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. 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!!
  3. 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.
  4. Ikanlee
    Sep 18, 2021
    10
    If you used to play top-down Zelda games and love them, you can't miss this game.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. lolicow
    Sep 26, 2021
    10
    Art is good, game is fun..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. saifkhay
    Aug 12, 2022
    10
    Gorgeous art
    Badass characters
    Loveable Sound design
    Zelda BOTW cooking style
  12. 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.
  13. bitlcs
    Nov 12, 2021
    10
    If you used to play top-down Zelda-like games and love them, you can't miss this game.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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
  18. 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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