There seems to be hundreds of simulation games available and a new one every week, so it takes a bit to stand out in the crowd. Every now and then though there’s one that seems so ridiculous you just have to try it and in this case, I’m really glad I did.
Roadside Research is an early-access title currently on Xbox Game Pass (and Steam) and it takes a bit of a left turn. It could easilly have been a fun “Petrol Station attendent in the middle of nowhere simulator” but instead it asks the question: “What if the bloke behind the petrol station counter was actually an extraterrestrial in a cardboard mask?”
I’ve been sinking some time into this on the Lenovo Legion Go S. It’s a work-in-progress, so you have to expect a few rough edges, but it feels right at home on a handheld Windows PC. There’s a specific kind of satisfaction in scanning “unsuspecting” humans for data while you’re actually just sitting in the car at a petrol station.
The Art of Blending In
The setup is straightforward. You (and up to three mates in co-op) run a standard Earth petrol station. During the day, you’re the model employee. You fill up cars, restock the shelves with snacks, and take cash at the register. It’s a mundane routine, but it’s actually a cover for your real job: research.
While you’re technically there to provide a service, you’re really there to harvest data. You have to scan customers and test out different information-gathering methods without spiking the “Suspicion Meter”. If you get too greedy or start acting a bit too “alien”, the government starts sniffing around and the mission is over. It’s a constant trade-off between being a good shopkeeper and being a productive scientist.
Customisation with a Cheeky Twist
The customisation is where the game’s personality really comes through. To keep your cover, you literally have to “draw” a normal human expression on your disguise. Most of the time, the results look ridiculous, which fits the tone perfectly.
Progression is split into two paths. You can upgrade the shop itself (adding better facilities to attract more “test subjects”) or you can dump your resources into your alien tech. Better gear means you can process data faster, which is the whole point of being on this planet in the first place.
Handheld Performance
Playing this on the Legion Go felt like the right move. The controls translate naturally to the handheld’s layout, and the daily mission cycles are short enough that it doesn’t feel like a massive commitment. When the shop closes, the pace slows down, giving you time to plan your resources and upgrades, then move furniture around and clean up the mess before the sun comes up.
The Verdict
The developers are quite open about the fact that Roadside Research isn’t finished yet. If you jump in, you should be comfortable with some unfinished bits and pieces. That said, the core loop is solid. It turns the boring task of stocking a fridge into something that feels high-stakes because you’re always one weird move away from being caught. We played single player for a bit and my daughters screamed instructions at me while I tried to accomplish the taskes. “Dad, there’s a car wanting petrol, there’s a customer, you have to clean the toilet”. It was a chatoic joy to share with them.
If you’ve got Game Pass and appreciate a bit of dry humour, it’s worth a look. Just try to keep the shelves full and don’t make it too obvious that you’re from another galaxy.
The game is also availableon steam for only $18, which is a bargain for your return on investment really. Buy it here.
