Heading Out
Release date: May 7, 2024
Developers: Serious Sim, Crunching Koalas
Publishers: Crunching Koalas
Genres: Action, Adventure, Indie, Racing, Strategy
Categories: Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, Adjustable Difficulty, Playable without Timed Input, Stereo Sound, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing
Supported languages: English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish - Latin America, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Portugal

It's not about the destination—it's about the journey. Heading Out is a genre-bending road trip adventure that fuses high-speed racing with immersive storytelling. Inspired by cult classic American road movies, this narrative-driven experience invites you to outrun your fears and carve your legend across the open highways of a mythic, timeless America. Drive to Survive Assume the role of the enigmatic 'Interstate Jackalope', an outlaw on a cross-country quest to confront the world's greatest driver. Each decision you make shapes your story, influencing encounters, challenges, and the ever-present red mist of fear that trails your path. Strategic Choices, Unpredictable Roads Navigate a dynamic map where every route presents new dilemmas. Manage resources like fuel, car condition, and focus while deciding whether to help strangers, engage in street races, or evade the law. Your choices impact your reputation, wanted level, and the unfolding narrative. A Stylized Homage Experience a striking black-and-white comic book aesthetic, punctuated by vivid splashes of color that highlight key elements. Complementing the visuals is an eclectic Americana soundtrack, featuring jazz and rock tracks that underscore the game's emotional beats. Key Features Narrative-Driven Racing: A compelling story that evolves based on your decisions, offering multiple endings and diverse character interactions. Resource Management: Balance your needs carefully—neglecting your car's condition or running low on fuel can have dire consequences. Dynamic Encounters: Meet a cast of colorful characters, each with their own stories and moral dilemmas that challenge your choices. Unique Visual Style: A minimalist, comic-inspired art direction that enhances the game's thematic depth. Embark on a journey where every mile tells a story, and every choice drives you closer to your destiny. Will you escape your fears, or will they catch up to you on the open road? 

Press reviews: “Heading Out is one of the most inventive games I've played all year, with plenty of replayability, great ideas, and an engaging story.” 9/10 – God is a Geek “Heading Out is an intricate, compelling story that mixes modular storytelling and roguelike structure with deeply America-flavored media of the 1970s and on, particularly the “road” genre.” 8/10 – Shacknews “Dripping with style, a killer soundtrack and a ton of interesting stories along the way, it makes for one mesmerizing road trip…” 4/5 – Hardcore Gamer 

Notes: The story of Heading Out addresses racism, mental health (anxiety, depression), inequality, and other social issues. There is no graphic nudity, sex scenes, or violence in the game, but the adult characters sometimes talk about intimacy, relationship violence, and - very rarely - sexual violence. These conversations are not graphic. One of the game's villains uses hate speech against minorities. Most adult characters use vulgar language. The game is recommended for mature audiences.