Broken Roads

Pro

• Rich, engaging narrative with a unique Australian setting
• Original morality system that impacts dialogue and decisions
• Numerous character development options through a classless system

Con

• Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unbalanced
• Linear progression in the early game stages
• Characters and narrative don't always leave a lasting impression

Review

Broken Roads offers a journey across a post-apocalyptic Australia that's as harsh as it is captivating. At its core, the game is a tribute to classic role-playing, blending time-honored RPG mechanics with innovative new features, like an intriguing morality system rooted in philosophy - the Moral Compass. This system calls for weighty decision-making that can significantly alter the game's progression and enriches the storytelling with complex ethical dilemmas. The character development is robust and flexible since the game eschews rigid class structures for more organic skill progression, allowing players to mold their survivors in myriad ways. However, engaging with the game's combative encounters often feels more tedious than thrilling, hampered by clunkiness and a lack of balance. Early on, the game walks players down a straight path, leaving little to the imagination or exploration until later. Additionally, while the narrative aims high and occasionally hits its mark with poignant moments and local color, it seldom achieves the narrative heights reached by genre luminaries. Broken Roads is for the player who relishes moral pondering and patient world-building, but may fall short for those seeking immediate gratification or more polished gameplay.

Background information

Opinions on Broken Roads are certainly divided within the critic community. Try Hard Guides appreciates the game for its 'charming' and 'incredibly engaging' narrative, suggesting it's likely to leave emotional impacts on its players. Meanwhile, outlets like RPG Fan find the challenges presented by the game both 'fascinating and frustrating.' On the slightly more critical end, IGN Italia and PCGamesN point out that the game's combat and character development do not reach their full potential, especially when compared to poignant narrative adventures like Disco Elysium or Pentiment. With lesser scores, Shacknews and Gamepressure find the narrative and gameplay lacking, suggesting that potential is muddled by a murky execution that does not match the ambition of its ideas.

Screenshots