The Wild at Heart
The Wild at Heart
Game
Game2020
Carto
Developer Sunhead Games
Carto is a puzzle adventure game developed by Sunhead Games and published by Humble Games in 2020. It was released in October for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The console versions of the game received generally positive reviews, whereas the Windows version received a mixed reception. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
267 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
92
LovedLoved
171 positive · 14 negative
95% range 88–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 171 | 14 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 41 | 0 | 39 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
2,419 of 2,566 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 171 yes, 13 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 184 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (9,070 of 9,418 positive).
Players praise Carto as an adorable and relaxing puzzle game with a unique map-manipulation mechanic. [1][2][3] Some find certain puzzles too difficult or obtuse, requiring guides. [4][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
Given the review rating for this game, I realise my opinion might be a controversial one, and if there was a mixed rating option I could pick, I would've preferred to choose that. Alas, because I didn't finish the game, and I left it feeling frustrated, I decided to pick the negative option. There is a lot to like about Carto. The art style is really nice to look at. Environments are vibrant and distinct, and the …
- [1]
An adorable little game with well-thought-through puzzles. It always made sure to bring in new ways to progress through the journey. It has an overall calming atmosphere and relaxing sounds. Some of the puzzles were easier and others harder. Makes you think and feel rewarded when noticing how it works. Definitely recommended!
- [4]
I got frustrated with this game and put it down for about a year so I don't have the best sense of the full game. It's cute. Some of the puzzles are difficult... some of them a little too difficult. I had to look up solutions for the monolith, and even seeing the solutions, the puzzle makes zero sense to me. Nevertheless, I'd recommend it.
- [13]
Carto and her grandmother are a special class of humans known as "cartographers" who possess a map capable of re-arranging the topography of the world they view from their airship in the sky. When Carto accidentally strikes the airship with a storm, she's swept down to the world below with an incomplete version of the map. Thus, Carto meets the different cultures from people across the lands as she searches for a …
- [2]
Carto is a very short puzzle game; I was able to finish the full story in around three hours and I completed all of the achievements in five. However, I really enjoyed the game while I was playing it. The characters are charming, the setting is peaceful, and the game as a whole is very relaxing. The puzzles are interesting and well designed without being frustratingly difficult.
Summarised from 34 of the 255 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Carto sits at 92% positive across 185 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
According to the review aggregation website Metacritic, Carto was generally well received on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, whereas the Windows version was met with mixed or average reviews. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 79% of critics. Marcus Stewart of Game Informer rated the game 8/10, calling it "adorable, pleasant, and deceptively tricky game". He praised the game for introducing new twists on its base gameplay, keeping gameplay "fresh". He further said that the game becomes "surprisingly challenging in good and bad ways". Stephen Tailby of Push Square rated the game "Good" 7/10, explaining the game to have…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 267 · most liked firstBack in the 80s a major vector for this religio-political, right wing populist con game was The Spotlight, a publication with a circulation ~3X the size of National Review's and which was run by a semi-closeted neo-Nazi named Willis Carto.
neutral · AI labelView post →Our game is for CARTO FANS, algorithm PLEASE FIND THEM! Our game is for CARTO FANS, algorithm PLEASE FIND THEM! Our game is for CARTO FANS, algorithm PLEASE FIND THEM! #Jigrift
neutral · AI labelView post →If you're struggling to write a voiceover for your game trailer which tells a story AND explains game mechanics, read this! I frequently reference this Carto trailer for this exact reason, and yet I somehow never wrote an actual post breaking down what makes it so good—so I remedied the situation 👀
neutral · AI labelView post →Finished Carto last night, and just working on getting a few of its final achievements/trophies; since they do provide a few fun secrets. Lovely game. It really continually pushed the elements of puzzle games alongside interactivity. If you have PlayStation Plus—definitely give it a playthrough.
