Cartier 06 – Review

Embark on a nocturnal adventure in Galați!

Some games welcome you politely, with a tutorial, pointers, and promises of safety. But Cartier 06 has no time for that. You wake up in 2000s Galați, receiving only a cold stare from the grey blocks (where Vasile Alecsandri lives – LOL), plus the feeling that someone, somewhere, is staring right at you. It's a Romanian psychological horror, created by CowardlyKnights, which doesn't come with evil clowns or endless zombies, but with a heavy silence and the question, "What's around the corner and why do I feel like I don't want to find out?".

How many of us haven't been worried about a night walk in the wrong part of our hometown? If we bring up Galați, we've already complicated things. Anyway, in Brăila, the sensations are stronger, I'm sure. :)))

I'm joking in the most obvious way possible. The truth is that for me, beyond the slightly fantastical aspects of the story, walking through a Romanian city of the 2000s awakened a kind of childlike nostalgia. Maybe it has enough bugs, or some imperfections here and there, but a Romanian indie studio manages to create a game that brings more than a pointless premise; it brings an authentic Romanian vibe, yes, just like the double ROM chocolate bar!

The visual atmosphere is the story

You'll play as Ștefan, a tired engineer who wants to spend his evening quietly with Muștar, his orange cat. Life turns his plan upside down when someone knocks on the door. From here begins the walk through a neighbourhood that is no longer just scenery, but a character in itself. The streets seem the same as yesterday, but they are uncomfortably deserted. The blocks are no longer just concrete, but walls with fresh memory. And the silence? It's louder than you'd think.

Cartier 06 runs in Unreal Engine 5 and it shows. The textures are so realistic you could swear you recognise a shop on the ground floor of the block. Maybe you even do recognise it. Steam forums are full of such comments. Nothing is perfectly polished, everything is slightly worn, just like in reality. It's that kind of graphic that looks like it was photographed at 6 AM, when the street is still asleep, but something is moving in the background.

You don't know what it is, but I promise you it's not the wind. The Romanian feeling of the 2000s is something you can only understand if you're Romanian, and the game hits that hot iron exactly there. Is it too much if I say that this product awakened a deep Romanian feeling in me? Let's avoid, however, any nefarious interpretations of this thrill of authentic Mioritic pride, because that is not the case.

Gameplay and optimisation?

It's not a shooter, but there are weapons. It's not a puzzle game, but you'll open many doors and look for more keys than you'd normally expect. Cartier 06 is about exploration, observation, and quick reactions when the atmosphere suddenly changes. It gives you the freedom to wander, but it does so while sending you passive-aggressive messages through walls and shadows. Some moments are so quiet you wonder if the game has frozen, then you hear a sound in the apartment and realise you don't want to check the source.

Unreal Engine 5 is beautiful, but demanding. If you don't have powerful hardware, you might feel like Ștefan, the protagonist, is moving through molasses. The developers recommend turning off global illumination and reducing the rendering percentage to get rid of the "slideshow" effect. It's not ideal, but when you see how it looks, you almost forgive it.

Truth be told, for a team of five or six people, it's hard to fix all the shortcomings from the start, and it's not that I want to excuse those few bugs or the sometimes poor optimisation, but the developer's interest, manifested through constant updates sent to users, makes me believe that it's only a matter of time until all the annoying aspects become a thing of the past.

Updates and soundtrack vibes

The game also received several packs with tasty aesthetic modifications after its December 2024 launch. A winter decor with snow appeared, jewels were hidden in the apartment, and the most Romanian change possible: a casino with an associated mini-game opened (Let's play a slot machine, what the hell!). Police cars were replaced with old Dacias. That's how it should be. We'll add another strong Romanian brand, because we'll get tired of the Golf IV eventually. If that doesn't hit you with the feeling of home, nothing will, except maybe the new Golf V? :))))

There's no soundtrack to cover everything, just sounds that give you the impression you're not alone. Footsteps on concrete, creaking doors, vague noises from another room. It's the kind of sound design that makes you look over your shoulder even in real life. Don't expect memorable refrains; here, the "melody" is your breath. I suggest an Orbit for those with heavier breath.

Criticism and praise from the community

Reviews are mostly positive when focusing on the game's content rather than its technical aspects. People appreciate the authenticity of the Romanian setting and the courage of the idea. It's like if a movie with Pedro Pascal was made in your village. Suddenly, Cucuieții din Deal has a different meaning on the world's geographical map.

