Play Here: Caravaneer
Developer: Sugar Free Games
Host: Kongregate
My Rating: 9.5 / 10

So here’s the setting. You live in a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, not to mention most forms of life at all. Some humans still live including you. Robbers and Caravans make this world spin.

The story. Your uncle died and left you with his rifle (a Springfield M1903) with 50 rounds of ammo, $1000, and his trusty steed (a Donkey). You are told in a letter to collect these from the Sheriff at a town called Poca Cosa. He gives you advice to invest that money in becoming a caravaneer. A merchant.

Economy Sim, post-apocalyptic land, Top-Down Shooter, Adventure, not to mention RPG. This game has it all.
One of the few free games out there with an economy that you can actually affect by your trading. Some towns will possibly change what they decide to develop on your decisions.

The post-apocalyptic setting hasn’t been fully played to death yet so this is a fresh play from all of the medieval, and space games.

SFG did a really good job with the Top-Down Shooter aspect using Action Points to move, shoot, and reload. The more damaged your character the less AP they are able to use.

This map you are able to explore is massive, well not overly massive that it takes hours to cross it (if you don’t count the couple hundred robbers you are likely to encounter). At times it may feel like you are going across quite slowly, but think of it this way would you want it to go by so fast that the game doesn’t allow any suspense?

Some RPG aspects make this quite nice. Your character gains AP with EXP along with the general Strength, Intelligence, Agility, and Accuracy. Characters have a few sub-skills; Sniper (to be accurate at long distances) Doctor (to heal those in your caravan faster/better) Veterinary (Doctor for your animals) Mechanic (Doctor for your carts/vehicles)

I do have a few problems with this game, but with all the positives these mean nothing. For one I think you could go a little bit faster on the main map (even on the fast setting). Also I’d like to see some way of telling where you are on your personal map (bad idea to stop and save in the middle of nowhere). Robbers seem to pop up every 3 seconds once you get beyond a certain point. And if you aren’t prepared and are going through the first recommended area thinking it’s too easy then travel out of that area you are bound to be in for a surprise.

I love this game I’d like to see something like this as a Massively Multiplayer Online RPG, with player housing and possibly regular tradeskills, but with limits on your caravan party.

Some advice:
Make sure you have lots of water, both your men and your animals use it.
Animals eat lots of Forage (I think it should be called Fodder).
Medicine is measured in grams instead of kilograms like most everything else.
Don’t bother with horses until you have vehicals, you can’t ride a horse.
Your speed is matched to that of the slowest in your party.
Set your hired hands on autopay and besure to reclick the autopay button each time you load.