Open Roads
A mother-daughter road trip unravels family secrets.
Open Roads is a 2024 adventure mystery-thriller video game from the Open Roads Team, published by Annapurna Interactive. It launched on March 28, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever provide the lead voice performances. Critics gave the game mixed reviews.
The gameplay is a walking simulator. Players control Tess, exploring environments and inspecting objects. Certain items trigger hand-drawn cutscenes where Tess discusses them with her mother, Opal. Some conversations use a dialogue tree, and player choices can slightly affect later discussions. Locked areas require finding alternate ways to enter.
The story is set in 2003. Sixteen-year-old Tess Devine (Dever) helps her single mother Opal (Russell) clear out their Greenville, Michigan home after the death of Opal’s mother, Helen, as the house is sold. In the attic, Tess finds a hidden suitcase containing a small key and a postcard to Helen from an unnamed man, hinting at a romantic relationship after Helen’s husband Leo died of a heart attack. Opal mentions a family summer house, so Tess suggests the key fits something there and persuades Opal to take a road trip to investigate. During the drive, Opal struggles to find a new home and avoids discussing her divorce.
At the derelict summer house, Tess and Opal use the key to open Helen’s rolltop desk. Inside is a note with an address in Ontario, Canada, and a message suggesting the writer, Pierre Lautrec, is actually Opal’s biological father. Tess convinces Opal to extend the trip to Canada. On the way, Tess—who has a good relationship with her father—upsets Opal, who reveals she divorced her husband because he wanted to move to Nevada to become a professional poker player. Tess admits she has already bought plane tickets to visit him.
At the Canadian address, they find an abandoned houseboat with signs that Pierre was preparing for Helen to move there with Opal and her sister, and that he may have been involved in Michigan burglaries. Tess finds a mailbox key and retrieves a returned letter Pierre tried to send to a Michigan police department. In it, he confesses to the burglaries and reveals he is actually Leo, who faked his death with Helen’s knowledge, escaping to Canada to prepare a life for the family. Helen backed out at the last minute, leaving him alone.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Open Roads
- Developer
- Open Roads Team
- Publisher
- Annapurna Interactive
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch
- Released
- March 28, 2024
- Genre
- Adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Open Roads is primarily a walking simulator: the player, as Tess, traverses environments and inspects objects. Certain objects prompt hand-drawn cutscenes where Tess discusses them with her mother Opal; some conversations involve a dialogue tree with options that occasionally alter future conversations. Areas may be locked, requiring the player to find other ways to enter.
The plot is set in 2003. Sixteen-year-old Theresa 'Tess' Devine helps her single mother Opal clear out their home in Greenville, Michigan after the death of Opal's mother Helen. Tess finds a hidden compartment with a suitcase containing a small key and a postcard implying Helen had a romantic relationship after her husband Leo died. Tess theorizes the key opens something at the family's summer house and convinces Opal to take a road trip. At the summer house, they find a note with an address in Ontario, Canada, suggesting the man writing it, Pierre Lautrec, is Opal's real father. They extend the trip to Canada, where they find a run-down houseboat with signs that Pierre was preparing for Helen to move there and may have been involved in burglaries. A returned letter reveals Pierre is actually Leo, who faked his death with Helen's knowledge. Tess theorizes Pierre/Leo may still be alive, but Opal decides to head back, thanking Tess for seeking the truth.
Development was announced on December 10, 2020, at The Game Awards 2020, created by the same team behind Gone Home. Development began under Fullbright; in August 2021, a Polygon report alleged toxic behavior by founder Steve Gaynor causing team departures. In May 2023, Gaynor announced he was no longer working on Open Roads, and development would be credited to The Open Roads Team at launch, while Gaynor retained the Fullbright name. The game was initially scheduled for February 22, 2024, but was delayed to March 28.
Reader's Guide
Open Roads received 'mixed or average' reviews on Metacritic, with OpenCritic reporting 37% critic recommendation. CGMagazine gave it an 8 out of 10, describing it as a heartfelt and captivating journey made more interesting by its mother-daughter leads, with endearing characters and a genuine sense of style. The game's significance lies in its narrative-driven walking simulator format, continuing the tradition of the Gone Home development team. Its legacy is tied to the behind-the-scenes controversy surrounding Steve Gaynor's departure and the formation of the Open Roads Team, which shaped the game's final release. The mixed critical reception reflects a divergence in opinion on its execution, though its voice acting by Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever was a notable feature. The game's exploration of family secrets and a road trip mystery offers a contained, character-focused experience that resonated with some critics more than others.
Did You Know?
- Open Roads was developed by the same team behind Gone Home.
- The game was delayed from February 22, 2024, to March 28, 2024.
- Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever voice the mother-daughter leads Opal and Tess.
- The plot involves a character who faked his death with his wife's knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Open Roads?
Open Roads is an adventure mystery-thriller released in March 2024 that centers on a mother and daughter taking a road trip that slowly peels back layers of family secrets. The Open Roads Team developed the title, with Annapurna Interactive handling publication.
Who provides the voice performances in Open Roads?
Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever deliver the two lead vocal roles, bringing the mother-daughter dynamic at the heart of the game to life.
How does the gameplay in Open Roads work?
You play as Tess in a walking-sim style, moving through locations and inspecting objects to progress the narrative. Picking up specific items kicks off hand-drawn cutscenes where Tess and her mother Opal talk them through together, with some exchanges branching through a dialogue-tree system.
What platforms is Open Roads available on?
The game shipped simultaneously on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on March 28, 2024.
How was Open Roads received by critics?
Reviews for the title were mixed, with critics offering a range of opinions on its story and presentation.
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