As I said, the criticisms mainly target performance, but the general tone is one of support. Many players see it as an important step for the Romanian indie scene, even if there's still room for improvement. At the risk of repeating myself, the developers behind the game remain interested in the product and have provided several updates to improve in-game performance.

Cartier 06 isn't a game that will flatter you. It won't save you when you make mistakes and it won't give you clear answers. It's slow, heavy, and built to make you feel uncomfortable in places you recognise, but it's a Romanian product, made by Romanians for Romanians. Now, of course, everyone is invited to play it. What is the essence of being Romanian if not a spirit we can share with any lover of țuică, telemea, and papanași? If you like experiences with a dense atmosphere, if you want to see what a nightmare looks like on Romanian streets and you're not scared of playing by the light of the kitchen bulb, it's worth a try. It's imperfect, but honestly, what isn't in this world we call home?

I even got a response from Mihai, at the helm of Cowardly Knights, who, along with his dedicated team, got Cartier 06 off the ground and also want to launch other projects in the future.

Interview with Mihai (Cowardly Knights – Cartier06)

1. How did the story of Cowardly Knights begin? Do you work alone or do you have a team behind you? If it's a team, how do you divide the roles?

The story of CowardlyKnights began in the summer of 2024! At first, it was just me and my girlfriend, Anastasia. Currently, there are 6 of us!

1. What inspired you to create a game based on urban life in Romania? How much is Cartier06 inspired by your personal experiences or everyday Romanian reality?

The beginning of the game was conceived in reverse. We were looking at 3D models online, and we discovered some Soviet-style blocks. That got us thinking: "Could we make the... Romanian version?" As for my personal experiences, I think I can find my childhood neighbourhood in the game!

1. What were the biggest challenges in developing the game or a game in general? (technical, creative, logistical)

I can't say that one thing was more complicated than another. In general, gamedev, especially indie gamedev, forces you to delve into multiple areas. Art, programming, marketing... We're not masters of any of these fields, but we've managed to find a viable formula.

1. Cartier06 has been noted for its authenticity. How did you manage to capture the "spirit of the neighbourhood" so well?

Everything came naturally. The design ideas, the 3D models, the posters, even the city where the game takes place. Initially, the title was supposed to be set in Bucharest, however, the community came to favour the idea of the city of "Galați" for one reason or another, so... the game was adapted. The funny thing is... I'm also from Galați.

1. Which game engine did you use and why? Would you recommend the same engine to other indie developers?

The game was made in Unreal Engine 5. In general, I recommend any video game engine, from Godot, Unity, to Game Maker, and other lesser-known ones. There's no good engine or bad engine. It depends on what game you want to make. Some are easier to make on a certain engine. For example, it's simpler to work in 2D on Unity.

1. How has the game been received so far? Have you had interesting feedback from players or the community?

We've received both positive and negative feedback. I think most Romanians who played it had a positive opinion about our game.

1. What's next for Cartier06 or Cowardly Knights? Are you thinking about a sequel, DLC, another project?

We've just announced our next project! Order of Wallachia! This is a first-person game that will take place in Medieval Brașov! We haven't forgotten about Cartier, and we're planning a content update in the future, but our current focus is on completing the new project.

1. What advice would you give a young game developer in Romania who wants to create something original but has limited resources?

It depends on what resources we're talking about. Do you have a weaker computer? Use a less demanding engine: Godot, Unity, Game Maker, etc... Do you have a decent computer? You can use Unreal Engine. Don't have access to art, 3D models, 2D art? Learn to create your own simplistic models. Look for free resources (both Unity Asset Store and FAB marketplace offer premium resources for free, once every 1-2 weeks).

1. Do you think the gaming industry is solid in Romania? What improvements do you think can be made?

The gaming industry in Romania is booming. More and more studios are appearing, more developers, and I believe this is just the beginning. When it comes to improvements, I think the best thing I can do is to produce even more projects with a Romanian soul!

1. Finally, do you have anything else you'd like to convey to our readers?

I hope that our studio, CowardlyKnights, will grow in the future and that we will be able to fully carry out our professional activity. We want to bring as many projects to the market as possible, try as many genres as possible, and unleash unforgettable experiences!

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Played on: PC
Release date: 2 December 2025
Developer: CowardlyKnights
Publisher: CowardlyKnights