Haven Park [Switch] Review – pew pew

Haven Park isn’t subtle about its inspirations. But being influenced by games like A Short Hike and Animal Crossing is no bad thing. Sadly the changes it does make in comparison to those titles generally aren’t for the better.

You play as young birdboy Flint, and are tasked (by your grandmother) at bringing an camping dominated island back up to scratch. 

There are signs to fix, places to eat and drink to set up, things to decorate, and so on. Nothing that’s massively exciting, but at the start there’s so much to do it’s easy to get swept up in it all.

Especially as the island map is opened up to you at a satisfying pace, with a brand new area never too far away.

There’s also a very light RPG side to things, with completing tasks and quests (and we use the term quest very lightly here) allowing you to unlock new skills and abilities. 

These generally allow you to get around the island faster, and help you progress through the game’s brief runtime of around four hours. 

What helps the experience no end is the charming presentation. Haven Park isn’t the prettiest game but it presents a world full of life, including engaging characters and lush landscapes. You can also get Flint to say ‘pew’ on request. Which is nice.

Sadly there are a few niggling issues here, even with the game’s short lifespan. One is that navigation around the map can be a tad confusing at times, and movement is occasionally a pain – with Flint getting stuck to parts of the scenery a few too many times. In a game where exploration is the largest draw the latter is a notable issue.

Ultimately there’s no escaping the fact that Haven Park simply isn’t as fun or polished as its obvious inspirations. Despite this it never feels like a cash grab or a soulless clone, and is still well worth investigating if you’re after a new relaxed indie experience. 

The good

• Relaxing gameplay loop
• Doesn't outstay its welcome
• RPG element fits in well

The bad

• Sometimes frustrating movement
• Occasionally a bit too simple
• Not as good as its inspirations

70 out of 100

Maria Alexander