If you’re a fan of story-rich games, old-school text-based role-playing games, and/or immersive fantasy world-building with finely written characters, then BUY this game. I do not write reviews very often, but I felt compelled to because of my love of this game. You will get more than your money’s worth. If you are not yet convinced, then read on for a more detailed review.

As an avid fan of role-playing games and fantasy storytelling, I can tell you with certainty that Roadwarden is one of the finest games of the genre that I’ve ever played. It’s amazing and quite impressive what the developer managed to accomplish with a few expertly utilized tools: beautifully understated yet evocative music, tasteful and nostalgic (of classic text-based RPGs) illustrations, magnificently realistic characters whose lack of fantasy-trope pretensions is very welcome, and an immersive and wondrous fantasy world. I truly hope there is a return to this world and style of game by the developer; more role-playing games could really stand to learn from Roadwarden.

It's a sad fact that many modern RPGs dump excessive resources into graphical fidelity and overly complicated progression systems (which do not always improve the quality of the gameplay experience) while neglecting the bread-and-butter of the genre: storytelling, world-building, and characters. Roadwarden does no such thing. It does not waste your time with lengthy tutorials or excessive explainers either. A reference for the world and characters you discover is available should you need it, but it throws you into the world quickly, expecting you to learn.

The game communicates more through its marvelous use of tone and atmosphere; a great deal is communicated through subtext. It immediately imparts to you the danger of being a Roadwarden, your purpose in arriving on the peninsula, and plenty of flavor text to provide you with a sense of the role you might wish to play as you proceed on your adventure. You learn caution of the roads early while slowly developing the wisdom of when to take risks. Should you risk further exploration into the wilds or disengage for another day? Should you trust a new character or withhold what you know until later at the risk of alienating a potential ally? Progression is often in the form of learning, and it feels organic. The game provides you with many opportunities to explore the literal landscape as well as the broader historical, spiritual, and emotional landscape of the world and its characters. Each unravels slowly and profoundly; the pace of the story’s development is measured, and your relationships with the characters and the world is felt through their changes in attitude toward you. You will not find the towns and tribes you come across eager to welcome an outsider, to reveal their secrets, and they will not waste time or resources on you (without reason) as you are not the main character of their world. Avoiding this trope alone is part of why I love Roadwarden.

Management of your inventory is essential in this game, and wasteful or unintelligent use of it will divert your progress as will unintended dialogue choices. This doesn’t ruin the experience, however; the game progresses, and you change from seeing the consequences of your successes or failures. You can always feel free to save scum aggressively, but like with most RPGs, this comes at the cost of immersion. I did not feel the need to do so with this game as its world was so compelling, I could not help but allow my mistakes to define my character’s journey.

I could go on, but the review is too long already. The game’s themes are subtle, melancholic, and poignant. I won’t spoil anything, but the game does an excellent job of portraying the historical and material impacts of trauma as well as layering with significance the roads that carve through the wilderness and darkness of nature with promises of connections, wealth, and fortune while exacting a cost of their own.

Do yourself a favor. Get this game.