Hey there, cozy gamers! Popping in with my thoughts on Camper Van: Make It Home, the latest “build-and-decorate” puzzle game from Malapata Studio (out June 7, 2025). If you love games like Unpacking, A Little to the Left or Urban Jungle, you’ve probably already spotted this one. And for good reason. It marries clever block-fitting puzzles with hands-on interior design so you can turn a bare van into your rolling sanctuary. Here’s how it all shook out for me:
Overall Impressions
What I loved most was the core idea: customizing every nook and cranny of my tiny home-on-wheels. The feeling of dragging a tiny plant into just the right corner, then stepping back for a screenshot, hits all the cozy spots. The van layouts get more ambitious as you progress, too, keeping things fresh. On the flip side, I ran into some placement headaches that reminded me of other block-organizing games—but amped up. There were moments I felt more frustrated than relaxed, which is definitely not the usual vibe I chase in cozy sims. Overall, Camper Van sits nicely alongside its genre siblings, with a unique twist in the “travel-diary” theme.
Gameplay Mechanics
Camper Van offers fun, bite-sized puzzles that keep you coming back. Each level gives you a fresh challenge—like sneaking a mini fridge under the sink or tucking plates into a cupboard—so it’s a real “aha!” moment when everything clicks. Plus, the game lets you customize your van with fabrics, wallpaper, and decals, so you can mix and match styles (I loved creating a Little Golden Book–inspired look on level 8).
On the flip side, placing items can feel frustrating when objects won’t drop where they look like they should—silverware drawers hiding under the stove, for example—and that can stall your progress. Some knick-knacks won’t stack neatly even with room to spare, turning a relaxing puzzle into a trial-and-error chore. And despite cranking the camera speed to 100%, panning still feels slow, forcing extra drags to see each area and breaking the cozy vibe.
Standout moment: unlocking glass canisters for pantry items felt like discovering a hidden bonus—you suddenly had a cute “kitchen” vibe. Then I ran into a bug where the food tiles wouldn’t slot in. Argh!
Story and Characters
This isn’t a character-driven saga, but more of a personal journey. You’re quietly exploring new towns, unlocking story snippets (postcards, little journal bits) that hint at who you are and why you’ve hit the road. I enjoyed the low-key world-building: morning coffee stops, gentle roadside chats, glimpses of fellow van-lifers. It’s more about atmosphere than plot twists, but that’s exactly the cozy feeling I wanted.
Visuals and Graphics
Camper Van nails a warm, hand-painted look. Soft pastel colors, simple outlines, and charming item icons make every level feel like it was drawn in a sketchbook. I especially loved the leafy plants, woven baskets, and tiny art prints that bring personality to each scene. There’s nothing hyperreal here, and that’s a win in my book—it’s all about comfort and creativity.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack is mellow guitar and ambient nature sounds. I found it super soothing on late-night sessions. Just a heads-up for streamers: there’s a track called “Aries” that can trigger a DMCA strike if you don’t mute it. I recommend setting the music volume to zero or picking a safe playlist when going live. Other than that, the gentle bird tweets and road-trip hums add a lovely layer of calm.
Difficulty and Replayability
Early levels are very approachable, but things ramp up in mid-game when you start juggling wall hooks, pegboards, and secret compartments. Some puzzles felt a bit finicky, so be prepared to pause and rotate items a few times. After you finish the main story, there’s no official free-play mode yet (I’m echoing other players who want one!). A sandbox where you can revisit any van and have full access to every object would be a dream. Fingers crossed Malapata Studio adds it in a future patch!
Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes
Malapata Studio’s latest simulation game, Camper Van, brings heartfelt gameplay inspired by real van-lifers and artful micro-organizers. Patch 1.1’s hotfix resolves stubborn stacking bugs and van-color reversion glitches, so be sure to update if you encountered issues at launch. Priced at $15 USD, Camper Van delivers thoughtful art, immersive music, and high replay value at an accessible price point.
Final Thoughts
I’m giving Camper Van: Make It Home a cozy 4 stars. It nails that “design your happy place” vibe with charming visuals and thoughtful puzzles. A few placement bugs and camera slowdowns keep it from perfection, but the heart and creativity behind it shine through. If you’re looking for a laid-back decorating puzzle with a dash of wanderlust, this one’s worth your time—and might just inspire your own van dreams. Happy decorating!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
