Geek Review – Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

The ability of video games to build on fresh ideas and surprise players is unparalleled, even in the current state of mainstream entertainment. There are always high hopes and anticipation when a game is able to carve out its own niche and genre and such is the premise offered by Humble Games and Summerfall Studios’ Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. And the verdict? This is one splendid show not to be missed.

As conventions dictate, the drama follows in Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical as players, taking on the role of Grace, is accused of causing the death of a muse, one of the many reincarnations of the ancient Greek gods that only look human, but possess supernatural powers and immortality. 

The proximity of Grace to the unfortunate passing means she now has the ability to force individuals to put on largely entertaining musical numbers to express their thoughts and feelings, and therein lies the main driver of the narrative in Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical.

Needless to say, the cast of characters in the game are the rightful stars of the show, with fresh albeit safe interpretations of mythical figures helping to flesh out this murder mystery. Who knew Apollo would be a surfer dude in this lifetime, or that Medusa would be so full of intrigue? 

It helps that Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is chocked full of seasoned, talented actors, with the likes of Laura Bailey, Troy Baker, Anjali Bhimani, Merle Dandridge, Ashley Jonson, Felicia Day, Rahul Kohli, and Anthony Rapp, just to name few, strutting their stuff.

And while the overall plot charges towards the inevitable reveal of the true murderer, the real fun of Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical lies in the journey, which players will have much control over as Grace. Dialogue options can drastically change how following scenes will unfold, with the choices of Cleve, Charismatic, or Kickass leading down distinct and surprising paths.

It echoes the well-trodden paths of visual novels and interactive storytelling championed by the TellTale games, but the original musical numbers in this experience go above and beyond anything else seen in video games, helped by the excellent work of composer Austin Wintory. 

Hauntingly beautiful deliveries contrast well with frenetic rock numbers; there is even room for rap performances and the more Broadway-style numbers; each performance in Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is substantial and, more importantly, enjoyable, brought to vibrant life by the cast and ensuring that the players are deeply immersed for the ride, strapped into an emotional rollercoaster unlike anything else.

Considering the lives of these gods contain millennia of trials and tribulations, it is no wonder that some of the subject matter being explored can be heavy and bleak. It is a double-edged sword, so to speak, as the game manages to explore deeper themes on occasion, but perhaps at the cost of making the player somewhat uncomfortable when confronted with reflective songs.

With choice being a huge part of the experience, it helps that the game is immensely replayable, both with its length of about three hours per run as well as the many choices at Grace’s disposal. Talking to the various figures can help you understand them more, the romantic options are aplenty, and relationships will change, giving players more reasons to feel a part of this mellifluous adventure.

And the art style of Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical further demonstrates the love and effort that went into the game, laying out a feast for the eyes at every turn. The characters pop off the screen both in design and execution, and the environments that accompany them are bold, unique, and memorable; this is one game that looks and sounds amazing at most times, save for the occasional disappearing character model or voice clipping.

It is a testament to the developers and writers that Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical remains an accessible adventure, even for those not particularly into musicals or video games in general. The immense effort put into the world, the art, music, and storytelling is clear to see, and while there is room to venture into a more involved discourse about mental health and the human condition, this is an excellent start of an imaginative and unconventional concept, one well deserving of an encore and a standing ovation.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is available on the PSN Store for S$42.29.