Road 96

Road 96 is a narrative adventure in constant evolution, going through moments of action, exploration and (lots of) melancholy, while making a social criticism that makes you reflect on life.

ROAD 96 is so much more than an indie point-and-click. It’s a solid recommendation despite its obvious limits. This small world created by Yoan Fanise and DigixArt, suggests that there is still a lot to see from the Indie scene. What else can I say about this game? Perhaps whoever has lived it will understand, because for me ROAD 96 is Jeremy by Pearl Jam; Something in the Way by Nirvana; Nutshell by Alice in Chains; Firestarter by The Prodigy and 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins, all at the same time and made into video game form.

It’s bizarre, to say the least, and I can only assume it works better on PC (I played on Switch). I also experienced a few framerate dips, though they never detracted from the overall experience. However, those issues don’t get in the way of telling a simple, effective story of survival in a harsh country. Its politics might be a bit too idealistic and simplified for my taste, but I have yet to see another interactive experience tackle these themes more directly than this. It may be based on hitchhiking, but this is definitely a trip worth taking.

Road 96 takes us on a tough journey that makes us reflect and that engages us with every decision we make. And it does so with a remarkable narrative game where each story is different. Its graphics can be improved, but its story will make you soon forget about its weak points.

Road 96 started off a bit rocky for me but quickly became one of the best games I’ve played all year. It’s absolutely on my top 10 games list for 2021, and, given enough time with it, I’m sure it’ll be yours as well. The Switch is a fine home for this politically-charged narrative, and if you have a desire to overthrow corrupt systems or just cross the border for a better life, chances are you’ll feel the same way too. If you want to get lost in a dystopian world, then do everything in your power to leave it, hitchhike your way to Road 96.

Whether I was being threatened by Jarod, having deep personal conversations with John, or being made audience to the circus that is Stan and Mitch, I found myself continuing to go back for more over and over with Road 96. If you want a deeply political and sometimes downright scary experience, this is the place to be. Add to that a fantastic soundtrack of both folk style music and electronic synthwave that really hits the ‘90s vibe, and Road 96 is an experience you will not soon forget.

Road 96 is a brave step forward in the world of narrative-driven video games. The snippet style structure superbly interweaves the diverse cast of characters creating an incredible journey through an authoritarian world. Although there are performance issues, this is an experience like no other and a must for fans of story-based games.

Route 96 is an adventure that will delight those who put storytelling before gameplay. Good dialogue and situations, varied, with many minigames ... It is replayable and has some interesting ideas, although it often leaves the feeling of being somewhat corseted.

If you’re not too bothered about seeking constant action, but prefer your games to possess a discernible intelligence, overlying a message which is delivered in a subtle yet insistent manner, then you’ll love Road 96. The illusion of generating your own road movie works perfectly, and whether you view it as simple escapism or something deeper it manages to entertain either way.

Road 96 is an adventure game that’s stuffed with fascinating characters. Everybody has a story, and the game does an excellent job at weaving those stories together in an interesting way. The use of music and the game’s art style also helps to elevate the experience. Road 96 is a bit bogged down by some UI issues and framerate drops, but that didn’t stop me from really enjoying the complete product.

Even if the writing and characters were somewhat weak at times, Road 96 was still a heart-pounding emotional road trip that doesn't pull any punches. You might win freedom, but what will you end up losing in the end? [Issue #56 – November/December 2021, p. 24]