‘Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles’ Is a Switch Must-Buy

by Dylan Blight

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, developed by Prideful Sloth (an Australian studio), launched in July last year on Windows and PS4. On May 17 it comes to Nintendo Switch — and it’s a must-buy on that platform, specifically for the ability to play on the go.

As Yonder begins, your player-created character sails toward the island of Gemea in seemingly safe weather. Approaching the island, things take a turn for the worse as a storm wrecks your ship and you wash ashore. But don’t worry — this isn’t Tomb Raider and you’re not about to embark on a brutal combat gauntlet. In fact, Yonder has no enemies and no combat. It’s about exploration and creating your own story.

Early on, you learn a mysterious “murk” has spread across Gemea. Yes, it falls to you to help. Let me be honest: I haven’t finished the “main story,” and I’m in no rush to. Yonder is about your journey, and the game never pushes you. The island, quest structure, and open world are designed to be relaxing. There’s plenty to do, but you don’t get that anxious, checklist-driven pressure other open worlds heap on you. Thanks to the carefree approach to the critical path, you simply wander, letting your sense of completion, adventure, and wonder grow at your own pace. Rush the story if you wish, but I don’t think you’ll find much substance there.

Not long after arriving, you’ll discover a farm and learn the Harvest Moon-inspired systems: planting seeds, hiring a farmhand, and building animal pens. Lure wildlife home with treats, look after them, collect resources (and, yes, poop), and pet your new pals. It’s easy to get lost in this loop for hours — hunting for supplies and seeds just to make sure you’re growing one of everything. For what purpose? Who cares. They’re your cute animal friends.

Several guilds are spread around the island. One focuses on mechanical gadgets, another on clothing, another on food, and so on. Joining unlocks more blueprints — bridges to new areas, pies for quests, farming tools, even fireworks — which look fantastic when timed at night.

Speaking of fantastic — let me introduce my second-favourite part of Yonder on Switch (portability is number one): photo mode. It’s not pushing God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn visuals, but the art direction, colour, lighting, the day-night cycle, and critters make it a photographer’s playground. A chill game with photo mode on the go is perfect: spend thirty minutes chopping wood, fishing, and exploring, then ten more lining up the perfect shot of a purple fox you found tucked away. Bliss.

Right now I have roughly twenty quests in my log and I’m following none of them. I’m circling the map, discovering Gemea at my own pace; enjoying its colourful wildlife, setting off fireworks at random, and stopping often to gather materials for crafting and cooking. I can’t think of another Switch experience that delivers relaxation quite like Yonder. It won’t be for everyone — and it has rough edges — but if you’ve got a holiday, commute, or a twenty-minute bus ride tomorrow, I’d suggest picking up Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. You might become the photo fanatic I am.

Some of my photos taken in Yonder. Many more to come.