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Open Roads

Open Roads offer a window into being a parent and growing up. It's emotional, insightful, and beautifully designed with an engaging story.
Open Roads Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, character development
76% User Score Based on 252 reviews
Critic Score 67%Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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Open Roads Game Cover

About

Open Roads is a single player action game with drama, mystery and kids themes. It was developed by Open Roads Team and was released on March 28, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Open Roads, players join Tess and Opal Devine on a road trip to uncover family secrets. By exploring abandoned properties and uncovering hidden memories, they'll reveal a dark mystery and strengthen their bond. The game features notable performances by Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever.

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Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
Open Roads screenshot
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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 252 reviews
story115 positive mentions
gameplay5 negative mentions
  • Open Roads features beautiful visuals and a unique art style that combines 3D environments with 2D character sprites, creating a memorable aesthetic.
  • The voice acting is exceptional, with strong performances from the lead actresses that enhance the emotional depth of the story.
  • The game offers a heartfelt narrative about the mother-daughter relationship, exploring themes of family secrets and personal growth.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
  • Gameplay is limited and repetitive, often involving simple interactions that do not significantly impact the story or player experience.
  • The character animations are minimal and can feel disjointed, leading to a lack of emotional engagement during key dialogue moments.
  • story
    318 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Open Roads" centers on a mother-daughter road trip to uncover family secrets, featuring well-written dialogue and strong voice acting that enhances the emotional depth of their relationship. While the narrative is engaging and beautifully presented, many players found it to be short and somewhat predictable, lacking the depth and interactivity seen in similar titles like "Gone Home." Overall, it offers a cozy experience with a touching story, but some felt it could have explored its themes more thoroughly.

    • “The voice acting is crisp and enhances the script, really selling the complex relationship between Tess and her mother, and the way they circle around each other as the story picks up is very well done.”
    • “It's touching, incredibly well-written, and an engaging story about a family, told through the lens of the women of that family.”
    • “The premise of a mother-daughter road trip to uncover a hidden family secret was very intriguing to me and fits perfectly with Fullbright's style of storytelling through letters and environmental cues.”
    • “There might have been a decent story under all the dialogue, but I just could not be bothered to go digging for it.”
    • “The story pretends to be a mystery or a detective but reveals itself like a simple parent-child drama with no deep moral or philosophy.”
    • “The story isn't explored in any depth at all.”
  • graphics
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game feature a unique blend of hand-drawn aesthetics and 3D environments, which some players find intriguing while others feel it lacks depth due to static character animations. While the environments are often praised for their beauty and detail, the character designs and animations have received mixed reviews, with some describing them as lackluster or reminiscent of older animation styles. Overall, the visuals are considered appealing, but technical issues and a lack of dynamic character movement detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics for the environments were highly detailed and quite stunning, but the character animations in this environment just felt odd to me.”
    • “The mixed art styles are very unique and beautiful to look at, the ambient/background sounds were amazing, and the voice acting was great.”
    • “Loved the mystery and amazing visuals it had to offer, it kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end.”
    • “I was put off by the art style as well.”
    • “Also, I found it technically lacking with a lot of juddering visuals as I moved around (full disclosure: I played this on launch day, so this may have been patched by the time you read this).”
    • “Open Roads is a game that relies heavily on a lo-fi aesthetic, but all that ambiance is surface level and doesn’t offer actual substance.”
  • emotional
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the games, particularly those from Annapurna Interactive, is often described as charming and heartwarming, with engaging narratives that resonate with players. However, some reviews indicate that certain titles may lack depth in emotional impact, with characters that feel realistic but fail to elicit strong feelings due to limitations in animation and storytelling. Overall, while many players appreciate the heartfelt journeys and intimate themes, there are mixed opinions on the effectiveness of the emotional engagement in some games.

    • “It's touching, incredibly well-written and an engaging story about a family, told through the lens of the women of that family.”
    • “The way this game provides both an emotional and mental impact is unlike anything I have witnessed before.”
    • “Impactful, touching, and intimate, I was captivated enough by Open Roads to finish it in one sitting, though I won't say it was a long experience by any means.”
  • gameplay
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing it for being limited, repetitive, and lacking depth, particularly in its mechanics and interactivity. While some appreciate the effort put into the story and character interactions, the overall experience is described as heavy on plot but light on engaging gameplay, leading to dissatisfaction, especially given the price for a short playtime. Overall, it feels like an unpolished product that could benefit from further development.