positive · AI labelView post →🌿 It's not Wind Waker 🗺️ It's not Carto 🐊 It's not Lil Gator Game But if our game reminds you of them we're doing something right. 🐸 #Jigrift @emptycastlegames.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →If you like Windwaker, you'll like our game. If you like Carto, you'll like our game. If you like A Short Hike, you'll like our game. #Jigrift @emptycastlegames.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →Given the review rating for this game, I realise my opinion might be a controversial one, and if there was a mixed rating option I could pick, I would've preferred to choose that. Alas, because I didn't finish the game, and I left it feeling frustrated, I decided to pick the negative option. There is a lot to like about Carto. The art style is really nice to look at. Environments are vibrant and distinct, and the characters that inhabit them are full of charm and wit. Likewise, the core…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An adorable little game with well-thought-through puzzles. It always made sure to bring in new ways to progress through the journey. It has an overall calming atmosphere and relaxing sounds. Some of the puzzles were easier and others harder. Makes you think and feel rewarded when noticing how it works. Definitely recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Platinum Trophy #67🏆 was short and easy with the game Carto. This is a STUNNING puzzle game where you can change the landscape to further the quest line. I could have played countless more hours of this one. ~7 hours to Plat.
positive · AI labelView post →#PC #GameOfTheWeek: Carto store.steampowered.com/app/1172450/... Make your own map, relax, explore, solve puzzles. #indiegames #gaming
neutral · AI labelView post →Carto is a unique, cozy puzzle game that is worth checking out! While not an indie darling, or a gaming experience I will remember forever, I had a lot of fun with Carto and it was perfect for the PS Plus Book Club! #psplus #psplusbookclub #carto #indiegames #playstation #videogames
positive · AI labelView post →Carto Launch Trailer Review #gamedev #indiedev #gamedevelopment
neutral · AI labelView post →Continued my Carto playthrough, and finished two chapters tonight. Way this game innovates, and uses gameplay mechanics of map collecting/configuration to tell its narrative alongside progress its storytelling/moments is always leaving me surprised. Amazing to solve puzzles by shaping world.
positive · AI labelView post →Carto finished! 🗺️ 🧩 A lovely, well-designed and varied puzzle/adventure game that I highly recommend 💜 Thanks to Sunhead Games for this little gem 👍 #Carto #CartoGame #AdventureGame #PuzzleGame #IndieGame
positive · AI labelView post →Platinum 215 - Carto🏆 This was such a lovely game! It has fun, unique puzzles, a beautiful art style, & a charming, wholesome story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s on PS+ & I highly recommend checking it out! Time: 7 hours Difficulty: 3/10
positive · AI labelView post →been playing Slider, a fun little free to play adventure game, reminiscent of 1 Bit Explorer with touches of Arranger and Carto in the mix
neutral · AI labelView post →I also beat Carto. How many more backlogged games do I gotta beat before I get a new game as a treat?
neutral · AI labelView post →it's been a tough day for lil librarian but we have a new cute puzzle game to adventure off into~ trying carto for the first time now ! ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ #carto #vtuber #envtuber #twitch #puzzlegame ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ www.twitch.tv/deniabochurd
neutral · AI labelView post →Hey friends! Eric isn't feeling well, so instead of Hades, tonight we're going to play an adorable puzzle game called Carto. Let's explore the world and rearrange it to our whims! https://www.twitch.tv/thekidsareasleep
neutral · AI labelView post →Received as part of Humble Bundle. I recommend this to people who are used to odd and trickier games. Carto is not a great fit for me. Its not just a puzzle. There are riddles to solve that do not come naturally. Just tagged it as such. Its been in my backlog, it hasn't pulled me in. Doesnt have to. Just wish there was thought put into QOL. I had to bookmark a guide in my browser. Not a fan of that. Not worth restarting even in Ch 1. Not enough checkpoints. QOL Questline Description! On…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The first part was pretty fun, so if you can get it on a good sale like I did, you may get your money's worth. It's cute and the vibe is chill, but I can't say the whole thing is fun. It's supposed to be a puzzle game, but a lot of the early puzzles are solved simply by repeating the same action over and over again and some of the later puzzles don't have only one logical conclusion, so there's a bit of "try every possibility and see if it fits." All of the puzzles take a lot of time because…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was ok. A nice game for kids, but no real challenge. About the same as some old browser flash games I'd play for free, but better looking. I paid $7, but it was maybe worth $2 to me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Achievement Hunting Rating 4/5 Low to mid level puzzles in a cute world. It takes about 4 hours for one playthrough and half the achievements. To 100% takes another 2+ hours and most likely a guide and can be done after the first full playthrough with chapter select.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bought this for my wife, ended up playing it myself. Wholesome, charming puzzles… until one puzzle stumped me so hard I had to google it, for this adorable little game. shame.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dave the Diver is one of the best games out there. It's like seven games in one. Little Kitty Big City is Stray but Nerfed (in a good way) Lego City Undercover is ancient but holds up Carto is great fun Blanc is a great cozy-but-short coop game
positive · AI labelView post →For this edition of their "Indie Game of the Week" feature on Giant Bomb, moderator @gbmento.bsky.social checked out Carto by Sunhead Games! Read why the game "blissfully" reminded them of Dark Cloud 2! User Blog: www.giantbomb.com/carto/3030-7... #indiegame #indiedev #games #gaming #carto
neutral · AI labelView post →On last Thursday we finished the amazing Carto on stream! I love/hate that game for changing mechanics suddenly from what I assumed! Anyway there is a vote for next stream puzzle game in discord. Get in and have your say!
