Free League’s ‘The Electric State’ RPG Ushers In 90’s Gloom With Giant Robots
The Electric State is an apocalyptic road trip through a 90s that never was, and it revels in the things you find at the end.
Free League’s The Electric State is a sort of companion piece to Tales from the Loop. Both are inspired by the art of Simon Stalenhag, both take place in a decade “that never was.” But where Tales from the Loop is all about the innocent adventures of youth, and the sense of discovery and wonder we miss, The Electric State, is awash in the pain and cynicism of adolescence.
It’s a darker vibe. An angstier one. The sort of thing that might inspire you to write poetry or dye your hair. And two, it’s about discovery. Discovering who you are, who your friends are, and what really matters. The game is out today, so let’s check it out.
The Electric State – An RPG Of Reality Unravelling on the Road
The Electric State uses the same “Year Zero Engine” that is at the heart of Free League’s other games, like Tales from the Loop and Blade Runner and ALIEN. In each of those titles, the core mechanics are the same, they are put through a wringer to be “uniquely tailored” as Free League puts it, to each new game. For instance, you won’t have the same troubles that a character in Tales from the Loop might have, and won’t have the opportunity to work through them by talking to a parent or something.
Which is a real mechanic, and one of my favorites. I can’t wait to see how this game is structured. I picked up Tales from the Loop on vibes alone. That is the case here too, but look for a review soon.
“Following the discovery of Neuronics in the late 1960, technology diverged from our world. It is now the year 1997, and the world is on the verge of apocalypse. The ever-present Sentre corporation pushes neuronic technology to the population via cheap headsets. Civilization crumbles as something strange spreads through the neuronic net.
People fail to turn up for work. Basic services cease to function. And the government is rapidly losing control.
The Electric State is coming.”
This game is perfect for short to mid-length campaigns, set in this bleak world. If it looks like your jam, it probably is. Tales from the Loop captured the essence of Stalenhag’s art, and I imagine The Electric State will do the same.
See you on the road
