Detailed Ratings
Gameplay 5.0/5
Story 5.0/5
Graphics 3.0/5
Soundtrack 5.0/5

Road 96

Game
+3
Balance
+3 -0
Score weighted by each hero's level: a recommendation from a level 3 hero counts for 3.
5.0/5
1
Reviews
Tome
From the editors, by Tome Updated on 20/10/2026

A road trip first tested as a text game

For almost two years, the French studio DigixArt built and tested the game's narrative system before producing any art or animation. The early prototypes were text only, and director Yoan Fanise acted as the narrative engine during playtests, describing places and offering choices like the game master of a tabletop role-playing game. With nothing visual to show investors, the studio found funding only when HP's Omen brand backed the project.

The studio cites the films of Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers and Bong Joon-ho as influences. Alex is modelled on Data from The Goonies, and the burglar brothers Stan and Mitch on the air pirates of Porco Rosso. The soundtrack is filled with hits from the 1990s.

The Story

In the summer of 1996, authoritarian Petria is preparing for a presidential election between its long-standing ruler, Tyrak, and a newcomer, Florres. Teenagers who oppose the regime are secretly sent to labor camps, and many try to flee across the northern border. You play a succession of nameless teenagers on a road trip to that border, by hitchhiking, walking, stolen car or taxi, and each journey can end in escape, arrest or death.

Along the way, you keep meeting eight recurring characters, among them a taxi driver, a television news presenter and a policewoman, who remember what your previous teenagers did. Fanise settled on this premise during a visit to 11 bit studios in Poland, where developers told him stories of life behind the Iron Curtain; some of them inspired the ways of crossing the border.

The Ideal Audience

This first-person, single-player adventure came out on Windows and Nintendo Switch in August 2021, then on PlayStation and Xbox in April 2022. Each journey lasts 30 to 50 minutes, about the length of a television episode, and the result of the election depends on your choices. Critics praised the characters, storytelling and soundtrack but found the politics shallow, and the game, rated PEGI 16 for violence and alcohol use, won five awards at France's Pégases in 2022.

+3
Balance
+3 -0
Score weighted by each hero's level: a recommendation from a level 3 hero counts for 3.
5.0/5
1
Reviews
Detailed Ratings
Gameplay 5.0/5
Story 5.0/5
Graphics 3.0/5
Soundtrack 5.0/5
Tome
From the editors, by Tome Updated on 20/10/2026

A road trip first tested as a text game

For almost two years, the French studio DigixArt built and tested the game's narrative system before producing any art or animation. The early prototypes were text only, and director Yoan Fanise acted as the narrative engine during playtests, describing places and offering choices like the game master of a tabletop role-playing game. With nothing visual to show investors, the studio found funding only when HP's Omen brand backed the project.

The studio cites the films of Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers and Bong Joon-ho as influences. Alex is modelled on Data from The Goonies, and the burglar brothers Stan and Mitch on the air pirates of Porco Rosso. The soundtrack is filled with hits from the 1990s.

The Story

In the summer of 1996, authoritarian Petria is preparing for a presidential election between its long-standing ruler, Tyrak, and a newcomer, Florres. Teenagers who oppose the regime are secretly sent to labor camps, and many try to flee across the northern border. You play a succession of nameless teenagers on a road trip to that border, by hitchhiking, walking, stolen car or taxi, and each journey can end in escape, arrest or death.

Along the way, you keep meeting eight recurring characters, among them a taxi driver, a television news presenter and a policewoman, who remember what your previous teenagers did. Fanise settled on this premise during a visit to 11 bit studios in Poland, where developers told him stories of life behind the Iron Curtain; some of them inspired the ways of crossing the border.

The Ideal Audience

This first-person, single-player adventure came out on Windows and Nintendo Switch in August 2021, then on PlayStation and Xbox in April 2022. Each journey lasts 30 to 50 minutes, about the length of a television episode, and the result of the election depends on your choices. Critics praised the characters, storytelling and soundtrack but found the politics shallow, and the game, rated PEGI 16 for violence and alcohol use, won five awards at France's Pégases in 2022.

Status: Completed
Publication: 2021
Country of origin: France
Age rating: Young Adult (16+)
Genres: Dystopian Adventure Drama

Reviews

GirlRainbow31
Translated from French

Running Away to Start Over...

Synopsis:

The game takes place in the fictional nation of Petria, ruled by a dictatorship. The player controls the actions of several teenagers as they try to flee the country.

In this game, you play as several teenagers who dream of crossing the border on a road trip by their own means and through their own cunning. Each teenager is unique, and their story is different. In every scene, the music pulls you in so you can better enjoy the gameplay. Along your way, you will discover iconic, US-worthy locations, characters who are both mysterious and endearing, and moments of calm and reflection. Although this is a fictional scenario close to reality, certain events hit close to home, particularly regarding the dangers we might encounter. An experience to try at least once in your life; all these teens have a story to tell, a past, emotions, pain, smiles, and a better life they hope to make a reality.

Available on: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Additional info: There is a game that serves as a prequel to Road 96, titled Road 96: Mile 0, where we alternate between the characters of Zoé and her best friend Kaito, who have two different political views. The game alternates between narrative exploration phases and skating sequences* (*musical skating). It's pretty fun to play ^^.
+7
Recommends:
+3 The value of a recommendation depends on its author's level.
Overall
Gameplay
Story
Graphics
Soundtrack
16
Compete in the Heroes' Tournament and win Amazon gift cards! Discover