Camper Van: Make it Home Review (PC)

While Unpacking didn’t pioneer the interior design and lo-fi furniture allocation system, it did establish the notion that not all games have to feature complex mechanics and unhinged characters with bottomless plot points to be successful. It was that minimalistic approach that it adopted—the kind that involved its users arranging floral patterns and sorting pencils by size, for example—that captivated millions without needing to resort to perplexing components. It set that tone, and with it, allowed for countless other aspiring idle clickers and pocket-sized architect sims to flourish and thrive. Take Camper Van: Make it Home, for example. Although it isn’t Unpacking, it does share that same basic DNA and ancestral bone structure that we’ve come to know and appreciate. And you know what? I’m over the moon about that.

I’ve spoken a lot about Unpacking here, and for good reason, too. The reason why I’ve paired the two together is mainly due to the fact that, locations aside, the core gameplay loop is practically identical, with the primary objective being to allocate small items to certain areas, and to make formal arrangements to help elevate small pockets of space and make other areas shine in their own unique environments. The only striking difference here, of course, is the camper van setting that the game puts at the forefront of the experience. Yet, there are still those same basic, albeit universally beloved ingredients stitched into the mix here. The question we’re looking to answer here, mind you, is whether or not Camper Van: Make it Home does the same thing a little better. I guess, to find that answer, we’ll have to unpack it in further detail.

A Nomad’s Life for Me

To state the obvious, Camper Van: Make it Home doesn’t keep to the traditional, often chaotic stack ‘em up blueprint à la House Flipper, but instead opts for a heart-warming composition of minimalistic design and digestible controls. Unlike so, so many other travel-centric coming of age tales, it happily decides to take a simpler, less overwhelming approach, with its focus orbiting around the simple act of arranging, altering, and essentially decorating a series of cozy camper vans against various idyllic backdrops—beaches, forests, and lakeside retreats, to list just a few.

Similar to Unpacking, the game tasks you with sifting through a selection of suitcases and other objects—treasure troves that frequent the likes of books, plants, and various decorative flora—and placing them in an order that feels plausible and practical. As luck would have it, the game doesn’t exactly slap you on the wrist for making the wrong decisions, either; if anything, it rewards you for experimenting with the different options and creating a zen atmosphere. That’s pretty much all it wants to do with its short time on the block: provide you with the few basic tools to establish a scene, and give you a standing ovation for the work that you put in, no matter the outcome. There’s nothing I can fault about that.

What’s Mine Is Yours

Camper Van: Make it Home doesn’t boast anything particularly special in its plot department, though it does, however, present you with a generous collection of unique camper vans, layouts, and other level-based zen puzzles to work through over a relatively sizable episodic timeline, with each camper van providing its own series of challenges, thematic designs, and twists to chomp through with a fine-tooth comb. Again, there isn’t much of a challenge here, mostly due to the fact that its sole purpose is to present a serene and forgiving environment and not, for example, one that’s unapologetically difficult and convoluted. But I can vouch for that; it makes for a pleasant surprise and an incredibly nice change of pace, all things considered.

In addition to the accessible mechanics and easygoing nature of the progression system, Camper Van: Make it Home also brings about another point of interest — and that’s the dewdrop art style. Suffice it to say that, for a game that centers its entire existence around nomad lifestyle and picturesque environments, it certainly captures the essence of its subject matter incredibly well. With thanks to its crisp and vibrant locations, petite but effortlessly enchanting effects, and a soothing soundtrack that radiates harmonic melodies and beautiful compositions, it inadvertently  becomes a lot more than a generic jigsaw with a one-track focal point. And I’ll be honest with you — it all meshes together perfectly. Camper vans, eh? Who’d have thought?

Verdict

Those who share an undying love of boutique art and kind-spirited floral arrangements, wholesome treats and cozy interior design are among the few offspring of the Unpacking movement that’ll find something to adore in Camper Van: Make it Home. Aside from it being almost too pleasing to gaze at, it also makes a compelling argument for why even the most seasoned of RPG gamers should take the opportune moment to take the occasional breather from their carnivorous tendencies to enjoy the simpler things in life. And in this instance, all stars seem to be aligning with one particular point on the spectrum — and that’s here, in the rustic roots of an old beached camper van.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you like (or perhaps even love) short zen puzzles and the breezy nature of a game that holds your hand as you carefully skip through the motions and reap all of the benefits, then you’ll no doubt find exactly what you’re looking for here. Granted, the game itself could still do with a little extra polish to bring out the best of its one or two minor flaws—the general sluggishness of the camera movement, being one of the most notable issues. That said, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives in most cases here, and so, I’ll just leave you with this: If you’re looking for another remedy to help cure that post-Unpacking blues, then you needn’t look any further than the cozy quarters of Malapata Studios’ recreational space.