Having enjoyed a fair amount of tabletop RPGs run through various systems and as a fan of text-based adventure games, I was excited to learn about Roadwarden, a text-based adventure game which plays very much like a single-player tabletop RPG campaign.

Released by Moral Anxiety Studio in September of 2022, Roadwarden is set in a fantasy world full of political complexities and environmental dangers. As the titular roadwarden, newly assigned to patrol the northern peninsula, your job is to assure the safety of the roads and provide contact between isolated villages while also working to achieve the goals of your employers—merchants of the large city to the south. Arriving as an outsider with limited resources, it's up to you to decide the best way to spend your time on the peninsula in order to accomplish your goals.

Text-Based Customization

Right from the start, the game offers a good amount of character customization for a text-based game. You can choose to be one of three different classes, each with its own set of starting equipment and a special ability. Further character development is revealed slowly through interactions with others, usually with about three to six options to choose from, including choosing a personal goal to accomplish during the run. Although options are still limited, you have control over your own background, including where you grew up, religious beliefs, and details on what life is like in the city.

The dialogue options for first-time encounters with other characters are divided into different categories such as "Friendly" and "Intimidating," making it clear how your character intends to deliver the line. Later lines chosen from a list may be less clear in their delivery, but you have some control over that important first impression.

Other traits affecting the status of your character include Vitality, Nourishment, Armor, and Appearance. The number of points you have in each will affect your interactions with others as well as what tasks you're able to perform. Points can be restored, usually through purchases made with coins, but since your affinity with each tribe will affect the cost of trades, you will typically have a rough start with limited resources as you build up your reputation.

Atmospheric Enhancements and Worldbuilding

The game contains a mix of instrumental music and atmospheric soundtracks that enhance the mood set for each encounter. The instrumental themes create the tone for safe locations and add a sense of urgency in dangerous situations. The atmospheric tracks have plenty of wildlife sounds, such as those of birds and insects, which create an immersive feel of actually being in the wilderness and may confuse anyone who happens to be in the room with you while you're playing. These high-quality tracks would make a great addition to any game master's arsenal.

The presentation of the art also adds to the tabletop-gaming feel. Pixel graphics are used to illustrate locations visited, which are slowly revealed as you explore them. Once you've unlocked a few locations, you can instantly travel to any other location available on the map, though it does cost time and you may be stopped by encounters along the way. No people are graphically depicted, leaving the appearance of individual characters to your power of imagination from the text descriptions.

Also adding to the game's aesthetic is the excellent worldbuilding seen throughout. The game takes place in a society that clearly has a deep history, in a world that is full of dangers. The game is peppered with terms unique to its world which are introduced casually so as not to be overwhelming. If a player finds them to be a bit confusing, there is also a glossary to help explain things. Some characters speak with a bit of a dialect, which may be confusing to some, but the most important points are in plainer English and are generally easy to follow, so the effect is mainly to add some colloquial variation to the dialogue.

A Complex Campaign with Tough Decisions

Your main goals may be focused, but the plot is complex. Each tribe you visit has its own issues, with a wide variety of quests for you resolve as well as some deep secrets to uncover. Your time is limited (though you can choose to play without a limit) and the city merchants expect to hear back from you in about a month. This means you'll be juggling quests and making crucial decisions about the best use of your time all while trying to maintain your health and appearance.

The game consists of a single campaign, but the quests you choose to focus on will affect the balance of powers across the tribes, changing the way you influence the peninsula both while there and upon your return to the city. It can be hard to keep track of everything that's going on and the ways in which you may be influencing things. Fortunately, the game contains a journal that is automatically updated with bits of key information as you unlock it. It doesn't record every detail though, so you'll need to make use of the notes section, where you can input information that can be accessed across saves.

It may not have the leveling system (or grinding) to be considered a full RPG gaming-wise, but this is the closest I've seen a single-player videogame come to emulate my ideal tabletop gaming experience–that of a well-told, intricate, immersive story told by a skilled game master in which I have the freedom of movement to explore the world in my own way.

Quick Reference
Roadwarden is a text-based adventure game that plays like a single-player TTRPG campaign.
Best played in a mood for lots of reading and paying attention to details.

Strengths:
• Intriguing plot with plenty of secrets to be discovered and decisions to be made.
• Great atmospheric soundtrack.
• A good amount of character customization.

Weaknesses:
• There is no text-to-speech option, so if you aren't prepared for a lot of reading, this game isn't for you.
• Though fairly light, some players may have difficulty understanding the game-world colloquialisms.