Most branching narrative games will have you make choices that will later affect the events of your playthrough. But what if what you did affects someone else’s?
DigixArt, the minds behind narrative adventure Road 96 announced their new game at the June 2025 State Of Play showcase, Tides Of Tomorrow. Set on an oceanic planet called Elynd, players are a Tidewalker, and they must travel through the various floating towns and villages in order to find a cure for a lethal disease that is threatened the existence of humankind.
Similar to Road 96, this first-person adventure will have you make choices, and every decision will affect how the folks around see you, and more importantly, other players.
This is because your playthrough of Tides Of Tomorrow isn’t just affected by your own actions, but of other players’ as well. You can choose to follow another player’s footsteps, either your friend, some streamer or just random strangers, and you’ll have to deal with the consequences of their actions.
An example of this is shown in the reveal trailer. A Tidewalker was stealing the cure for the disease, only to find that they’re doing the same thing as another Tidewalker, who already beat them to it. A consequence of following another player too closely. You can also pick which floating town to go based on who went there. You could also take the road not taken in high-pressure situations, while being chased by guards… though in the example seen in the trailer, you get caught instead of making an escape. Should’ve followed Sarah46_ on that one.
“Just like in Road 96, narrative is at the heart of the experience,” said Adrien Poncet, Game Director. “In this ruthless ocean world, you play as Tidewalkers, who witness echoes of other players’ actions. You will have to deal with the consequences of their choices – it’s up to you to cooperate… or to make waves!”
This isn’t a multiplayer game where a group plays together, it’s an asymmetrical multiplayer game, rather.
It’s a fascinating twist to usual “actions have consequences” gimmick these narrative adventure games have. But knowing this is the developers behind Road 96, Tides Of Tomorrow could realise this fascinating mechanic as another unique way of telling stories that only works well through the medium of video games.
Tides of Tomorrow will launch on February 24, 2026 on the PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S.