For many of us, the consequences of making too much noise might just be a gentle shush from the seat behind us in a movie theater. But in A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, every creaky floorboard could mean the end, as you navigate through a world where alien threats are always listening for the slightest sound. This stealth-focused horror game effectively captures the tension of the films it’s based on, taking inspiration from titles like Alien: Isolation to create a nail-biting experience from start to finish.

In this standalone story, set four months after the initial alien invasion in A Quiet Place: Day One, players step into the shoes of college student Alex Taylor. The game follows her journey to escape her hospital hideout and make her way towards a safe haven, free from the deadly Death Angels. While the story starts strong, the payoff in the final hours feels predictable, lacking the emotional impact of its predecessor, Day One.

The Road Ahead is filled with poignant artifacts that tell a silent story. Without much interaction with other survivors, players get a glimpse into the world by observing details like family portraits and humorous notes left behind. As you navigate through the game at a slow, tense pace, every corner hides potential dangers that require careful movement to avoid.

Stealthy Survival

While combat is nearly non-existent in The Road Ahead, the game is far from a simple “walking simulator.” Every action you take must be calculated, as even the smallest noise can attract the deadly alien hunters. Moving through the game requires careful navigation, with each step and movement meticulously executed to avoid detection. It’s a nerve-wracking experience akin to sneaking past a sleeping giant, but with far more dire consequences.

Environments in The Road Ahead are designed to test your coordination and finesse. From navigating through cluttered rooms to avoiding booby traps, players must tread lightly to survive. The inclusion of a phonometer adds an extra layer of tension, as players must monitor the sound levels of their movements to stay hidden from the alien threat.

Sound Choices

Players must also contend with internal challenges, such as Alex’s asthma, which can lead to noisy moments of hyperventilation in stressful situations. Strategic use of inhalers becomes crucial to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the alien creatures.

Silent Strategies

Alongside the phonometer, players have access to tools like bricks and bottles to distract enemies and flares to light up dark spaces. The game challenges players to make strategic choices regarding their inventory and how to navigate through each encounter. However, some limitations on item usage can feel arbitrary and detract from the realism of the experience.

While The Road Ahead maintains tension throughout with evolving enemy behaviors, it can feel monotonous at times. The absence of combat sequences and the slow pacing may deter some players looking for more dynamic gameplay. Despite these drawbacks, the game’s auto-save feature prevents excessive frustration, making each encounter manageable.