Road 96

8.3

•2022•

Teen

Platforms

PC
Aug 16, 2021
8.2
playscore
7.9
30 Critics
9.1
12.4K Players
PlayStation 5
Apr 14, 2022
8.3
playscore
7.9
12 Critics
9.3
1.43K Players
Xbox Series X|S
Apr 14, 2022
8.0
playscore
8.0
7 Critics
8.2
1.80K Players
PlayStation 4
Apr 14, 2022
NA
playscore
NA
0 Critics
9.3
1.01K Players
Xbox One
Apr 14, 2022
NA
playscore
NA
0 Critics
8.2
1.80K Players
Nintendo Switch
Aug 16, 2021
8.1
playscore
7.8
18 Critics
8.8
248 Players

64 critic reviews · 6 community reviews across all platforms

Critic Reviews

Pure Xbox
9.0
It's not a perfect game — mechanically things could be improved at times — but its story is about as close to perfect as you could ask for, and for that, we recommend it without a shadow of a doubt.
Ben Kerry · Jul 07, 2022
Reviewed on Series X|S
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Way Too Many Games
9.0
Road 96‘s sound design is wonderful. Every one of the vocal performances are great and fit the characters well. The soundtrack is even more impressive. Each of its tracks perfectly capture the 90s aesthetic and they set up the tone for each section fantastically. Even the sound effects and ambient noises of the world around you are well done.
Heidi Hawes · Apr 21, 2022
Reviewed on Series X|S
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GameSpot
6.0
It's a shame that Road 96's great character writing is stuck within such restrictive framing, even if many of its most memorable dialogue sequences only work given that the premise has allowed for this assortment of personalities to intertwine.
Alessandro Barbosa · Apr 19, 2022
Reviewed on Series X|S
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Push Square
7.0
A small amount of texture pop-in aside, a very strong visual style makes Road 96 a delight to look at. Striking character art enunciates facial features, while environments and background vistas look beautiful. With a great soundtrack to boot, the game has an incredibly strong style. When the characters you meet along the way are just as striking in their conversations and political and social beliefs, Road 96 succeeds at weaving multiple tales through the lives of teens that just want to get the hell out.
Liam Croft · Apr 17, 2022
Reviewed on PS5
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GameSpew
8.0
This is a moving, thought-provoking adventure that’s filled with obscure moments, dark comedy and characters you won’t forget in a hurry. Its heavy political slant won’t be for everyone, but if that doesn’t put you off, you’re in for one hell of a journey.
Kim Snaith · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on PS5
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XboxEra
8.5
Delivered in a classy graphical style, with a banging soundtrack and more accessibility options than is normally the case for a game of this type, I found playing it to be a great use of my time and was very impressed with it upon game completion.
Harm0nica · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on Series X|S
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COGconnected
8.0
On the whole, though, Road 96 remains a genuinely innovative game. It’s approach to storytelling and narrative branching is unique. Despite a few relatively minor issues, playing Road 96 is an engaging experience. The moral ambiguity of its characters and their choices feel true to life, even if the game’s conceit is a little less compelling.
Mark Steighner · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on PS5
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PS Lifestyle
7.0
Road 96 feels like a strange blend of experimental and conservative game design. The procedurally generated narrative is a good idea and one I’d like to see used again. However, the overarching plot is political without being substantive. It’s a story that would likely have been best served following a linear structure with player characters that had rich backstories that firmly tied them to the struggle going on in Petria.
Jason Faulkner · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on PS5
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Hey Poor Player
7.0
In the end, it feels like Road 96 doesn’t have nearly as much to say about these topics as it thinks it does. It sticks the landing when it comes to its individual characters, but much less so regarding the overarching plot. Still, those character stories are engaging, the mini-games you’re thrown into are consistently fun, and Road 96 looks and sounds great. It all makes for a trip that’s worth taking, as long as you know what to expect.
Andrew Thornton · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on Series X|S
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Screen Rant
9.0
As such, Road 96 is incredible. It was an indie hit on its release for PC and Switch last year, and that success has easily converted over to other home console platforms. This is a fascinating, compelling, and immensely replayable experience that is certainly worth exploring.
Rob Gordon · Apr 14, 2022
Reviewed on PS5
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