Heading Out

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 502 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Heading Out Game Cover
Heading Out is one of the most inventive games I've played all year, with plenty of replayability, great ideas, and an engaging story.
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"Heading Out" is an immersive driving game and visual novel that takes you on a journey of self-discovery down American highways. The game features a unique road trip each time based on your driver's motivations, decisions, and choices. With an eclectic soundtrack and varying systems, players must manage fuel consumption, car condition, and wanted level while meeting colorful characters along the way. The game emphasizes that it's not about the destination, but the journey.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 502 reviews
story107 positive mentions
optimization5 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of visual novel and driving mechanics, offering a fresh take on storytelling in games.
  • Stylish art direction and engaging soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Interesting narrative choices that allow players to shape their character's journey and explore personal themes.
  • Misleading marketing that suggests a more driving-focused experience than what is actually delivered.
  • Driving mechanics can feel unresponsive and lack the excitement expected from a racing game.
  • Repetitive radio dialogue and encounters that detract from the immersion and overall enjoyment.
  • story363 mentions

    The game's story is a central focus, often described as more of an interactive narrative than a traditional game, with mixed reviews on its execution. While some players appreciate the depth and emotional resonance of the storytelling, others criticize it for being cringe-worthy, poorly written, and politically heavy-handed, leading to a lack of relatable characters and meaningful choices. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of engaging moments and frustrating elements, with the driving mechanics taking a backseat to the storytelling experience.

    • “The story definitely takes center stage here, but the gameplay loop was addicting with high stakes which carry the story to be appreciated. Lots of replayability from a side quest standpoint, and although I clocked in 10.5 hours and some have beat it in 6 hours, I'd say it's worth it on sale, but supporting the devs at full cost is cool too.”
    • “I felt a wide variety of emotions playing this game and listening to its story about the people the Interstate Jackalope interacts with.”
    • “Great game, based on Vanishing Point, trying to make that story more complete and help you better understand yourself.”
    • “It's more storytelling than gameplay, plus the story stinks and is full of cringe.”
    • “Narratively, this game has nothing unique to say because its fill-in-the-blank style of creating your character's backstory makes you a bland self-insert, and it fails to make any story choices that truly impact the result, killing the visual novel perspective.”
    • “The second thing that really makes this game bad is the absolutely insufferable radio show personalities that drive the story forward.”
  • music171 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its varied and period-accurate soundtrack that enhances the immersive 1970s road trip atmosphere. While some players found the original tracks enjoyable and fitting for the racing segments, others criticized the repetitiveness and the quality of the radio hosts. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and player experience, despite some calls for more variety and customization options.

    • “Great soundtrack, and the themes hit really hard.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible and goes so well when you're racing strangers or outrunning police!”
    • “There's a brilliant thematic consistency in building on music (for races) and talk radio (for stories) so much, it really throws you into that road trip feeling.”
    • “Main radio personalities are awful, music varies but doesn't have enough to get you through the entire game without listening to the same songs more than a few times.”
    • “It's just the music tracks interspersed with all-too-crisp-and-not-at-all-processed-like-a-radio-sounding-audio segments by mostly zoomer DJs with almost nothing interesting or amusing to talk about.”
    • “The music was more miss than hit.”
  • gameplay170 mentions

    The gameplay of this 70s Americana 'roadtrip' game blends racing, strategic management, and narrative choices, creating a unique but polarizing experience. While some players appreciate the engaging story and replayability, others criticize the driving mechanics as simplistic and the gameplay loop as repetitive, often feeling more like a visual novel with minimal driving. The introduction of a fear mechanic adds tension, but its implementation has been deemed flawed, leading to mixed reviews on the overall gameplay depth and enjoyment.

    • “The story definitely takes center stage here, but the gameplay loop was addicting with high stakes that carry the story to be appreciated. Lots of replayability from a side quest standpoint, and although I clocked in 10.5 hours and some have beaten it in 6 hours, I'd say it's worth it on sale, but supporting the devs at full cost is cool too.”
    • “Awesome style, engaging narrative, chill soundtrack, thrilling gameplay.”
    • “Heading Out is a fantastic and immersive driving game mixed with a visual novel, with thoughtful story pieces and great gameplay.”
    • “What really put me off is the total lack of optimization and basic configuration limitations this game has considering its lackluster gameplay when driving.”
    • “Everything about this game was a dud; I couldn't handle how unfathomably uninspired (and boring) this gameplay/story was.”
    • “Advertised as a racing roguelike, but it's actually a visual novel with much less driving gameplay than expected.”
  • graphics99 mentions

    The game's graphics have been widely praised for their unique comic book art style, which effectively immerses players in a vibrant 1970s American road trip setting. Reviewers noted the striking aesthetic, likening it to works like Sin City, and appreciated the visual storytelling elements that enhance the narrative experience. However, some players pointed out issues with sharpness and performance, suggesting that while the art style is compelling, it could benefit from further refinement.

