Eastward
Eastward is a beautifully detailed and charming adventure RPG, from Shanghai-based indie developers, Pixpil and published by Chucklefish. Escape the tyrannical clutches of a subterranean society and join Eastward’s unlikely duo on an exciting adventure to the land above! Discover beautiful yet bizarre settlements and make new friends as you travel across the world by rail. Inspired by 90s Japanese animation, the visual style of Eastward has been brought to life using a combination of a modern, innovative 3D lighting system and a rich retro-pixel artwork.
What it feels like
The world is described as 'charming' and 'bizarre,' with strange creatures and quirky towns creating a playful, imaginative atmosphere despite darker themes. A society on the brink of collapse sets a backdrop of decline and loss, yet the game maintains warmth and charm—joy and sorrow coexist. The charming, heartfelt presentation of the unlikely duo's adventure and their connections with others conveys sincere emotional investment.
What it's about
The core premise is an 'exciting adventure' traveling across the world by rail—a long journey is the narrative spine. The setting explicitly features a collapsing civilization with a declining population, though the tone is more hopeful and whimsical than grim. Making new friends and meeting strange people as you travel is explicitly highlighted as a core element of the experience.
How it plays
As an action-adventure RPG with rail-based travel and environmental exploration, platforming and navigation are integral to progression. Combat involves wielding a frying pan as the primary weapon, indicating straightforward close-quarters melee as a core system. Making new friends and discovering people suggests character interaction via dialogue systems that drive narrative and relationships.
How it looks and sounds
The core visual identity combines retro pixel artwork with modern 3D lighting—deliberately low-resolution hand-crafted sprites are the foundation of the aesthetic. Modern 3D lighting, depth, and effects are composited over pixel-art sprites and environments, creating the signature HD-2D hybrid look. Explicitly inspired by 90s Japanese animation in character design, visual language, and the overall charming, expressive art style.
How it's structured
Explicitly single-player experience with no multiplayer component. An authored adventure with a clear narrative arc—escaping a subterranean society and traveling to the surface—has a defined beginning and end. Rail-based travel across the world suggests a linear story spine with explorable towns and settlements branching from the main journey.
Kindred games
Shares Anime Style, Friendship, Bittersweet, Journey & Pilgrimage.
Both lean into Single-Player, Campaign, Anime Style, Friendship.
Shares HD-2D, Pixel Art, Journey & Pilgrimage, Wide-Linear.
Both lean into Single-Player, HD-2D, Pixel Art, Campaign.
Shares Pixel Art, Platforming, Earnest, Bittersweet.
Both lean into Pixel Art, Platforming, Campaign, Earnest.
Closest hidden gems
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Both lean into Single-Player, Pixel Art, Campaign, Platforming.
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Both lean into Pixel Art, Single-Player, Platforming, Melee Combat.