French independent studio DigixArt has released their much anticipated procedural road-trip adventure game, Road 96, onto PC and the Nintendo Switch.
Road 96 was announced back in April of this year during one of Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase events. Its trailer boasted an ambitious title with well over 100,000 variations on its procedurally generated narrative. Well, the self-described “most ambitious project” for the developer has finally launched onto PC and the Nintendo Switch today. This comes after a spectacular success during the Steam Next Fest in June. During that event, it was one of the five most downloaded demos. It is also one of our most anticipated games for this month.
CEO and Creative Director at DigixArt, Yoan Fanise, spoke about their excitement to finally put their ambitious title in players’ hands: “This is it, this crazy idea of making a procedural narrative game, with no creative limits for the whole studio is finally coming to players’ hands. I am excited and equally scared to discover their reactions, and moreover the comparisons of their playthroughs. Some will have 6 episodes, some 14, some may die, some may never do it. This game is about freedom, the freedom of the road trip spirit, the freedom against dictatorship, and also maybe, the freedom of indie creation.”
What Is Road 96?
Road 96 is a procedural road trip adventure with an ever-evolving story. Players will embark on a road trip like no other. They must attempt to escape from a country crumbling under the devastating rule of an authoritarian regime. Inspired by movies from incredible directors such as Quentin Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, and Bon Joon-ho (his films Okja and Mother are my recommendations), Road 96 seeks to take you on an incredible journey. You’ll meet a colorful cast of characters, experience moments of exhilarating action, and make difficult decisions that could change the course of events and even the world itself. Here is some of what you can expect in Road 96:
- Meet a diverse and intriguing cast of characters, all with their own secrets and intertwining narratives
- Make important decisions that will change everything from the people you meet to the entire world itself
- Experience 148,268 possible variations in this procedurally generated narrative
- Embark on a journey that’ll see you explore stunning locations, meet wonderful people, experience moments of exciting action, and even get philosophical
- Listen to a soundtrack filled with 90s hits as you enjoy this beautiful game
Release Date & Price
Road 96 is available right now on the Nintendo Switch, Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. It costs US$19.96/£16.96 for the standard version or is available as part of the Hitchhiker bundle for $29.91. This includes the game, the OST, and an original prologue eBook that contains key stories from 10 years prior to the game’s main events.