Tides of Tomorrow is the latest project from the creators of Road 96, and it’s aiming to do something truly different. Billed as a “massive multiplayer story game,” it introduces a fascinating new mechanic that connects players in ways I’ve never seen before. In an era where it often feels like every idea has already been done, Tides of Tomorrow manages to feel genuinely new—a refreshing and ambitious approach to storytelling in games.
Gameplay
In Tides of Tomorrow, you play as a Tidewalker, someone who can glimpse the past visions of other Tidewalkers. This mechanic is how the game weaves its large-scale “multiplayer” element together. While you won’t be directly playing alongside your friends, you can experience the ripples of their choices—and they can experience yours.
It’s a clever concept. Imagine following a friend’s journey and slowly realizing what kind of player they are—selfish, compassionate, forgiving, or purely driven by action. The idea that every player’s path will differ depending on whose footsteps they follow gives Tides of Tomorrow a sense of organic storytelling that could make every playthrough feel personal. Even if there are only a few major decision branches, those intersections can happen at different points for each player, ensuring that no two experiences feel exactly the same.
If you’d like to follow my route and see how your story compares, you can input my game seed: 1546-3052-4545-7603.
Expectations
As a decision-based game, Tides of Tomorrow will ultimately live or die by how meaningful those decisions feel. The demo ends by showing what you could’ve experienced had you followed someone else’s path, which is a nice touch—but for the game to truly stand out, the choices need to carry real impact. It can’t just be a simple “flip the switch” system where the story shifts between two tracks. It needs depth, permanence, and emotional weight.
Verdict
Even from this early look, Tides of Tomorrow feels like something special—a bold experiment in connected storytelling. I’m hopeful that the final version will expand on this innovative concept and deliver an experience that’s both personal and communal. If the developers can pull it off, this could be one of the freshest narrative games in years.
A demo for Tides of Tomorrow is available now during Steam Next Fest. For more Steam Next Fest demo recommendations check out our Steam Next Fest hub.
