Eastward

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 105
  3. Negative: 24 out of 105

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  1. Warrior_Crixus
    Oct 5, 2021
    10
    For a game developed by 3 students from Shanghai: Their first debut game is absolutely fantastic! As a huge fan of the Mother (Earthbound) series: I really felt the strong resemblance in artform and style here.

    The music was produced by the same guy who did the music for Unfinished Swan, Death Stranding and the upcoming Halo: Infinite. Great sounding memorable tracks in this game!    For a game developed by 3 students from Shanghai: Their first debut game is absolutely fantastic! As a huge fan of the Mother (Earthbound) series: I really felt the strong resemblance in artform and style here.

    The music was produced by the same guy who did the music for Unfinished Swan, Death Stranding and the upcoming Halo: Infinite. Great sounding memorable tracks in this game!

    The story itself while not as touching perhaps as Earthbound was is still one that I'll remember for years to come!

    People complaining about too much dialog... I didn't find it annoying at all personally. I would wholeheartedly recommend this title! It even launched at a very fair price point!    … Expand
  2. TomasLacerda
    Sep 20, 2021
    7
    + Gorgeous art
    + Great characters
    + Sound design
    + BOTW cooking style
    + 8 bit game inside the game

    - Story is a mess. Uneven and random
    - Villains are shallow and boring
    - Moments where it felt more like fillers than side quests
    - Combat was a bit unbalanced and plain
    - Overall pacing got really frustrating
  3. tremault
    Feb 24, 2022
    7
    Initial impressions, after prologue and fair way into chapter 1. The game has unmistakeable charm and has some engaging gameplay elements that are fundamentally robust. So far though, there are several issues that mar the experience. There are enemies that can drop on your head and there seems to be literally zero sign that it's going to happen. I don't find this to be a satisfyingInitial impressions, after prologue and fair way into chapter 1. The game has unmistakeable charm and has some engaging gameplay elements that are fundamentally robust. So far though, there are several issues that mar the experience. There are enemies that can drop on your head and there seems to be literally zero sign that it's going to happen. I don't find this to be a satisfying 'challenge'. The text sometimes has a tendency to auto advance with very little apparent reason, posing major problems for slower readers. The menu has a very strange arrangement, which can make it confusing to find the item you want to inspect. why aren't the cooking ingredients in the cooking tab for example? why isn't the backpack just on the same tab as quest items? why is the quest screen and the map screen, inbetween the quest items and the backpack? bizarre and nonsensical.
    The pacing also seems really slow so far. despite that, the pace at which I'm collecting quest items seems to suggest the game is really short.
    Other issues... The stuttering. I'm playing on an R7 with a rtx 2080 and 32gb ram. My system should not be struggling with this game.
    when I see electrical cables sparking, I tend to avoid them, yet the game wants you to interact with then, connecting and disconnecting live wires. to say this is irresponsible is an understatement. kids will be playing this.    … Expand
  4. koala_kid
    Nov 23, 2021
    10
    Wow what a charming game!!! It reminds me on Secret of Evermore, Final Fantasy VI and old Zelda games. The music is amazing as well as the likeable characters and sweet world design. The pixel art makes me smile and gives me some unforgettable nostalgic feelings - I absolutely adore this game!!
  5. Welkinz
    Feb 19, 2022
    6
    The art and music are so good, which stressed more about how weak the storyline is. Many plots just doesn't make sense. Combat also isn't much fun either.
  6. Krysta
    Oct 26, 2021
    7
    This game feels like the developers one day wanted to make a big pot of soup, but they could never agree on what the soup would taste like, so each one was throwing random ingredients there to see what came out. This is how the story feels like a total disaster after the first chapter. What's the point of having a game that looks good, sounds good, and has simple but engaging gameplay, butThis game feels like the developers one day wanted to make a big pot of soup, but they could never agree on what the soup would taste like, so each one was throwing random ingredients there to see what came out. This is how the story feels like a total disaster after the first chapter. What's the point of having a game that looks good, sounds good, and has simple but engaging gameplay, but the plot of the game doesn't work?… Expand
  7. kitto
    Sep 20, 2021
    10
    eastward is similar to everything you ever played in the 90s (like earthbound, a link to the past, beyond oasis, alundra - to name just a few), and at the same time completely unique, doing its own thing. I'm basically in love with this wonderful game, totally did not expect it to be so good. truly amazing work, pixpil! gameplay, story, visuals, music - 10/10 on all fronts.
