The Road That Chose Us

ongoing

"Prototype of a paradocumentary video game about rescuing war refugees ""The Road That Chose Us"". The Road That Chose Us is a single player, story heavy, survival game inspired by real events. The player as a volunteer driver risks driving into a war zone, facing constant danger, extreme weather, car malfunctions, and own weakness and fears, to take people running from war to safety. The game is inspired by personal experiences of people helping in the civilian evacuation effort after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Survival and time- and resource management gameplay lays foundation for a branching, episodic, non-linear story, exploring a basic human dilemma: in an extreme situation, what kind of a human would you prove to be? In the context of already existing works of culture, the game can be described as: ""This War of Mine"" meets ""Papers Please"" in the acclaimed documentary movie ""In the Rearview"". The Road That Chose Us touches upon one the most dramatic moments of contemporary history—the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II that has caused hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties. The game puts the conflict in a wider context of European values, highlighting how solidarity and volunteer civic action can be crucial in a moment of crisis. Starting with specific, human stories, it builds a deeper understanding of the geopolitical situation. The message of the game is one of resilient, realistic hope, showing that every citizen of the EU can act in a moment of crisis, and that even the smallest gestures can contribute to a larger movement. At the same time, the story handles the tangible and intangible costs of action, from money issues, to volunteer burnout, and—basing on real stories—shows how such problems can be handled."