Open Roads is a short family drama video game that leaves a big impact

Sometimes, it takes a tragedy to connect with your family.

That idea kicks off Open Roads, the latest indie published by Annapurna Interactive. The short narrative adventure begins with Tess, a young adult growing up in the wake of September 11, 2001, sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after she passes away. That somber process gives way to a domestic mystery that sends Tess and her mother, Opal, on a road trip to discover the family’s secret past.

But it’s not just about unearthing some juicy gossip; the road trip provides a key bonding moment between mother and daughter. That heartfelt story powers a modest narrative adventure game about how confronting the past together can strengthen our connections with one another.

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Leaving home

Open Roads, which experienced some upheaval whenFullBright co-founder Steve Gaynor left the project after being accused of fostering a toxic work environment in 2021, doesn’t waste a second of its tight, movie-length runtime. As soon as I start it, I’m introduced to its narrative gameplay hook, which plays like an evolution ofGone Home. The first scene has me walking around Tess’ room and packing up objects. Each one I pick up reveals a bit more of the backdrop. A news clipping about September 11 tells me where I am. An invoice for Tess’ design work gives me a sense of what she does. Every object and stray note has a story to tell.

That idea escalates when I head up to my grandmother’s attic and discover a suitcase carefully hidden in a wall. When I open it, I discover what appears to be a note from a secret lover. Tess convinces her mother, Opal (voiced by Keri Russell) to try and figure out the truth. An impromptu road trip commences, one that begins to unravel the strained