  8. Ikanlee
    Sep 18, 2021
    10
    If you used to play top-down Zelda games and love them, you can't miss this game.
  9. raucher
    Sep 18, 2021
    10
    Amazing game, brought it without knowing anything about it, just saw it on pre-sale on Steam and bought. Best decision i've made in months, the game is so nostalgic and well made that i played 15h nonstop, a mix of zelda, earthbound, fallout and stardew valley.
  10. ThiagoSimoes
    Sep 18, 2021
    9
    Eastward is the best action-RPG to come out in recent years. Lovely graphics, fantastic music and characters who are full of charisma.
  11. Nashty208
    Nov 30, 2021
    1
    Felt like it would have be a good game, but it doesn't let you do anything creative. Follow story, go to next town, get more hearts, next town, more hearts. Long dialogue, slow pacing. Beautiful artwork and characters. I quit after 3rd town. Based on reviews it gets even slower. It could have been something, but it is not.
  12. giyaced686
    Sep 22, 2021
    0
    You have to praise the art and music in Eastward, if nothing else because there's nothing else to praise. But even the art and music get repetitive at a certain point, and that certain point is very early on in the game. What really kills any chance of Eastward being worth the player's time is a combination of flat, longwinded writing and gameplay so stale that there's nothing for the artYou have to praise the art and music in Eastward, if nothing else because there's nothing else to praise. But even the art and music get repetitive at a certain point, and that certain point is very early on in the game. What really kills any chance of Eastward being worth the player's time is a combination of flat, longwinded writing and gameplay so stale that there's nothing for the art and music to elevate. Honestly, I would love for someone who knows how to make a game to take the visuals and music in Eastward and make something playable out of it. At the moment, that's all there is. Music and art. There's no game.… Expand
  13. habened198
    Sep 20, 2021
    0
    Eastward is barely a game. It looks and sounds pretty but there is almost no gameplay and everything - EVERYTHING - happens so slowly and in such a laboriously boring manner that the nice visuals (and they are nice) can't even come close to salvaging the game overall. Eastward isn't just retro with its slow, plodding, dull, boring, time-consuming gameplay. Even retro games respected theEastward is barely a game. It looks and sounds pretty but there is almost no gameplay and everything - EVERYTHING - happens so slowly and in such a laboriously boring manner that the nice visuals (and they are nice) can't even come close to salvaging the game overall. Eastward isn't just retro with its slow, plodding, dull, boring, time-consuming gameplay. Even retro games respected the player's time and attention to some degree! I truly cannot stress enough how little of a game there is underneath Eastward's initially-flashy visuals. It's as deep as a dry puddle. Which robs even its better qualities of any impact. Yeah, it's pretty to look at - until you spend way too much time in an area with nothing to do. Its characters seem interesting - until it turns out they have nothing at all interesting to say or do. Flat writing is a real problem in this game. But the realest problem that actually puts this game in the ground is the gameplay. There's hardly any of it, yet it still takes a ton of time, and every last moment of it feels worse than if it was released 10 years ago for $0.… Expand
  14. webeda2748
    Sep 29, 2021
    0
    Painstakingly slow. Interminably long text crawls with no personality or wit. Little to do and what there is to do is duller than watching paint try. Lingering scenes that weren't worth starting in the first place. Hand holding through gameplay sequences that would have been woefully outdated 20 years ago. Each character has one personality trait which never grows, changes, or deepens atPainstakingly slow. Interminably long text crawls with no personality or wit. Little to do and what there is to do is duller than watching paint try. Lingering scenes that weren't worth starting in the first place. Hand holding through gameplay sequences that would have been woefully outdated 20 years ago. Each character has one personality trait which never grows, changes, or deepens at any point in the game.… Expand
  15. NFTLINS
    Sep 30, 2021
    0
    The story has a lot of problems and It was very frustrating... I just left the game.
  16. yitix43447
    Sep 28, 2021
    0
