Keep Driving (video game)

Lore & Background

Keep Driving was developed by the Gothenburg-based YCJY Games, consisting of Christopher Andreasson and Josef Martinovsky. Development began in 2016, shortly after the release of The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, and was considered a spiritual sequel to their first game, Keep Walking EP. The project was halted after a year due to lack of funds and experience, with the team working on smaller games like Sea Salt (2019) before resuming full-time development in 2020 after Post Void. The game was funded by Creative Europe Media and Kowloon Nights.

The game's plot follows an unnamed protagonist who receives a letter from a friend inviting them to a concert across the country. Players select a background story and vehicle, then navigate a road trip with challenges such as abandoned cars, roadkill, angry bees, and aggressive police. Hitchhikers can be helped and may provide useful skills. The game features at least nine different endings based on player choices.

Gameplay involves a side-view of the car and a dashboard with colored icons that must be matched using skills and items. Skills are unlocked through choices, and items are stored in the glovebox or trunk. Failure to clear icons results in fatigue or car damage, requiring rest or repairs. Towns offer gas stations, stores, employment offices, garages, and places to sleep. The early-2000s time period was chosen due to the lack of smartphones and navigation complexities.

Reader's Guide

Keep Driving is significant as a critically acclaimed indie title that blends multiple genres into a cohesive road trip experience. Its development history reflects a small studio's perseverance through funding and design challenges, ultimately producing a game praised for its storytelling and characterization. The game's use of a tabletop prototype to refine mechanics and its inspiration from titles like FTL: Faster Than Light and Jalopy highlight its thoughtful design. The soundtrack, featuring over 50 songs from Swedish indie rock bands coordinated by a pizza restauranteur, adds to its atmospheric appeal. The game's legacy includes its high review scores and recognition as one of 2025's best games, with a demo that garnered over 70,000 downloads and 170,000 wishlists on Steam. Its success may influence future indie road trip games and showcases the potential of small teams creating narrative-driven experiences.

Did You Know?

• Keep Driving was developed by a two-person team, Christopher Andreasson and Josef Martinovsky.
• The game's soundtrack features over 50 songs, coordinated by a Swedish pizza restauranteur.
• The developers created a tabletop version of the game in two weeks to test mechanics before finalizing the digital design.
• The game was inspired by road movies such as Paris, Texas (1984) and Two-Lane Blacktop (1971).