What it's about 1996, a made-up country and a border to cross
It's 1996 in Petria, a made-up country with an election coming and a government nobody quite trusts. You play a series of teenagers who each want to get across the border. You can hitchhike, but it's not the only way to get around, and each trip is its own little story. You talk to the people you meet, stop at motels and gas stations, and try to get a bit closer to the border.
Along the way you keep bumping into the same handful of people, in different situations, and how you treated them earlier changes what happens later. It plays like a road movie where you get to choose what's said.
How I got into it a free demo, and I couldn't stop
I don't remember exactly how I found it. I think it was in a Nintendo selection of games, there was a free demo, and I tried it and wanted to carry on. I was hooked at once by the story and by the amazing music, mostly led by The Toxic Avenger, with that retrowave feel. You're in the atmosphere straight away.
The first hour didn't last an hour. It lasted a lot longer, because I couldn't stop. There's some action, some sweet moments, and a lot of being nosy and trying to figure out what the right answer is.
I play it very chilled, on the sofa or even from bed. I played a lot of it from bed, and this game got me through some tough times. I'm at 25+ hours and counting.
How it looks dusty roads and warm colours, drawn with care
Graphically it might not be the most advanced game around, but it has a really cool style that goes with the whole aesthetic. And it's actually a beautiful game, because it's well drawn and the colours are lovely. Dusty roads, lonely gas stations, motel signs, big skies and long drives at sunset, in warm, slightly faded colours like a postcard from a trip a long time ago.
The 90s feel is nicely nostalgic, and the game is neatly made. I only play it in handheld, and it carries really well there, with no complaints.
How it sounds retrowave songs and cassette tapes, with one flaw
The music is really, really the strong suit here. The soundtrack is full of retrowave songs, mostly led by The Toxic Avenger, and it sets the mood before anyone says a word. You collect cassette tapes along the way and you can play them in a car or on a radio, which is a lovely touch. It's a game for headphones on a quiet evening.
One thing bothered me: sometimes the music is louder than the dialogue and it overpowers it, so it's hard to hear what people are saying. There might be a technical problem there. It takes away from the experience a bit, but overall it's bearable.
The story and the people a well-made story where your decisions count
The story is well crafted, and your decisions have real impact. I won't give much away, because the less you know, the better it works. The people you meet are not heroes or villains. They're odd, funny, scared, annoying and kind, and they're all endearing. You get to know them as you go, and you might change your mind about them along the way. I got genuinely curious about everyone.
It handles the serious stuff, such as politics and fear, well. It isn't all sunshine, and it isn't trying to be. The way it's laid out, with different paths and a way of meeting people and moving forward, is really well thought out and beautifully made. It's so well made that you actually feel like you are the person you're playing.
Fair warning, though: it isn't for everyone. I've seen players say they found it boring, more like a 3D visual novel than a game, with quick chats, simple dialogue choices and mini-games that get in the way. I get it. The people and places come in random order, so at first it can feel scattered, and it only really ties together towards the end, with several different endings depending on what you said along the way. There's no real challenge and no way to lose, so if you want action or something to master, it won't scratch that itch.
I wouldn't call it "fun" in the usual sense. To me it felt like a story, or a movie, or a book I was part of, and the story isn't about you. I got attached to the music, the visuals, the people and the world of Petria, and that was enough. If you go in expecting that, it's wonderful. If you go in expecting a game, you might be left out in the cold.
After work: effort and challenge no losing, just another way through the story
Does it give you space to chill? Yes, completely. This is about as easy as games get. You walk, talk and make choices, and now and then there's a small mini-game. Each trip is a short chapter, so after a week away you can just pick the thread back up. There's nothing to master and nothing to memorise.
There's no losing. You start the story again and again, with different characters and from different angles, so there's no game-over screen to punish you. It's pure feeling, which is exactly what some evenings call for.
Reading is the only real work. There's plenty of dialogue, and it's worth reading because it's good, but a very tired evening might want less of it.
Docked vs handheld I only play handheld, and it's great
I don't think I've ever played it docked. It carries really well in handheld and I have no complaints, which is really cool. It's the kind of game that works from the sofa or from bed, with headphones on. A big screen and a soundbar should suit the big skies and the music, but I can't tell you from experience.
What gets in the way music over dialogue, light gameplay and heavy themes
- Sometimes the music is louder than the dialogue and covers it. It's bearable, but it takes something away.
- If you want gameplay with depth, there isn't much.
- Some themes are heavy. It's handled well, but it's not a cosy game all the way.
- A lot of reading, if your eyes are tired.
- It isn't for everyone: it's a story to live through, not a game to master.
On Switch 2 no special edition, and it doesn't need one
There's no Switch 2 Edition, and Nintendo lists the game as supported, behaving like the Switch version. I play it on my Switch 2 and I have no complaints. There's also a prequel, Road 96: Mile 0, which costs €12.99. I haven't tried it.
Verdict a road movie you steer, and worth every penny
Road 96 is a really good game, worth playing and worth every penny. The story is well crafted, your choices really count, the characters get under your skin, and the retrowave soundtrack puts you in the mood from the first minute. It's easy to start and impossible to fail, which makes it great for evenings when you don't have the energy for anything difficult.
It isn't perfect, and it isn't for everyone. The music can drown out the dialogue now and then, and there isn't much gameplay under the story. Some themes are heavy, too, though they're handled with care.
If you like story games, road movies and 90s music, play it over a few quiet evenings, with headphones, from the sofa or from bed. I couldn't stop.