    Let's go from worst to best: the gameplay in Eastward is bad beyond belief; at no point does it contribute anything to the overall experience and every single moment of gameplay is an unsatisfying, clunky, ill-considered and poorly-designed waste of the player's time. Similarly, the dialogue is bland, basic, and takes a verrrrrry long time to get where it's going. The mindset behind theLet's go from worst to best: the gameplay in Eastward is bad beyond belief; at no point does it contribute anything to the overall experience and every single moment of gameplay is an unsatisfying, clunky, ill-considered and poorly-designed waste of the player's time. Similarly, the dialogue is bland, basic, and takes a verrrrrry long time to get where it's going. The mindset behind the writing seems to be "never use one word if twenty will do." The art is nice to look at but there is no depth to the locations, individuals, and overall world. With no gameplay to enable a greater engagement with and appreciation for the world, each level is a pretty basic piece of static pixel art that gives the player nothing after the initial cursory glance, while still demanding that the player trudge through each level time after time after time, wearing out what little welcome it might have received. Finally, the music. The music in Eastward is really nice. But if Eastward were an album, no-one would listen to it. The music in a video game, ideally, elevates the experience of every other part of the game. And every other part of Eastward really truly sucks. This is what happens when someone wants to make a beautiful game but at no point ever gets around to making the game part of the game.… Expand
  17. cociv28082
    Sep 29, 2021
    0
    Shallow, uneven, unrewarding, unimaginative, and by-the-numbers (except where a by-the-numbers approach would have benefited the player experience). The writing and character work is lazy and stereotype-heavy and never rises above the level of 'placeholder characters in a placeholder story'. The gameplay feels like an afterthought; something the developers slapped on the game in the lastShallow, uneven, unrewarding, unimaginative, and by-the-numbers (except where a by-the-numbers approach would have benefited the player experience). The writing and character work is lazy and stereotype-heavy and never rises above the level of 'placeholder characters in a placeholder story'. The gameplay feels like an afterthought; something the developers slapped on the game in the last few hours before release. The art would almost be interesting to look at, except there's nothing interesting to do, no-one interesting to interact with, and so every map area is ultimately just a still image. In that regard, Eastward is about as entertaining as scrolling through a Google image search of "moody pixel art." Finally, the music: it's pretty nice. It'd be nice music for a nice game. As it stands, it's like a nice salad dressing poured over a bowl of gravel.… Expand
  18. pahoxa
    Oct 13, 2021
    0
    Beyond the gorgeous anime-inspired opening sequence Eastward is shockingly devoid of personality. It might be the worst-paced game I've ever played.
  19. ronfar86
    Sep 17, 2021
    10
    Excelente jogo, uma mistura de Earthbound com Zelda, e cheio dos ovo de páscoa (easter egg).
    Sobre a historia, gostei bastante dessa pegada de Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann no inicio.
    Só espero que o jogo dure bastante, pois to gostando muito dele, o melhor jogo do PC que joguei esse ano até agora.
  20. Sin2222
    Sep 27, 2021
    0
    The story of an adventure in an apocalyptic world, with the focus being put on the development of relations between two usually opposing type of characters, is again a well-worn cliche, an old formula that has been adopted in many other games and movies. However, developers of this game made a huge mistake by throwing away the consistency of the narrative in the process in a failed attemptThe story of an adventure in an apocalyptic world, with the focus being put on the development of relations between two usually opposing type of characters, is again a well-worn cliche, an old formula that has been adopted in many other games and movies. However, developers of this game made a huge mistake by throwing away the consistency of the narrative in the process in a failed attempt for try to “stand out” from other titles that shares with it a common theme. The end result, is something that is deliberately and unnecessarily deep and dark for the sake of deep and dark. As for the gameplay, in my opinion, it is only mediocre to say the best.… Expand
  21. Fanterrs
    Sep 19, 2021
    4
    Really really disappointed there is no way to go back to previous zones to get the chests you miss, literally missing several achievements.
  22. eded9999
    Sep 21, 2021
    6
    I didn't wanted to be that rough with the game, because i genuinely think that it was made with love.
    But right now, at the end of chapter 6 i'm quite sure i will not continue the game. Its not that i hate it, it's just that i'm boring with it.
    The game has a very strong first impression, the pixelart is beautiful, the Zelda/SNES nostalgia is strong, and the lovely main characters    I didn't wanted to be that rough with the game, because i genuinely think that it was made with love.
    But right now, at the end of chapter 6 i'm quite sure i will not continue the game. Its not that i hate it, it's just that i'm boring with it.

