Roadside Research

After releasing the racing title Antigraviator and the horror game Order 13, the independent Belgian studio Cybernetic Walrus decided to create an unusual simulator. Roadside Research combines elements known from titles like Supermarket Simulator with the fun of hiding one's identity.

Gameplay

Roadside Research offers a first-person perspective. We play as aliens who have become stranded on Earth and accidentally taken over a remote gas station. Blending into the surroundings with paper masks, we manage two areas: the aforementioned gas station (to attract customers and gather data) and a research facility hidden beneath it (to prepare for an invasion).

Creating illusions

The gameplay generally resembles other store simulators: we buy goods (including groceries and fuel) and then sell them for a profit to fund further purchases. To satisfy the clientele, we upgrade the station by adding new features. We rearrange shelves and equipment, restock snacks, clean up spills, and repair pumps, all while keeping suspicion at low levels. Otherwise, our extraterrestrial identity might be discovered by government agents.