neutral · AI labelView post →I just keep blaming @puzzledmonkey.bsky.social for introducing me to more cute games, the most recent of which was Carto. When I got into his Twitch chat, he said "Actual, I think you'd love this game!" Gonna stream at 4pm EST on Thursday - it's early, but I need to cat-sit for a friend afterwards!
neutral · AI labelView post →Just finished playing Carto!!! Such a fun and cute puzzle indie game that actually made me use my brain!! The art is beautiful and the music is really relaxing. If you have playstation plus i really recommend giving it a try :)
positive · AI labelView post →A super slept on game that’s genuinely really good: Carto Really great puzzler with a cute story, lots of charm, excellent soundtrack, and the perfect length. www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
positive · AI labelView post →Carto finished! 🗺️ 🧩 A lovely, well-designed and varied puzzle/adventure game that I highly recommend 💜 Thanks to Sunhead Games for this little gem 👍 #Carto #CartoGame #AdventureGame #PuzzleGame #IndieGame
positive · AI labelView post →I started playing Carto 🏞️ 🧩 I really like the concept of assembling/moving/rotating map pieces to progress through the adventure. ➡️ Demo available here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1172450/Carto/ #Carto #CartoGame #PuzzleGame #AdventureGame #IndieGame
neutral · AI labelView post →this game is even better than i expected it to be. the graphics pulled me in and i stayed for the puzzles and the story. the puzzles make you think, but are very doable at the same time. the story is paced well and gets you caring about the characters. the music and sound effects match the vibe perfectly. i never had my sound off while playing this game. this game is fricken adorable. i'm not sure if it's worth the full price, but i bought it on sale and i definitely recommend
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Knew I would love this game and I don't know why it took me so long to grab it. Such a lovely time with more surprises than you'd expect. They really make the most of the gameplay mechanics, and the story is endearing the entire time. A great sprinkling of fantasy and whimsy as well.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Carto is a single brilliant mechanic wearing a plot as a courtesy. It’s charming, it’s short, it’s completely harmless and it will never trouble you again after the credits roll. The puzzle design earns genuine admiration; everything around it is politely adequate. Play it once, feel good about yourself, never return. It’s the indie equivalent of a perfect short story published in a magazine nobody reads anymore, lovely while it lasts, gone before it overstays its welcome and completely…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Carto is a very short puzzle game; I was able to finish the full story in around three hours and I completed all of the achievements in five. However, I really enjoyed the game while I was playing it. The characters are charming, the setting is peaceful, and the game as a whole is very relaxing. The puzzles are interesting and well designed without being frustratingly difficult.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →2026 February Games Beaten I finished 1 game in my 2026 goals - Judgment Replays - Carto Another fun month of gaming. After finishing Inbento, I had a few days to wait for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. I replayed LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2, I finished the main story but with LEGO games, (1/7)
neutral · AI labelView post →Carto is adorable, very satisfying, and engaging. While the puzzles are definitely tuned on the easier side, I actually found this much more enjoyable than pure-cerebral puzzle games that don't give you very much direction. The developers found many ways to use the same core gameplay mechanics, and no chapter/area felt so long that it overstayed its welcome. There were a handful of puzzles I needed a few attempts at, or that I was approaching wrong and needed to step back and reevaluate,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →solid cute game, excellent example of simple mechanics giving rise to solid emergent gameplay.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In addition to Arranger and Carto, add Promise Mascot Agency to games I have beaten. And that one, I platinumed. What a cool game.
neutral · AI labelView post →To my recollection, there are only three times that I double dipped in the Switch generation for physical copies. Carto Tunic Death's door All were incredible games that I played on Game Pass first and then wanted a physical copy. Not technically paying for them first is the difference.