    The game has a very strong first impression, the pixelart is beautiful, the Zelda/SNES nostalgia is strong, and the lovely main characters makes you instantly fall in love with the game. But the more you play the more that motivation goes away...
    Way to heavy (for me) with the JRPG-ish dialog (not skippable) about so many damn things, its like 70% of the game is just sitting on my chair pressing X to read about some mundane quest just to have 30% of actual gameplay or puzzles... Not saying that's inherently bad, just saying it does not hook me, it fail to be interesting to me.
    Also, i can understand that combat is not the focus of the game, but when there is combat it doesn't feel rewarding or entertainment.

    So at the end those two things combined make the game boring for me.
    Also, it's really annoying not being able to return to old towns, the game just ask for that feature.    … Expand
  23. lolicow
    Sep 26, 2021
    10
    Art is good, game is fun..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
  24. krutoj
    Dec 12, 2022
    0
    This game is really beautiful and in the beginning it develops an interesting kind of charme. But the gameplay completely destroys it. Especially when the time based trial and error stuff in chapter 2 starts. Unfortunately this game is just style over substance.
  25. ronadi7368
    Nov 2, 2021
    2
    It's hard to overstate just how underwhelming Eastward truly is. If you've never read a story, seen pixel art, or played a video game, maybe there is something in here for you. If not, prepare to be disappointed.
  26. triadne
    Mar 15, 2023
    7
    Initial impressions, after prologue and fair way into chapter 1. The game has unmistakeable charm and has some engaging gameplay elements that are fundamentally robust. So far though, there are several issues that mar the experience. There are enemies that can drop on your head and there seems to be literally zero sign that it's going to happen. I don't find this to be a satisfyingInitial impressions, after prologue and fair way into chapter 1. The game has unmistakeable charm and has some engaging gameplay elements that are fundamentally robust. So far though, there are several issues that mar the experience. There are enemies that can drop on your head and there seems to be literally zero sign that it's going to happen. I don't find this to be a satisfying 'challenge'. The text sometimes has a tendency to auto advance with very little apparent reason, posing major problems for slower readers. The menu has a very strange arrangement, which can make it confusing to find the item you want to inspect. why aren't the cooking ingredients in the cooking tab for example? why isn't the backpack just on the same tab as quest items? why is the quest screen and the map screen, inbetween the quest items and the backpack? bizarre and nonsensical.
    The pacing also seems really slow so far. despite that, the pace at which I'm collecting quest items seems to suggest the game is really short.
    Other issues... The stuttering. I'm playing on an R7 with a rtx 2080 and 32gb ram. My system should not be struggling with this game.
    when I see electrical cables sparking, I tend to avoid them, yet the game wants you to interact with then, connecting and disconnecting live wires. to say this is irresponsible is an understatement. kids will be playing this.    … Expand
  27. DelTorro
    Dec 11, 2022
    5
    Beautiful pixel art and decent music. The combat is fine, it has an old school appeal to me. But, the story and cutscenes are maddenly boring and long.
  28. Mandulum
    Oct 13, 2022
    4
    I was excited to play Eastward. It looked gorgeous. Unfortunately, the rest of the game is boring. After 7 hours it has lost my interested. The combat is rather repetitive and the story is moving at a snails pace.

