Open Roads is a drama and mystery-filled narrative game that encourages players to take it slow and enjoy life while going through a campaign featuring the story of a mother and a daughter on a road trip talking about long-lost family secrets.
While the game itself does not contain any real "puzzles" that can be found in most titles or obstacles to overcome, it is filled with fun details and intriguing mysteries that make players want more.
Open Roads' Take on a Narrative Campaign
(Photo : Annapurna Interactive, Open Roads Team / Screenshot taken from Steam)
The executive producer of the game, Amy Fincher, said that they wanted players to feel like they had to go looking for things. She added that if they do, they will be rewarded, particularly if they are curious by nature.
Open Roads is what many would call a "walking simulator" similar to games such as Firewatch or The Invincible. It is a first-person experience that focuses on exploring an environment, reading notes, and chatting with other characters while progressing through the story, according to The Verge.
In this new title, players will take control of 16-year-old Tess, voiced by Kaitlyn Dever, who just lost her grandmother. At the beginning of the game, she is seen helping her mom Opan, voiced by Keri Russell, pack up the family home.
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Right from the offset, players are encouraged to touch various things in the world and Tess' room can be seen filled with rented VHS tapes that need to be returned, and a Tamagotchi is seen tucked away inside a drawer. The game itself was set in the 2000s, which explains why there are so many references to that time.
The majority of objects that players can see can be picked up and examined and they are sometimes accompanied by dialogue. There is even a "Hey Mom!" button for items that Opal herself might have something to say about.
Finding the Truth
The game's deep lore centers around a twisting tale about generational trauma, the tension, lies, and love between mother and daughter. This comes alongside all the comfort and warmth of an early 2000s network drama, such as Charmed or Gilmore Girls, said Engadget.
Open Roads utilizes its environment and character design to capture an authentic slice of life in the post-9/11 era. In the game, Tess is just finishing up high school and is planning a future in the hot new market of webpage design. Her parents had only recently divorced and she has been staying with her mom since.
Following the death of Tess' grandmother, Helen, her home is being sold against Opal's wishes, so she and her daughter clear the home out and look for a new place to stay. Going through her grandmother's home, Tess' family history is slowly exposed to the player as told in newspapers, photographs, books, and other items.
They then discover a secret surrounding Helen that could change everything that they thought they knew about their family. This urged them to try and learn more, choosing to embark on a road trip to find out the truth, according to GameInformer.
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