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Road Not Taken

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2014

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Quick resume

Road Not Taken is a roguelike puzzle game about surviving life’s surprises. You play as a ranger adventuring through a vast, unforgiving forest in the aftermath of a brutal winter storm, rescuing children who have lost their way.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Indie, Puzzle, Adventure

Pros

  • Unique blend of puzzle and roguelike mechanics
  • Beautiful art and atmospheric music
  • Deep narrative and emotional themes
  • High replayability with procedural generation
  • Meaningful character relationships and customization

Cons

  • Steep difficulty curve can frustrate some players
  • Randomness sometimes leads to unsolvable puzzles
  • Limited multiplayer or cooperative features
  • Some repetition in level elements over time
  • Lack of undo feature can be punishing

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players have freedom to choose strategies, relationships, and how to approach puzzles; multiple solutions exist for levels."

  • Competence
    4

    "Challenging puzzles requiring skillful planning and mastery of mechanics; difficulty ramps up significantly."

  • Competition
    -3

    "Focus is on personal progress and puzzle solving rather than direct competition; leaderboards exist but not central."

  • Continuation
    3

    "High replay value with procedural generation and multiple playthroughs encouraged; some find it addictive."

  • Cooperation
    -4

    "Primarily a single-player experience; interaction with NPCs is indirect and not cooperative gameplay."

  • Creativity
    4

    "Strong emphasis on experimenting with item combinations and crafting; many possible interactions."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are equal and narrative-driven."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players use the game to immerse in a poetic, atmospheric world distinct from real life; emotional engagement noted."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation; no pressure or obligation reported."

  • Experimenting
    5

    "Encouraged to try new item combinations and strategies; discovery is a core gameplay element."

  • Exploration
    3

    "Procedurally generated levels and secrets encourage discovery; some repetition but mostly new layouts."

  • Expression
    3

    "Character appearance and gender can be customized through choices; relationships add personalization."

  • Fantasy
    3

    "Game features imaginative elements like spirits, magic, and folklore creatures in a stylized setting."

  • Fellowship
    2

    "Some social interaction with NPCs and relationship building, but mostly solitary gameplay."

  • Growth
    4

    "Players learn new recipes, strategies, and improve skills over multiple playthroughs."

  • Health
    -4

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions but no exercise."

  • Idle
    -3

    "Requires focused attention and planning; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy
    3

    "Players can form meaningful relationships with NPCs including romance; emotional investment noted."

  • Leadership
    -4

    "No leadership roles; player acts individually without managing or directing others."

  • Progression
    4

    "Progression through unlocking items, recipes, and relationships; some permanent upgrades between runs."

  • Relaxation
    1

    "Atmospheric and calming art and music, but gameplay can be tense and challenging."

  • Sensation
    2

    "Enjoyable art style and music provide sensory pleasure; some emotional highs and lows."

  • Status
    -3

    "Limited social recognition; achievements and leaderboards exist but social status is not a focus."

  • Story
    4

    "Narrative and character dialogue enrich the experience; story themes are mature and poetic."

  • Strategy
    5

    "Strong emphasis on planning, problem solving, and adapting to random elements."

  • Thrill
    2

    "Some suspense from permadeath and difficult puzzles; tension balanced with rewarding gameplay."

  • Value
    3

    "Players perceive good value from depth, replayability, and emotional engagement."

  • Violence
    -4

    "No focus on combat or destruction; gameplay centers on rescue and puzzle solving."

  • Survival
    4

    "Energy management and avoiding failure are core mechanics; survival is a key theme."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026