Broken Roads: A Truly Australian Post-Apocalyptic CRPG

Starting as a road trip through a typical post-apocalyptic setting, the upcoming CRPG Broken Roads has transformed into a truly authentic representation of Australian culture. This unique aspect has quickly become a major attraction for the game, as stated by its developers.

While it is not uncommon for roleplaying games to take place in a world after its demise, titles like Fallout, Wasteland, and Horizon have all approached the concept with their own unique twists to create unforgettable post-apocalyptic experiences. However, despite the variations in gameplay mechanics, storytelling, and the actual cause of the world's end among the numerous franchises in the post-apocalyptic RPG genre, the majority of these stories tend to revolve around North American experiences.

In a recent interview with Our website, Craig Ritchie, co-founder of developer Drop Bear Bytes, revealed that the developers of Indie game Broken Roads quickly recognized the untapped potential of an apocalypse in the Australian Outback. This realization has garnered the game significant acclaim, particularly among Wheatbelt gamers who resonate with the game's setting.

During PAX Australia a few weeks ago, Western Australian players were thrilled to discover various landmarks in our game. It was unbelievable for us to see these lesser-known locations featured in the game. The response from Australians has been overwhelmingly positive, and we hope international players will find it equally enjoyable and engaging.

In Broken Roads, the Wheatbelt region is meticulously recreated with close attention to detail. Our developers studied thousands of photos of the area to ensure an accurate representation. Every aspect, from the ground color to the plants and buildings, has been faithfully recreated through extensive research. The game's sound design also captures the true essence of Australia. The sounds of birds and the wind rustling through the trees at Wave Rock were recorded on-site and integrated into the game. The game's creatures are authentically Australian, albeit some have been influenced by the post-nuclear world that has reshaped the Wheatbelt in Broken Roads. Real-world towns such as Brookton and Merredin have also been included in the game, with a post-apocalyptic twist. Additionally, buildings within the game mirror their real-world counterparts in their respective locations.

Broken Roads was developed in collaboration with the Victoria State Government and Film Victoria Australia. However, Drop Bear Bytes formed a significant partnership with the indigenous Noongar people from Western Australia. The developers reached out to various First Nations groups across Australia and received a range of responses. But it was the partnerships with the Noongar community that proved to be the most important.

It was essential for us to engage with individuals from the region. Over the years, we've been fortunate enough to have several people help us with character design, artwork improvement, dialogue writing, and the inclusion of traditional and dream time stories within the game. We even incorporated unique artwork commissioned specifically for the game from various Aboriginal artists.

It was crucial for the Drop Bear Bytes team to honor the narratives of Australians, and it would be empty and incomplete without incorporating the Noongar stories that are intricately entwined within the fabric of the Wheatbelt region. Collaborating with Aboriginal communities was indispensable in authentically and respectfully portraying these stories, and Ritchie expressed how much he learned from this process. While these stories may not be the central focus of the game, they added a crucial dimension to the overall narrative.

The process started prior to writing any code, as Ritchie clarified. It involved shifting the game's focus from a generic post-apocalyptic setting to Australia during the initial stages of development.

Within the first four to six weeks, it transformed from a generic post-apocalyptic road trip to a road trip specifically set in post-apocalyptic Australia. Eventually, it evolved into a highly focused narrative-driven RPG, centered in a specific region of Western Australia.

That transition occurred as Ritchie and the team experienced a series of realizations early on. The initial road trip evolved into a journey across Australia, and as they focused on the studio's environment, their scope narrowed further. They first focused on Western Australia and then specifically on the Wheatbelt and the surrounding area of Brookton and Merredin. The Wheatbelt, a farming and mining community in Western Australia, provided plenty of material for the post-apocalyptic setting of Broken Roads.

However, if the game's Australian elements confuse international audiences, Broken Roads possesses a feature similar to Final Fantasy 16's Active Time Lore. Instead of explaining fictional world backstories, the game's encyclopedia offers explanations of Australian slang, terms, and the implications of using "mate" in a threatening manner.

Broken Roads releases November 14 for PC, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the release of Broken Roads, an upcoming CRPG set in a post-apocalyptic Western Australia. The game's developers, Drop Bear Bytes, have taken great care to accurately represent the unique landscape and culture of the Wheatbelt region. From the ground color to the plants and buildings, every aspect of the game has been meticulously recreated through extensive research. The game's sound design also captures the true essence of Australia, with the sounds of birds and the wind rustling through the trees at Wave Rock recorded on-site.

I appreciate that the developers have worked closely with the indigenous Noongar people from Western Australia to incorporate their stories and culture into the game. This collaboration has resulted in a more authentic and respectful portrayal of the Wheatbelt region. I believe that Broken Roads will be a unique and immersive experience for gamers of all ages.