Wheels of Aurelia

Wheels of Aurelia is a 2016 visual novel and adventure video game by Italian studio Santa Ragione. It was released worldwide in September 2016 for Linux, OS X, and Windows; in October 2016 for the PlayStation 4; in November 2016 for the Xbox One; October 2017 for Android and iOS; and November 2017 for the Nintendo Switch. Its story is set in 1978 Italy and tells the story of Lella who drives along the Italian motorway Via Aurelia alongside one or many companions; commenting on issues such as single parenthood, fascism, and the Mafia. The player controls Lella's vehicle from a bird's-eye view and dialogue choices using a branching dialogue system. On her way across Via Aurelia, she meets hitchhikers who can alter the story's outcomes. While its gameplay approximately lasts fifteen minutes, it offers sixteen different endings. It was inspired by the 1986 arcade game Out Run and the cult film Il Sorpasso. Wheels of Aurelia received mixed reviews from critics; while its atmosphere and aesthetics were praised, reviewers thought the gameplay was fitted into the narrative poorly.