    • “The game did well immersing the player into the movie-esque 1970s American road trip setting with the graphics, having an American map that you can travel in, and mechanisms like the songs and state borders.”
    • “Superb looking art style, very well realized and solid stable performance.”
    • “Oh and the visuals are really great too, I especially liked the comic panel style graphics used in some of the cut scenes; it really brought the narrative alive more so than what you would expect with a lot of visual novels.”
    • “A second thing would be a bit of cleanup on the graphical side.”
    • “It is a fun game, but crashes at least every second run on Steam Deck no matter what graphical settings are used.”
    • “It does not have hyper-realistic graphics, it does not have overwhelmingly complicated systems, but it reaches 40-45 fps and even those are not stable.”
  • replayability29 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability. While many players appreciate the diverse story routes and the roguelike elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, some express disappointment with the repetitive race environments and lack of depth in asset development, leading to diminished interest after a few runs. However, the engaging gameplay loop and high-stakes racing keep some players returning for more, especially on higher difficulties or to explore missed storylines.

    • “Has replayability value - I will run it again on higher difficulty, also to see some stories missed during the first playthrough.”
    • “I would recommend this game for the replay value, since each playthrough you can choose whatever route you like, you will end up with different experiences along the way.”
    • “The roguelike nature of it, as well as the fact that the narrative portrayed actually changes based on the questions you answer at the beginning of each run, make it very replayable.”
    • “Just don't expect endless replay value.”
    • “Replayability is on hand to stretch out the lifespan, but I expect I’ll get more value out of the updates it gets.”
    • “The result is gripping, and there is an absolute ton of well-written scenarios to make that journey diverse, and add plenty of replayability.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by charismatic writing and characters, with a mix of comedic moments, poignant commentary, and parodic references that resonate well with many players. While some find the radio commentary and certain jokes hit-or-miss, the overall blend of humor and storytelling, particularly in small events and character interactions, adds to the game's charm. However, players with strong political biases may find the humor less appealing, especially if they oppose the game's liberal undertones.

    • “The game shines most in the small events on the road and in the towns, from those who actually moved me to others that are funny parodies of famous works.”
    • “And what a journey it was! Even if a bit short, it was really fun with good music and tons of events that kept the game interesting, with funny quirks on the radio or from the random events that made me smirk or laugh.”
    • “Comic book style, killer soundtrack, funny radio host, and a ton of interesting stories to explore.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting a lack of basic configuration options and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware and handheld devices like the Steam Deck. While the art style is praised and performance is generally stable, there are reports of eye strain and frame drops on higher settings, indicating a need for further optimization fixes. Overall, the game could benefit from better accessibility and performance enhancements to improve the player experience.

    • “Superb looking art style very well realized and solid stable performance.”
    • “Graphically interesting, good performance, and solid mechanics.”
    • “The game could have been optimized for far lower-end hardware just to let modern iGPUs handle it, so the game would have been far more accessible; even an obvious resolution selection would have been nice.”
    • “What really put me off is the total lack of optimization and basic configuration limitations this game has considering its lackluster gameplay when driving.”
    • “The game could have been optimized for far lower-end hardware just to let modern iGPUs handle it, making the game far more accessible. Even an obvious resolution selection would have been nice.”
    • “However, the game needs some optimization fixes.”
  • emotional15 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the personal and targeted nature of the villain's taunts, others find the character customization process forced and lacking cohesion. Despite these critiques, many players report feeling a genuine emotional connection to the story and characters, particularly during driving scenes that evoke personal reflections and stress. Overall, the game is recognized for its heartfelt moments, even if the execution of its emotional elements could be improved.

