The Gothenburg-based studio YCJY has released its road-trip management RPG, Keep Driving, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Following its February 2025 PC debut, which earned an 84 on Metacritic and a Grand Jury Award at IndieCade 2024, the title transitions to consoles with all post-launch updates included. These updates feature nine additional languages, a new ending, and expanded road events. While console players receive the full feature set, official mod support remains exclusive to the Steam Workshop version for PC.
Designing a Slow-Paced Management RPG
Keep Driving differentiates itself from the studio’s previous high-speed project, Post Void, by prioritizing a deliberate, meditative tempo. Created by Josef Martinovsky and Christopher Andreasson, the game tasks players with managing a car, finances, and hitchhikers during a cross-country summer trip. The gameplay utilizes a procedurally generated map that forces players to navigate highways and rural roads. Challenges, such as traffic obstructions or speed cameras, are resolved through a turn-based system where players utilize their skills and items scavenged from their vehicle. The developers cite diverse inspirations, including Oregon Trail II, FTL, Jalopy, board games like Gloomhaven, and films such as Paris, Texas.
Development History and Aesthetic Choices
The project has been in development since 2016, following the release of YCJY’s The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human. The duo initially paused development due to financial and experience constraints, opting to complete Sea Salt and Post Void before returning to the road-trip concept. The game’s aesthetic features dense pixel art, which the studio contrasts with a live-action trailer for the console launch. This marketing choice is intended to convey the game’s atmosphere—a focus on the journey rather than the destination—before players engage with the management mechanics. The game’s world and soundtrack are heavily influenced by the local culture of Gothenburg, featuring music from bands like Westkust and Makthaverskan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keep Driving
What is the core gameplay loop of Keep Driving? The game is a management-focused RPG where you maintain a car, pick up hitchhikers, and resolve road obstacles using a turn-based skill system. Trips typically last between one and four hours, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different narrative branches.
Are there differences between the PC and console versions? Both versions share the same core content, including all post-launch updates. However, official mod support via Steam Workshop is exclusive to the PC platform.
What inspired the creation of the game? Josef Martinovsky and Christopher Andreasson have identified several key influences, including the board games Gloomhaven and The 7th Continent, video games like FTL and Jalopy, and road movies like Two-Lane Blacktop.
Did you know? The game’s landscapes are modeled after the city of Gothenburg and its surrounding regions, grounding the fictional road trip in the geography of the developers’ home city.