positive · AI labelView post →If you don't mind being a little stressed with the puzzles then I highly recommend Carto. It's a cutesy story puzzle game where you have to manipulate pieces of the level's map in order to create paths to progress. And there's a bunch of wholesome story moments and characters.
positive · AI labelView post →Good morning, Crypt Lurkers. I do a hurty but Ima do my best to relax with a puzzle game today. That's right, your favorite VA Vampire Vtuber shall be playing more Carto today despite her neck pain. Don't worry I'll stop early if need be! Let's vibe and relax for now though! www.twitch.tv/hunalulu
neutral · AI labelView post →Fantastic game. The puzzles were very clever and each of the island gimmicks were fun!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Interesting Idea with a Boring Story. The story is closely tied to the puzzles, but it's lighthearted, feels like it's aimed at a younger audience, and has too much dialogue, which was all pretty boring for me. However, the protagonist is a bit on the quiet side and shows her emotions in a cute way. The art style is also really charming. The puzzles could be a little more interesting, but they aren't that bad. Sometimes, the way they're explained could be a little clearer. The map…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Carto is a very cute puzzle game where you explore the world as Carto, trying to find your grandma you got separated from. Along the way you meet quirky characters and use your mapping abilities to rotate and put together map pieces on a separate screen to open paths or solve puzzles. The presentation is cute with an artstyle that's very nice on the eyes, and the music is soothing. It's only a few hours long as well and never gets too difficult. Overall Carto does a good job at guiding the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Carto is a short puzzle game with an interesting mechanic of moving the map's tile pieces around to change your landscape and manipulate your environment. Some puzzles are a bit obtuse, but overall this is a short ~5 to 6 hour game that's worth a playthrough.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game had everything that I should have liked, its got cute graphics, puzzles and should have been fun. That said, I wouldn't recommend it. I found myself struggling with the controls A LOT. So often I closed the map instead of rotating a peice and it was just frustrating. This would have been seriously improved if I could have used a mouse and clicked to rotate. I also found figuring out some of the puzzle logic was frustrating not fun in the last few chapters, but it does have some good…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A unique gaming experience with charming characters and a cute art style. A decent puzzler. Like the way you shape the paths you walk yourself.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very imaginative puzzle game. I'm glad I finally got around to playing it. The main draw was moving around the world pieces and figuring out how to get around, but I did really get into the story and seeing all the new characters we got to meet in each chapter. A game definitely worth a run.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I got frustrated with this game and put it down for about a year so I don't have the best sense of the full game. It's cute. Some of the puzzles are difficult... some of them a little too difficult. I had to look up solutions for the monolith, and even seeing the solutions, the puzzle makes zero sense to me. Nevertheless, I'd recommend it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Got the Platinum for this cute little game called Carto🥹 the game’s background music was so relaxing 🗾🏆
positive · AI labelView post →An adorable small puzzle game. I had an very Amazing Experience and it is 100% one of my All-Time Favourite Video Games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Much like the main character, the game is adorable and short.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In Carto, you play as a girl who can move around pieces of a map and, therefore, the world! The world includes a cozy section covered in snow and ice. thinkygames.com/game... 9/10
neutral · AI labelView post →Charming, cute visuals Chill gameplay Definitely a recommended game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Carto, too - a *hugely* underrated game and secretly one of the most personal reviews I’ve ever written
positive · AI labelView post →I played it last year! It was fun. If I correctly remember who did what from where it was written by the same person who did the writing for Carto which was another very charming puzzle game I really enjoyed.
positive · AI labelView post →OKish, but I'm not finishing it I'm dropping it after completing 7 out of 10 chapters. It's not a bad experience, the gameplay is interesting, but I guess it overstays its welcome beyond a point. Should have wrapped up by now, it doesn't have that much variety to keep the interest level high enough. Revisiting past areas certainly doesn't help. Gameplay 5/10 Aesthetic & GFX 7/10 Music & SFX 7/10 Time Played 3hrs Final Score: 5/10
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is beautiful, but: * It is super slow * Freedom is just an illusion as the player is on rail and can't do nothing but what is planned * So often I was wandering wondering what I was supposed to do * To solve the puzzles is no problem. Understanding what the puzzle is on the other hand… * Actually, the truth is: it is boring
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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