    Date Dropped: 2022-10-12
    Playtime: 7h
    Enjoyment: 4/10
    Recommendation: Nah
  29. SpookyCalhoun
    Nov 29, 2021
    10
    My favorite game of 2021. Beautiful art with an engaging storyline, charming characters, and well constructed classic adventure game style combat and puzzles.
  30. lolhhh
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. gorgeous art style and heartwarming story also good cooking mechanics character are all memorable and there is a 8 bit game within the game the game also has decent length definitely a favorite game for me… Expand
  31. saifkhay
    Aug 12, 2022
    10
    Gorgeous art
    Badass characters
    Loveable Sound design
    Zelda BOTW cooking style
  32. pmasterfunk
    Feb 3, 2022
    6
    I like Eastward. I wish I could give it a 10/10, but it has a bunch of niggling issues that really bring down its mathematically analyzed score.

    The game is beautiful. It has some of the best pixel art I've ever seen, and I think it sets a new standard for the style. Animations are fluid, lighting effects are breathtaking, character sprites are expressive and charming, locations are    I like Eastward. I wish I could give it a 10/10, but it has a bunch of niggling issues that really bring down its mathematically analyzed score.

    The game is beautiful. It has some of the best pixel art I've ever seen, and I think it sets a new standard for the style. Animations are fluid, lighting effects are breathtaking, character sprites are expressive and charming, locations are detailed and varied, enemy designs are simple yet effective. 13/10

    The dialogue is great, and it's impossible to not become attached to the plethora of wacky characters in the game. 11/10

    The music is pretty good, but I find the widely varying styles to be a bit distracting. Going from an orchestrated track to full-on chiptune is a bit odd. Still I think the music is solid. 8/10

    The action is mostly classic Zelda-like, with a main swinging attack, and some sub-weapons like bombs. Generally, the gameplay is fun, and some dungeons often have engaging puzzle sections. However, late in the game some basic mechanics get real testy. The main characters don’t get knocked back when hit, and enemies mostly bee-line for them, so when they get hit, enemies just stay on top of them, and once the invincibility window closes BAM! Another hit. Sounds pretty standard, but the enemies' walking speed is often quite a bit higher than the playable characters, so it’s hard to move away, and the invincibility window is EXTREMELY short, so the hits start piling on real fast. Also, lots of late game mooks take tons of hits to kill, over 10 for many of them. This makes fighting them mostly unfun. John's regular attack has a very short hitbox, and it also has a very long cooldown time before he can move, so once you start swinging you don't really want to stop, so I ended up mashing the attack button once I was in a somewhat decent position. I also found hit detection a bit frustrating with some of the smaller enemies. These problems aren't really present in the first half of the game, so for a good chunk of Eastward is fairly unchallenging, and then all of a sudden feces gets real and it's kinda frustrating. Dungeon design is really good thankfully. 6/10 for general gameplay

    Story- and plot-wise I feel like the game has some issues. It's fairly episodic, and I never felt like our heroes had much agency, mostly going from one place to the next either at random or because of outside forces. The pacing of the story can take sharp turns into filler-town when going from chapter to chapter, and that can lead to some odd tonal shifts. The game gets quite dark at times, but then swaps to a really cheery mood and we don’t have a chance to really sit in those dark vibes. Some of the lighter filler is quite good, however (chapter 6 is great).

    Some "main quest" stuff involves walking all the way to one end of the map, having a mostly pointless conversation, then walking all the way back to the start point, only to be sent back to the other end of the map again. Said maps aren't usually that big, but it's still boring. Having finished the game in just about 25 hours (not 100%), there are still many unknowns to me about the story. I am not averse to open-ended stories, but here it feels like lack or foresight. I can't really say what any character's motivations are beyond "be a good guy" and "be a bad guy". There is no moral dilemma to any of the decisions our heroes make. I know what the bad guys’ aim is, but I don't know why. I don’t understand the relationships between a bunch of characters.