    • “In Open Roads, the core gameplay remains true to form with optional commentary from player character Tess's mother when you interact with objects.”
    • “It feels like an unpolished diamond that with a few more iterations of both story and gameplay could have been great.”
    • “I hoped Open Roads might feature a more expansive story or more varied gameplay because, as it is, it's a short and serviceable adventure game rather than a particularly memorable experience.”
    • “Boring story, boring mechanics, boring game design.”
    • “Heavy on plot and detail, light on gameplay.”
    • “Limited and repetitive gameplay-wise; the slow turning circle – Tess needs some ibuprofen for those knees of hers.”
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack and overall audio effects, while others criticize the lifelessness of the ambient flute music and the absence of essential radio songs for a more immersive road trip experience. Although the nostalgic elements from the early 2000s are appreciated, the execution of the music, particularly in syncing with voice acting and pacing, leaves room for improvement. Overall, the soundtrack is rated around 7/10, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

    • “The story, the surroundings (takes you into believable worlds of 2003 and 1968), the cartoony graphics, the two likable main characters and all the ones we get to learn about over the course of the game, the music, the professional voicing, humor, everything is ten out of ten here.”
    • “The music, locations, story, and characters were great.”
    • “This game is set in 2003 and hits some fun nostalgia beats from that era (flip phones, soundtrack, easter eggs, etc.) but does not smack you over the head with 'the year is 2003, aren't you entertained by that?' like some titles would.”
    • “The flute ambient soundtrack is annoyingly lifeless and lacks emotion.”
    • “They even missed playing the essential radio songs during the car rides, which is a must-have for a road trip experience; why not add some nice early 2000 indie tracks?”
    • “Running around watching 3D models of various junk while looking for the important bits is a time sink and doesn't help the pacing of the story; the music was handled poorly, both with radios and at the end.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight that while the game's narrative may not reach the heights of similar titles, the optimization of voice acting is exceptional, with standout performances from Kaitlyn Dever and Keri Russell. The combination of beautifully crafted dialogue and evocative environmental storytelling enhances the overall experience, making the game engaging and emotionally resonant. Overall, the optimization of character interactions and performances significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The actors' performances for the voice overs were top notch, and honestly that is what really made the game good.”
    • “Despite that, the two main characters have an engaging mother-daughter relationship that makes the game worth playing, in no small part thanks to the excellent actresses and their performances.”
    • “[Beautifully crafted dialogue, great performances from Kaitlyn Dever and Keri Russell, eye-popping art style, strong themes of family and grief.]”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its beautiful art and immersive quality, effectively transporting players into the story's events. Many reviewers appreciate the calm and nostalgic vibe reminiscent of the 80s, though some express disappointment over the short duration of the experience, questioning its value for the price.

    • “The art is wonderful and the atmosphere really helps you feel like you're actually experiencing the events happening within the story.”
    • “I grew up in the 80s, so a lot of things are familiar and have a great atmosphere of a bygone era.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the 2D character design in the visual novel effectively contrasts with the 3D backgrounds, there is a notable lack of animations during dialogue, which detracts from the overall character development experience. Users express a desire for more attention to physical character design to enhance immersion.

    • “You would expect more attention to physical character design as it is a visual novel.”
    • “The 2D character design against 3D backgrounds kind of works, but the lack of animations during dialogue is very noticeable.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highly praised, with players appreciating its clever interactions and comedic moments, such as a particularly amusing scene involving a suspended vase. The combination of engaging characters, vibrant graphics, and professional voice acting further enhances the overall comedic experience, contributing to a perfect score in this aspect.

    • “The story, the surroundings (takes you into believable worlds of 2003 and 1968), the cartoony graphics, the two likable main characters and all the ones we get to learn about over the course of the game, the music, the professional voicing, humor, everything is ten out of ten here.”
    • “With the way I could interact with the objects, I had one very funny scene where a vase hung awkwardly suspended in the background that I particularly enjoyed.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the inability to explore while engaging in conversations, which leads to repetitive interactions with the same animated characters. This limitation contributes to a sense of monotony in the gameplay experience.

    • “The grinding feels endless, and it quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged; it feels more like a job than a game.”
    • “The forced grinding takes away from the exploration and enjoyment, leaving players feeling stuck in a loop.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for its brevity and lacks significant replay value, making it less appealing for players seeking extended engagement.

    • “It's short and offers little to no replay value.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there's no incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of Open Roads has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling that the game falls short of expectations, likening it to a walking simulator rather than a more engaging experience. Overall, the game's promotional materials may not fully align with player desires for deeper gameplay.

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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 26 critic reviews
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Open Roads is a action game with drama, mystery and kids themes.

Open Roads is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Open Roads.

Open Roads was released on March 28, 2024.

Open Roads was developed by Open Roads Team.

Open Roads has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Open Roads is a single player game.

Similar games include Tacoma, Marie's Room, Gone Home, This Bed We Made, Firewatch and others.