Long Road to the Sand Witch: A Hopeful Open-World Indie Game

Long Road to the Sand Witch doesn’t look like your typical Bethesda or Obsidian role-playing game, but knowing that it’s set in a post-apocalyptic open world and that it’s got some humor, it feels like it was at least partially inspired by Fallout: New Vegas.

Long Road to the Sand Witch is a “hopeful” open-world indie game whose protagonist was accidentally designed to look like Family Guy’s Louise Griffin – much to the developer’s shock and horror – but in addition to the animated sitcom, it also draws inspiration from the Mojave Wasteland.

After Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer tweeted about the new indie game, specifically the versatile off-road vehicle that players can upgrade as they go, which reminded him of his own van, the lead developer of Long Road to the Sand Witch responded with surprise that one of their favorite developers had lent their voice to the game.

“OMG I played your game as a kid,” the indie game’s social media account responded. “New Vegas was everything to me for at least a year!!! (There would be no Long Road to a Sand Witch without it.)” Sawyer then responded that he was honored and “can’t wait to play Long Road to a Sand Witch when I get back!”

Josh Sawyer isn’t the only one who’s been drawn to the game’s vast landscapes and charming little details, though. Long Road to the Sand Witch already has a “Very Positive” rating on Steam based on a few hundred user reviews, and its reviews have been equally enthusiastic, with people continuing to gush about its gentle atmosphere and the way exploration gradually becomes more complex.

Long Road to the Sand Witch is now available on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch platforms.