Indonesian indie developer GameChanger Studio has announced 1998: The Toll Keeper Story, a narrative simulation game based on true events. GameChanger is best known for their work on the My Lovely trilogy of games, which includes My Lovely Daughter, My Lovely Wife, and My Lovely Empress.
1998: The Toll Keeper Story will mark GameChanger’s transition from fantastical stories to a more grounded, real-world setting. Riris, CEO of GameChanger Studio, shared: “This game is more than just about physical survival; it also tests emotional resilience. It’s a portrayal of how ordinary people must survive amid the uncertainty of security, food shortages, extreme fear, and not knowing what to do to escape such a pressing situation.”
Inspired by one of the darkest chapters in Indonesia’s history, the story follows Dewi, a toll keeper experiencing her first pregnancy. Dewi must fight for the safety of her beloved family amidst the political uncertainty and chaos that ensues, navigating difficult choices that test both her morality and her commitment to her family and friends
Alongside her, the unique struggles and concerns of the people of Janapa unfold as they turn to Dewi’s toll booth to share fragments of their stories and anxieties.
Key Features
- Inspired by True Events: This game is set during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, with Indonesia’s crisis serving as one of the primary inspirations. Set in a fictional Southeast Asian country, it explores the fear, chaos, and uncertainty of the era, challenging you to navigate through moral dilemmas where survival demands difficult sacrifices.
- A Story of Survival and Motherhood: Make difficult choices not just for your safety, but also for your unborn child.
- Narrative Simulation Gameplay: Check vehicles, documents, and identities while managing rising tension and limited resources.
- Small Decisions, Heavy Consequences: Every action matters — who you let through, who you turn away, and which rules you follow or bend.
- Distinct 90s-Inspired Visual Style: Fusing dot textures, old-paper aesthetics, and a blueish filter, the art direction echoes the limitation of printed materials from the late ’90s, grounding the game in the mood and texture of its era.
Wishlist 1998: The Toll Keeper Story on Steam, or top up your Steam Wallet on Codashop.
