Few things in the world are as liberating as hitting the road for a long-distance trip. Especially when taking a break from the daily grind of work and daily responsibilities, a road trip accompanied by the right people can be a perfect way to recalibrate oneself with who they are and what life has to offer. It’s no wonder why so many games, from the cross-country high speeds of The Crew, the narrative poignancy and intimacy of 2024’s Open Roads, or even the cel-shaded charm of last year’s Caravan Sandwich, have tried replicating that spectacle in virtual form.
But few games nail that sense of “anything can happen” as well as this week’s most interesting new addition to Xbox Game Pass, Road 96. This clever mix of modern adventure games, roguelike elements, tabletop-inspired role-playing mechanics, and fantastic world-building makes for one of the best indies available on the service, and a perfect game to burn through during the January release 2025 lull.
