I'm generally not a fan of games where you don't know where to go. I know there are people who love that kind of thing, but I prefer to have a clear idea of what I'm meant to be doing, and not too much crypticness about how to get there. I'm also not fond of time limits - I like to go as fast or as slow as I feel like. Roadwarden is an exception to all of that. The game plonks you down in an unmapped wilderness and tells you to go out there and see what you find. You have 40 days (this can be turned off but I recommend keeping it) and no idea where to go or what to do. The reason this works for me where it wouldn't in so many other games is because it's not being cryptic about your goal. It's not "there's something you need to do but we're not telling you what". It's just "wander around, see what you find, do some things if you want, and then leave". Also, because you know you'll have to go after 40 days, that frees you from the expectation of doing everything. You probably won't be able to do it all, so just do whatever catches your interest. It surprisingly liberating. That format alone wouldn't be enough though. Fortunately, Roadwarden is really well written (aside from some odd phrasing here and there) and very atmospheric. It's a game where you gradually come to feel almost at home in this place, and that's in no small part thanks to how well realised the setting is. It's a lot of text, and maybe that'll put you off. Not everyone is up for that much reading. I personally usually wouldn't go for something like this. And yet Roadwarden might be the best game I've played this year.
