she discovers new “pieces” of the game map, players can rearrange them to shape the levels themselves - unlocking new paths, puzzles, and story moments.