    If the story had made me ponder my own humanity or mortality, I wouldn't really care about the previous points, but it doesn't do that. The premise is really interesting, but it seems like a waste of a setup for a bunch of thinly-related events that don't really offer any overarching theme or questions. 4 out of "Themes are for 8th-grade book reports"

    Within the world of the game, there is a playable arcade game (yo dawg I heard you like video games), called EarthBorn. It’s a short, dumb, frustrating take on old school Dragon Quest games. I love it. 9/10

    Ultimately, after finishing the game I'm not really interested in a second playthrough. It is by no means a bad game, in fact it has many great attributes, namely its visuals, sound, and dialog. It's super charming. The action isn't terrible, but it really isn't worth writing home about. The fact that the story is weak kinda ruins it for me. If it had been a tale of human hubris - which is what the premise kinda implies - I'd have taken all the garbage with it and given this a 10. If it had a New Game+ game, where I could try and find all the chests and recipes I'd missed, I'd give it an 8. But starting a new save file from scratch? Groan. *Edit: an update now allows chapter select, though it's not working with my file right now.*

    You'll probably have to forgive me for my poor math skills, but I give Eastward a [YMS.org voice] 6 out of 10, closer to a 7 than a 5, bye [/YMS.org voice]    … Expand
  33. evgen6891
    Jun 7, 2023
    8
    Good game. In 25 hours, she only sank a few times in the story and unnecessary running around, but overall very pleasant in terms of pixel art, music and gameplay. The authors put a lot of work into this game.
  34. bitlcs
    Nov 12, 2021
    10
    If you used to play top-down Zelda-like games and love them, you can't miss this game.
  35. sounosuke
    Oct 19, 2021
    10
    I'm Japanese, but I'm sad that this game experience wasn't made by Japanese people.
    Why can't Japanese people make such a good work?
    It was a game work that made me happy as a Japanese person.
  36. razi3l13
    Oct 22, 2021
    9
    The game has brilliant art, probably one of the best looking 2d games out there.
    Really great soundtrack.
    A great blend of action/puzzles, but the puzzles are on the easier side.
    Good story and atmosphere.
    Definitely the best indie game I've played this year.
  37. hamik17594
    Nov 9, 2021
    2
    Every time Eastward has the opportunity to do something interesting, it will instead do something boring and predictable - and it will do it at half the slowest speed you could possibly imagine tolerating.
  38. HolyFoxx
    Jul 30, 2022
    7
    Eastward can be better.
    Firstly, I really like this graphic of the game. It is the most amazing pixel graphic I played. Storytelling is okay but it's so much cutscenes, which makes game boring. And gameplay is so weak, making me more bored.
    I hope dev will make more better game in the future.
  39. j4ck_fl4sh_3k
    Jun 22, 2023
    3
    I'd have loved to enjoyed this game, but it was so "story and dialogue heavy" at the top that I couldn't progress. Its an issue that I have with most modern games, namely they want to tell a story rather then giving an experience.

    I cannot stand needing to sit thru bad comedy and over winded text bases speeches, every game I play now seems to have me put the gamepad on my knees for the    I'd have loved to enjoyed this game, but it was so "story and dialogue heavy" at the top that I couldn't progress. Its an issue that I have with most modern games, namely they want to tell a story rather then giving an experience.

    I cannot stand needing to sit thru bad comedy and over winded text bases speeches, every game I play now seems to have me put the gamepad on my knees for the first 30% of the game.

    Graphics look good.    … Expand
  40. Ivan97
    Dec 14, 2021
    3
    Noioso e inutile, un walking simulator, delusione del 2021, mi aspettavo di meglio per il suo bellissimo art style
  41. Matte090
    Dec 14, 2021
    10
    This game is one of my favorite game genres, so I rate it very highly. After all, the plot touches me and the graphics are very nice and I don't mind when there's a bunch of miscellaneous stories because a lot of it is related to the plot helps me understand the story better.
  42. Mahatma_Gramsci
    Feb 6, 2023
    8
    Eastward surprised me for its graphic. Every moves, face and movements are full of details and I loved that. Music is really good , maybe some tracks can be annoying sometimes.The story is simply in the beginning but then, with a beautiful twist that bring the story to an other level.
    The problem is for sure the game play. I had some problems with just two levels in the entire game, the    Eastward surprised me for its graphic. Every moves, face and movements are full of details and I loved that. Music is really good , maybe some tracks can be annoying sometimes.The story is simply in the beginning but then, with a beautiful twist that bring the story to an other level.
    The problem is for sure the game play. I had some problems with just two levels in the entire game, the boss fight are unique and wonderful but too easy. I'm sure Pixpil will do great things in the future. Is a developer that has so much potential. My heart, after the ending so sad, tell me to give 9 but i know that game play is too weak.
    I hope everyone can overcome on some slow story telling and easy game play. This game is a pearl.    … Expand
  43. BlueGuyTalks
    Mar 25, 2023
    9
    With a well-thought-out character ensemble and weapons, Eastward provides accessibility through its puzzles, boss fights, a food-making mini-game, and slice-of-life/mature storytelling.

