Ithaca, a new narrative road-trip RPG with elements of environmental resistance, is set to explore the unique setting of a long drive. Players will step into the shoes of Penelope, an environmental rights lawyer who has dedicated the past decade to suing polluting companies with limited success.
Central to the game's premise is Penelope's drive to Ithaca, during which she is accompanied by a hostage in the back of her car. This individual's presence is a result of Penelope's involvement with a seemingly dubious activist group. The game focuses on how Penelope navigates this complex and ethically charged situation.
RPG mechanics in Ithaca manifest through in-game phone and text conversations, as well as interactions with characters encountered on the road. Players will face skill checks, with the ability to improve Penelope's attributes such as empathy or manipulation, shaping her personality and decision-making. The hostage situation, while unavoidable, becomes a core element for players to manage.
To enhance replayability, Ithaca features procedurally generated roads. This means that the routes taken, the encounters experienced, and the conversations engaged in will differ across multiple playthroughs. The game aims to offer a diverse experience, with over 30 characters available for interaction, ensuring that each player's road trip is unique. The intimate setting of a road trip narrative is compared to the tone of the film Locke.
Ithaca has successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign and is offering a playtest on Steam for interested players.