    • “Instead what I got with 'Heading Out' was loving the game driving for not how it felt to drive but for how it made me feel when driving.”
    • “One of the scenes I experienced, having low focus and driving over one of the conversation blips, showed my version of Jackie so tired, so stressed, and so emotional behind the wheel.”
    • “It also made me think about some personal stuff and I honestly got emotional.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its excellent visual style, soundtrack, and a strong sense of narrative, evoking a "Vanishing Point" vibe that enhances the overall experience. However, some players felt misled by marketing, expecting a more traditional driving game, only to find a story-driven visual novel with limited driving elements, leading to a sense of disappointment despite the atmospheric strengths. Overall, while the atmosphere is compelling, it may not satisfy those seeking a more action-oriented gameplay experience.

    • “Buy it if you want a racing game with a greater focus on story and atmosphere.”
    • “Excellent visual style, atmosphere, and soundtrack.”
    • “It was a dark, brooding, slow burn that was driven (no pun intended) by its atmosphere and the situations the protagonist got into.”
    • “This had the potential to be fun but whatever point the devs were trying to make with the story got in the way of an actual gameplay loop, atmosphere, and concept.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is perceived as inconsistent and forced, particularly due to the awkward implementation of a questionnaire that feels more like a settings menu than an organic part of the narrative. While some minor character interactions are well-crafted, the most compelling development comes from Joy, who grapples with her abusive marriage, showcasing a deeper emotional journey that stands out amidst the otherwise disjointed character design. Overall, the approach to character customization and backstory feels misaligned with the game's genre, leading to a sense of hollowness in character engagement.

    • “Joy, on the other hand, is struggling with getting away from an abusive marriage, and listening to her trying to understand her shifting views of everything is the most interesting character development in the game.”
    • “The minor characterizations we get in roadside events, where you have 2-4 options for a given situation, lead to pre-written responses and actions that create a charismatic, well-written character for the small amount of time they are present.”
    • “The villain taunts you with personal and targeted remarks, which adds depth to the character interactions, making the emotional impact stronger and more engaging.”
    • “This feels like a weird and largely non-cohesive character design. Although it's an interesting choice, it would be better in a more Silent Hill 3 or Until Dawn way, or even Fallout: New Vegas, where you answer generic psychological profiling questions in a more medical environment. Instead, it feels like a settings menu selecting whether you had a good relationship with your family. While it's nice that the villain taunts you with personal and targeted remarks, it seems forced that the game explicitly asks for these details at the start of every act, only to then try to shock you with them. This could have been alleviated by having the questionnaire be a big blank file filled out at the start before playing. There are ways this aspect of the story could have felt less forced and more like creating your character's backstory, which is part of the appeal in games like Fallout. The customization of a character seems misunderstood; it exists for a reason in the games it appears in, and when it doesn't, it feels hollow and pointless. This is a clear risk not worth taking in this project, and it feels like the idea guy was also the development guy. I still think it's a good game, but maybe there should've been someone to say, 'we're not trying to reinvent the wheel.'”
    • “The character development feels forced and lacks cohesion. The game asks for personal details at the start of every act, which seems unnecessary and detracts from the experience. It would have been more effective if the character's backstory was developed organically rather than through a questionnaire that feels like a settings menu. This approach makes the character customization feel hollow and pointless, as it doesn't align with the expectations set by other games that handle character development more effectively.”
    • “The character development in this game is disappointing. The way it tries to incorporate personal details feels contrived and lacks depth. Instead of creating a meaningful backstory, it feels like a checklist of personal traits that the game uses to shock you later. This method of character development doesn't resonate well and makes the experience feel less engaging. It seems like the developers misunderstood the purpose of character customization, leading to a hollow and unfulfilling experience.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, players report experiencing a few minor glitches, such as audio cutting out, but these issues do not significantly detract from their enjoyment of the game.

    • “There are a few glitches in the game; however, I had an amazing time with it.”
    • “There are some minor glitches, like audio cutting out.”
    • “There are a few glitches in the game; however, I had an amazing time with it.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is perceived as tedious and unenjoyable, often interrupted by loading screens. While it may appeal to those seeking a relaxing experience, many find the repetitive nature of the gameplay, particularly in farming simulations, to be overly dull.

    • “Every aspect of this game is tedious, unenjoyable, and separated by loading screens.”
    • “I highly suggest this game for people who want to relax a bit, but playing farming sim is just a bit too boring.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has led to disappointment among users, as many expected a traditional driving experience but instead encountered a resource management visual novel with minimal driving elements. This mismatch between expectations and reality has resulted in a perception of the game as lacking depth and engagement, despite its appealing atmosphere.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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