Road 96: Mile 0

Road 96: Mile 0 is a 2023 adventure video game developed by DigixArt and published by Ravenscourt. A prequel to Road 96 (2021) it is set two months before the original and follows Zoe, one of the original game's eight core non-playable characters, and Kaito, a character from Lost in Harmony, as they navigate their contrasting political views of the country's political and social conditions. Players switch control between Zoe and Kaito in first-person exploration and musical skating sequences, making dialogue choices that influence their characters' ideological beliefs and the circumstances of the ending. Mile 0 was developed as a prequel to Road 96 due to fan interest in the characters and their lives before the events of the original game. DigixArt deliberately replaced the predecessor's procedural structure with a linear narrative centered on Zoe and Kaito. The game's story explores the development of political beliefs during adolescence, while its depiction of the contrasting social conditions of Petria was partly inspired by creative director Yoan Fanise's experiences living in Singapore. The musical sequences were influenced by games such as Sayonara Wild Hearts and were designed as metaphorical representations of the protagonists' emotions. The game was released on April 4, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S. It received mixed reviews from critics, who generally praised its characters and musical sequences but criticized aspects of its writing, political commentary, and tonal consistency.