    FULL REVIEW (CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS): I purchased Eastward in December 2021 and played it in March 2022. After beating the game in January of 2023, I’m proud of what it offered me each time I played    With a well-thought-out character ensemble and weapons, Eastward provides accessibility through its puzzles, boss fights, a food-making mini-game, and slice-of-life/mature storytelling.

    FULL REVIEW (CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS):
    I purchased Eastward in December 2021 and played it in March 2022. After beating the game in January of 2023, I’m proud of what it offered me each time I played it. The art style inside and outside the game is fun and comforting, adding flair and detail to character and setting designs. John and Sam are a delight to play, and I never questioned why John was mute because it never became a clear-cut issue. Every character John and Sam meet has neat quirks because you spend entire chapters alongside them. That’s without mentioning the dark and foreboding MIASMA enveloping everything the game’s setting contains. The empty black space adds tension to each chapter after exploring the game’s world and NPCs. The game’s antagonist, Mother, drives many of the game’s bosses to try and stop you, culminating with Mother fighting John as the final boss.

    As for Eastward’s combat and puzzles, some feel too difficult, whereas others feel too easy. The inconsistency varies depending on the player’s abilities, both with a controller or keyboard and Sam and John’s abilities and weapons. The combat mechanics uses John’s arsenal of a frying pan, a gun, a flamethrower, a cog shooter, and three types of bombs to deal damage and Sam’s small but vital arsenal of telepathy to stop enemies and activate other puzzle elements. However, the puzzles and bosses add a challenge regardless of skill level. It’s especially the case towards the end of the game, bar the final boss if you stock up on food beforehand. There are also a few mini-games to add to the game’s experience. Firstly, it has Earth Born, an entire JRPG inside the game. Secondly, there’s cooking, done via a combination of ingredients, which changes the recipe, and slots, which boosts the health given by the food. It gets a bit tedious after 20+ hours of making more food, but it’s a quaint negative to the experience.

    However, Eastward could have been so much bolder than it is. Its focus on the MIASMA and Mother could be more present than it was, especially in the first couple of chapters. The dynamic between Isabel and Alva could have the same treatment, as their relationship hints at being more romantic, but the game never goes further. The game has more potential than it offers, but it doesn’t mean it’s a waste. I hope the developers have a second crack at something similar to their first outing because streamlining aspects of the story will heighten the experience and create a beautiful adventure. Not everyone will love this game as I do, but that’s a pitfall I’m willing to live with for a story filled with companionship and the determination to deny the end of the world.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best PC Game of 2021
54
#54 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Gamersky
    Dec 2, 2021
    85
    Excellent pixel art, profound plot and deep story background, as well as the complementation of puzzle solving and combat, make Eastward an excellent work worth experiencing.
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  2. IGN Japan
    Nov 16, 2021
    70
    Eastward’s action and puzzles play things a bit too much by the book, the plot and storytelling don’t really come together, and the dialogue lacks wit. But even with so many negative aspects, the top-notch pixel art is true craftsmanship. These wonderful graphics were enough for me to push through, and perhaps you will too.
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  3. Checkpoint Gaming
    Oct 29, 2021
    90
    Eastward is truly a gem of the pixel adventure-RPG genre. It is plain as day that Pixpil poured their affections for this genre into making this game. They’ve provided fluid and expressive animation rarely seen in pixel games, lively characters, quirky writing, and catchy chiptune soundtracks. It is visually enticing from the beginning and will continue to keep you hooked until you are satisfied with unravelling its narrative. Eastward has easily taken its place as my favourite game of this year. I highly encourage lovers of pixel JRPGs to try this game out for yourselves. John and Sam will cook you up a satisfying adventure you will want to devour whole.
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