Road 96 Reviews
A solid FPP adventure in political-fiction climates, although you have to reckon with the shortcomings (even for a Switch) in the visual sphere. After all, it is worth delving into it because each game brings new experiences.
Review in Polish | Read full review
If your country is a burden to you, like ours is to us, playing Road 96 might lighten the load by reminding you that, there are always people who can make a difference.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Overall Road 96 really surprised me, as I'm getting older, purely story driven games don't grab my interest as easily.
Road 96 is an atmospheric experiment in procedural storytelling that is successful more often than not. A dynamite retrowave soundtrack and some interesting characters don’t quite excuse a story that lacks a cohesive framework and too many minigames.
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.
A road movie told in multiple border crossings and a narrative game to remember.
Road 96 is a glorious achievement in game creation. Once I got to know the characters and played two runs of this game I was hooked until the end. It’s a game that I thought about when I wasn’t playing it and it didn’t take me long at all to pick up the soundtrack on Steam, which was playing in the background of the creation of this review. A rogue-lite game with an emphasis on story choices and narrative feels like something that shouldn’t work but it does. Road 96 is truly something very special and gets my highest recommendation. This is one road trip not to be forgotten.
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It might be a stretch to call it a piece of work on par with that of some of the most-acclaimed film directors of the modern age, but Road 96 is an incredible adventure game that succeeds thanks to a strong narrative, a superb cast of characters, one of the year's best soundtracks and its unique procedurally-generated approach that might see you coming back after the initial eight hours or so, just to see what could possibly be on any other routes.
As it stands, “Road 96” feels like a preview of a better future in which another game grafts more sophistication onto its sturdy template.
Road 96 is a difficult experience to frame, and perhaps lacks the emotional impact of Valiant Hearts or the artistic delicacy of 11-11 Memories Retold. However, some ideas remain worthy of being discovered, such as the courage to give the role of the protagonists to a small number of co-stars and the messing up of their stories along the lines of Pulp Fiction.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Road 96 offers a non-Manichean adventure on the roads, looking for a brighter future on the other side of the border. Despite some uneven mini-games and some brutal cuts in its narration, the game still offers some interesting cast and landscapes, carried by a strong soundtrack with delightful 90's vibes. Too bad this Switch port suffers from such a big downgrade once grabbed on the go.
Review in French | Read full review
Road 96 offers a non-Manichean adventure on the roads, looking for a brighter future on the other side of the border. Despite some uneven mini-games and some brutal cuts in its narration, the game still offers some interesting cast and landscapes, carried by a strong soundtrack with delightful 90's vibes.
Review in French | Read full review
Anything bad I have to say about this game from animation issues, to lip-synching, to some glitches or gameplay grips all come with one major addendum… I did not regret playing Road 96, nor will I regret playing it again.
DigixArt’s Road 96 is an impressive indie effort to deliver an interesting narrative-driven title with an original branching plot mechanic.
Thankfully, Road 96‘s mesmerizing landscapes, unique characters and chilled soundtrack will allow players to kick back and enjoy some really good storytelling in a world that feels strangely familiar to many.
Road 96 is a great experience from start to finish that will please anyone looking for a good story, some interesting characters or just enjoy a long road trip.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
For those who like a good adventure game or a visual novel more focused on narrative than gameplay, Road 96 not only delivers a rich and very unique experience, but also surprises and innovates in some aspects. The feeling of traveling, experiencing all that life has to offer, is masterfully achieved until the end. Subsequent runs can reveal some problems, such as the repetition of locations and narrative points, but it is well worth playing the story with an open heart at least once.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yet, I can’t help but feel entranced by Road 96’s framework; the depiction of a journey as being a bunch of moments. Moments where you dig into a character’s psyche or just have fun playing air hockey. It’s lightweight, effective, and I can’t think of another place where it’s this well-executed. If you’re willing to stomach the rough patches and politics, there’s a rich game within. One that explores how people affect and are affected by the world. Personally, I think it’s worth the trip.