The Politics of Escape: A Deep Dive into Road 96’s Themes

Road 96, the 2021 indie breakout from French studio DigixArt, is more than a story-driven road trip game. It’s a political allegory, a meditation on freedom, and a reflection of the difficult moral choices faced under authoritarian regimes. Road 96 follows a rotating cast of teenage runaways who risk everything to cross the border to freedom and are set in the fictional nation of Petria, which is ensnared in the grip of a repressive government. Road 96 uses these cultural anxieties with surprising nuance at a time when questions about democracy, youth activism, and civil resistance are more relevant than ever. Beneath its stylized graphics and synth-heavy soundtrack lies a game with a lot on its mind. Through its characters, branching dialogue, and layered narrative structure, Road 96 explores what it means to live under oppression—and what it means to resist it.

A Nation in Crisis: The Fictional World of Petria

Petria is a nation on the edge. With a presidential election looming, tensions are high between those who support the corrupt regime of President Tyrak and those backing the grassroots resistance movement led by Florres. Through radio broadcasts, propaganda posters, and conversations with NPCs, players are constantly reminded of the stakes: Petria is not just divided—it’s breaking.

This backdrop allows Road 96 to address political extremism, media control, wealth inequality, and state violence—all without feeling heavy-handed. The game doesn't force players to take a specific stance; instead, it gives you the freedom to engage with these issues through your own decisions. Will you support the resistance? Try to stay neutral? Or simply escape and survive?

The game’s brilliance lies in how it never treats politics as background noise. It’s the engine that drives every decision, every risk, and every encounter.

The Border as a Depiction of Fear and Freedom The title “Road 96” refers to the fabled highway that leads to the border—Petria’s last hope for freedom. But getting there is never easy. Each character’s journey is shaped by procedurally generated events, where transportation, money, health, and trust play crucial roles. Some teens walk for days, others hitchhike or steal cars. Each decision inches them closer to escape—or disaster.

The border is more than a physical line; it’s the ultimate metaphor in the game. For some characters, it represents the promise of a better life. It's the terrifying edge of the known world for others. And for the regime, it’s a security threat—one that must be protected at all costs, often violently.

By making the border both a goal and a danger, Road 96 cleverly reflects real-world anxieties around immigration, asylum, and the desperation that drives people to flee their homelands.

Youth as the Catalyst for Change

The power and vulnerability of youth is one of the game's most compelling themes. The protagonists are all teenagers, many barely old enough to drive, yet they are burdened with the enormous task of escaping an oppressive system that adults have either upheld or failed to fix.

This focus on youth is not accidental. In real-world revolutions, young people have often played leading roles, from climate strikes to protests against police brutality and authoritarianism. Road 96 captures that spirit of youthful rebellion, but also its raw fear and confusion.

Characters like Zoe, who comes from a privileged background, gradually awaken to the reality of the country’s injustices. Others, like Alex, use their intellect and technology skills to challenge the system. Each teen’s story reveals a different face of resistance—some loud and bold, others quiet and personal.

And yet, not every teen is a freedom fighter. Some just want to survive. This diversity of perspective gives Road 96 emotional honesty. It doesn’t glorify resistance—it humanizes it.

The Price of Survival and Moral Ambiguity In most narrative games, morality is presented in clear binaries: good vs. evil, hero vs. villain. But Road 96 lives in the grey area. Players are often forced to make difficult choices—do you steal from someone if it means surviving another day? Do you assist a stranger, even if it jeopardizes your own safety? The game does not offer any judgment because these decisions are rarely simple. There’s no morality meter, no “bad ending” for doing what you must to survive. Instead, Road 96 invites you to wrestle with the implications of your actions, both for yourself and for the country.

The recurring NPCs are also affected by this moral ambiguity. Fanny, a police officer, believes she’s doing the right thing by enforcing the law, even as the regime tightens its grip. It is revealed that Jarod, a menacing figure, has suffered greatly from the system. Even characters like Tyrak and Florres are shown through the lens of propaganda and media distortion, leaving players to question what’s real and what’s not.

The game creates space for critical thinking, empathy, and reflection—qualities that are frequently absent from conventional video game narratives—by blurring these lines. The Impact of Media and Public Relations The influence of the media is a particularly strong thematic undercurrent in Road 96. Radio stations, billboards, and even casual conversations are shaped by state messaging. The game illustrates how information is weaponized in authoritarian regimes—not just to control citizens, but to create division and fear.

Throughout the game, players can disrupt propaganda—hacking broadcasts, spray-painting signs, or spreading flyers. These small acts of defiance reinforce the idea that even symbolic resistance matters. And by giving the player control over these actions, Road 96 makes political engagement feel accessible, even empowering.

It also raises questions about media manipulation in our own world. How do we know what’s true? Who benefits from misinformation? And how do we, as media consumers, contribute to the cycle? Intersectionality in Storytelling

The game doesn't shy away from looking at other layers of identity and injustice, despite its focus on political escape. Through side stories and character backstories, Road 96 touches on themes of poverty, privilege, family trauma, and loss.

For instance, Alex’s story as a tech prodigy orphaned by the government is as much about grief as it is about rebellion. Zoe’s struggle with her identity and her father's role in the regime raises questions of complicity. These aren’t just political stories—they’re personal ones. And that intersection of the political and the personal is where the game shines brightest.

By weaving these themes together, Road 96 acknowledges that no struggle exists in isolation. Oppression is widespread, and resistance frequently begins with personal suffering. Conclusion: A Revolution in Game Design

Road 96 is not just a game about escaping a country—it’s a game about understanding it. About understanding yourself within it. And about understanding the impossible choices people make when there’s no safety, no justice, and no clear right path.

By blending procedural generation with deeply human storytelling, Road 96 offers a unique look at the politics of escape. It doesn’t preach. It invites. It gives players the space to think, to feel, and to act—not as invincible heroes, but as vulnerable, hopeful, scared teenagers trying to make it out alive.

In a world where political narratives are more important than ever, Road 96 proves that games can be more than just entertainment. They can be conversation starters. They can be mirrors. And sometimes, they can be road maps to something better.