Narrative-driven experiences have always been Digixart’s specialty, with Road 96 standing out as a bold experiment in player choice and consequence. With Tides of Tomorrow, the Montpellier-based studio is once again pushing boundaries, this time by blending story-driven decision making with a shared, social layer that directly links players’ adventures. Published by THQ Nordic, this upcoming release aims to break new ground in how multiplayer storytelling can unfold – though whether its experimental ambitions will fully pay off remains to be seen.
What we know
Tides of Tomorrow takes place on Elynd, a planet ravaged by the Great Flood and now under threat from a mysterious plastification that slowly chokes out all remaining life. Players will navigate this dangerous ocean world, moving between floating platforms and exploring a variety of distinctive environments, from improvised settlements to more isolated landscapes. As an explorer, your goal is to find a cure while also dealing with the factions, characters, and moral dilemmas you’ll encounter along the way.
What sets the game apart is its shared narrative framework. As you meet Elynd’s characters – each with their own moods and motivations – your choices ripple outward, shaping your relationships while also intersecting with the actions of other players. This means your story is not isolated; instead, it adapts dynamically depending on the adventures of friends, strangers, or even streamers you might be following. That said, those who prefer solitude can still experience the game entirely solo. Launch is set for February 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
What we saw
At Gamescom, we attended a hands-off presentation with Digixart, where the developers walked us through the game’s core concepts. The demo highlighted both the decision-driven storytelling and the social mechanics that underpin it, alongside glimpses of Elynd’s watery environments and the systems players will use to gather resources and sail between floating settlements.
What we thought
Even in an early state, Tides of Tomorrow feels like one of the boldest narrative experiments we’ve seen in some time. The promise of weaving your story together with the actions of others is intriguing, and if pulled off, could set a new benchmark for multiplayer storytelling). Digixart already showed with Road 96 that they’re unafraid to experiment, and this feels like a natural evolution of that ambition. The world itself, with its striking oceanic landscapes and eerie sense of decay, seems well-suited to a story about survival, trust, and consequence.
That said, this kind of shared narrative design comes with risks. While the prospect of your choices colliding with those of friends or strangers is fascinating, it remains to be seen if the results will always feel satisfying rather than frustrating at times. The game also appears to carry more layered mechanics than one might expect from a purely narrative experience, with sailing, resource gathering, and community management possibly adding complexity that could overwhelm players who just want to focus on the story. Finding the right balance between accessibility and depth will be key.
Visually, the game embraces a clean, stylized art direction that highlights Elynd’s post-flood beauty while keeping the focus on its characters and decisions. The presentation we saw was atmospheric, enhanced by a moody soundtrack that reinforced the sense of isolation and uncertainty. The combination of these elements left a strong impression, suggesting that Digixart is crafting a world where every choice carries weight and every encounter feels unpredictable.
Ultimately, Tides of Tomorrow feels like a daring step forward for Digixart and for narrative-driven games in general. It’s an ambitious project, one that might not appeal to everyone – especially those who prefer their adventures to be fully under their own control – but for players curious about new ways to experience story in games, it could become one of 2026’s most fascinating experiments.
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