Capy Castaway is a perfect summer play before GTA 6 chaos kicks in
The cozy gaming space is perfect for those seeking an escape, whether it be an escape from the daily stresses of life or perhaps even an escape from this year’s major release cycle. Grand Theft Auto VI is set to arrive on November 19 with practically every other notable title going dropping in either September or October to avoid its wrath.
That includes The Blood of Dawnwalker, Marvel’s Wolverine, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, and more. That may sound like a treat, but it can be overwhelming to be faced with so much to play - and that’s without taking into account the strain on our wallets.
For now though, you need not worry about the hardcore months of gaming that lie ahead in the lead up to this year’s The Game Awards. Why? Because Capy Castaway has launched and this charming indie exploration game ticks all of the boxes you need this month. It’s short, reasonably priced, relaxing, and should leave feeling better than when you first picked it up.
Capy Castaway centres around young capybara Capy who washes up on Castaway Island after his zoo is caught up in a flood. There he encounters Corvi, a chatty crow who isn’t used to having company. Playable solo or with a friend, the duo will explore Castaway Island while helping the others that have washed ashore, with the hope of reaching a dragon who may be able to grant a wish of Capy’s and send him home.
You can complete Capy Castaway in less than six hours
With a four to six hour runtime, Capy Castaway doesn’t demand too much of your time and its easily digestible gameplay is easy to dip in and out of. Gameplay mainly consists of exploring, collecting items, and partaking in conversations. There’s such a welcomed sense of whimsy that Capy Castaway has to offer; you can wear, for example, any item you find and if you want Capy to stack 20 pieces of litter on their head, they shall.
Advert
I played through the game solo and expected to have to switch between playing as Capy and Corvi, but the controls are far more fluid than I expected. There’s no character switching at all with your thumbsticks controlling the two different characters. The left stick would move Capy while the right stick would move Corvi. That sounds like it requires good coordination but thankfully, you can land Corvi on Capy’s back anytime you like, allowing the duo to move around in tandem.
Capy Castaway can be enjoyed in co-op or solo mode, but solo is arguably the best
Of course, it’s important that you combine their skills in order to get things done. Corvi can fly, which is very useful for collecting high-up items or carrying Capy across small ravines he cannot cross. Capy, on the other hand, can dig and sniff out items underneath the ground that aren’t immediately visible. I wouldn’t exactly say any of the tasks thrown your way in Capy Castaway are particularly challenging, but that’s the draw of playing something so relaxing.
The main challenge in Capy Castaway comes from the exploration. As I said, you’re often tasked with finding things for certain characters but they may not always be in the immediate vicinity. The hardest challenge perhaps comes in navigating the sprawling Castaway Island which is actually split into several mini islands. There are maps dotted around you can view but you cannot take them with you and they’re pretty sparsely detailed. That’s the whole point of Capy Castaway though. You’re not given a clear path or a set of to dos. It’s about being brave enough to explore the world the game offers and seeing what happens when you do so.
READ MORE: 13 upcoming 2026 cozy games to wishlist if you're sick of farming
Fans of Big Walk will enjoy this smaller-scale alternative
Another pleasant surprise was just how much influence you can have over aspects of the narrative in Capy Castaway. I expected a pre-determined story and while there is that, you can shape certain events. The very first animal you’ll stumble across is a bison by the name of Onyx who’s lost his partner Benny. You’ll be able to find Benny nearby after some brief exploring. It’s revealed that the duo had a fight. Corvi thinks the duo should break up but Capy reckons they can smooth things over. Who you choose to speak as dictates which advice is given. I went for the Capy route and Onyx and Benny quickly fell back in love.
Outside of these main tasks, there are so many charming opportunities to just have fun in Capy Castaway. In addition to what I said about stacking items on your head, you can also build sandcastles, play on swings, spin on a roundabout, and more. Capy Castaway is the type of game that leaves a smile on your face.
Is it groundbreaking? Perhaps not, but it’s a simple idea executed well and it doesn’t outstay its welcome. I can’t speak on the co-op experience as I, again, played solo but I do think that’s perhaps the ideal way to play. Controlling both Capy and Corvi adds a much needed sense of dynamism to Capy Castaway that I fear may be lost if you were simply to play as one or the other.
Capy Castaway may not blow you away with GOTY worthy gameplay, but that’s not what this enchanting little title is about. However, if you seek something that screams what summer encapsulates - an escape, joy, sun-soaked vistas, and friendship - it’s the perfect package.
Capy Castaway is out now on PC, commanding a RRP of £17.75 / $19.99. You can enjoy a 10% launch discount on Steam until August 20.