Play Road 96 while we wait to see if the USA implodes

Fingers crossed it doesn't.

Tomorrow — at least here in Australia — is the day marked for the USA election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. In reality, we’ll need to wait until late in the day on Wednesday locally to begin to see what’s happening with their vote.

We won’t go fully political here, but as a site that champions queer games, writers, and creators: the choice is obvious. Honestly, we’re surprised things are going to be this close.

Enter Road 96, a 2021 adventure title by French studio DigixArt. It centres around a fictional country in which corporate greed reigns, and the well-to-do continually — and seemingly, unendingly — simply do better. Teenagers go missing quite frequently, reportedly either sent to the pits or escaping to a neighbouring country, all because they have no say in the dictatorship that masquerades itself as democracy.

Sounding familiar yet? If it isn’t immediately, perhaps it’s a taste of things to come.

If you haven’t played Road 96, I would highly recommend it. It’s currently part of PlayStation Plus Extra and above, and — whilst recently featured on Xbox Game Pass — is now a lean, mean $25 AUD purchase. With heavily political undertones, it’s also full of compelling characters that may or may not be far more connected than you initially realise.

Above all else, your decisions matter; my choices, as you can see in the image above, stressed the importance of protesting, of voting, and of making sure you voice was heard. Americans, godspeed. And actually, let’s just say it out loud: vote Harris to protect the rights of so, so many minorities and to allow women control over their own bodies. In 2024, do we actually need to say this explicitly?

Road 96 is available on Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, and Switch. Check it out.