Now that we're in 2025, you'd expect every game to look like a slice of real life, with characters popping out of your TV in 4K, right? Thankfully, that's not the case and retro-themed titles are flourishing to give nostalgia nerds like me the boost they need. Heck, we're even getting a new 8-bit console called the GameTank with its own original games.
As reported in Famitsu, Indie publishers DANGEN Entertainment, alongside developers Rastrolabs, are bringing out a new top-down RPG called RoadOut that feels like a cross between The Legend of Zelda and Mad Max... and we all know how I feel about the Zelda series.
This sounds like an amazing combination - we're talking vehicular madness, puzzle solving, a narrative fit for a fantasy book epic, and lots of exploration as you make your way through a post-apocalyptic world where AI has taken over.
『マッドマックス』meets『ゼルダの伝説』が謳い文句。『RoadOut』2026年3月12日に発売https://t.co/iBanqTjZMT
— ファミ通.com (@famitsu) December 10, 2025
愛車で荒野をドライブしつつ探索、生身でのダンジョン探索も楽しめるアクションRPG。ポストアポカリプス世界を、レース、バトル、ハッキングなどの闇稼業をこなしながら旅しよう。 pic.twitter.com/d59HvvvmqV
The main protagonist is a mercenary called Claire. You'll be tasked with taking her through the wilds of The Dead Zone as she knocks back gangs, tracks down old treasures, and uncovers secrets with her fellow rebels.
The graphics take me right back to the days of the SNES, albeit with much more going on in terms of character and vehicle customisation than we would have had back then, and the RPG skill tree elements in RoadOut will have you spending hours deciding on how to upgrade Claire and her vehicle into the ultimate fighting force.
Even though this looks like a simple game, it's very complex with trading sequences, day-to-night transitions, 360-degree puzzles, changing weather conditions, and a racing mode with 10 tracks. I'm itching to try it out, and luckily I don't have too long to wait, as RoadOut is set to release on March 12th 2026 on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC!
