A few months ago while going on a hike, I paused and took a moment to appreciate the activity. I love hiking. And as someone who’s (relatively) young and (relatively) fit, I get to do it frequently. But it occured to me that as I get older, it could become a less-accessible pasttime. In Forever Ago, elderly protagonist Alfred does something he hasn’t done in a while. He goes on a roadtrip. Based on the circumstances, he used to love going on roadtrips (and hiking!) but it’s taken a lot to get him back on the road.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to preview Forever Ago as part of the Tribeca Festival. While I only played one section of Alfred’s roadtrip – a motel stop to visit a diner – I got a glimpse into the themes of this poignant adventure game. The section consisted of just three seemingly simple tasks, but these revealed much about Alfred’s character and his reasons for taking this trip.
According to the game’s description on Steam, Forever Ago tells the story of Alfred going on this road trip “following a tragic stroke of fate.” While the game didn’t outright say it, it seems like something happened to Alfred’s wife Audrey. Whether she passed away, became sick, or something else, I couldn’t say. But regardless, the game sees Alfred retracing the path of a road trip they took years ago. Audrey has even left Alfred a notebook to outline what to do in each place.
Naturally, this notebook lends itself to gameplay. In each location, Alfred mentions what Audrey recommended for him. Players can then consult the notebook for tasks to accomplish.
In the motel setting for the demo, Alfred had three items to check off his list. He’d eat at the booth he’d share with Audrey at the local diner, play her favorite song on the jukebox, and find her favorite flower. Certainly not insurmountable quests, no?
Well, these proved easier said than done. Just as Forever Ago is about reclaiming activities from one’s youth, it also embodies the flip side of that: finding that things from the past have changed. The diner booth can only be reserved by a membership via an app. And the jukebox hasn’t worked in years. The flowers are still there though.
But there’s yet another theme in Forever Ago that I saw a little of, and imagine I’ll see more of in the full game. That’s the idea that while things change and you can’t relive old memories, you can make new ones. Alfred grumbles about the diner changes to a young employee. And whether through dialogue choices or just how the game is scripted regardless, I found myself able to help out the employee with a problem they had. I even met a new dog companion along the way.
After finishing the demo, the hopeful turn of Alfred’s journey felt all the sweeter after the dissappointments he encountered. Forever Ago‘s description also notes that it’s a “story about broken dreams, loss, and regret—but also courage, hope, and true friendship.” While I didn’t get the full picture, I sensed that Alfred struggled with growing older. Maybe he wished he had done more in his youth. Hence Audrey giving him a road trip to take on his own.
Based on the trailer, the game seems to jump back to his younger days as well, highlighting how Alfred’s life has changed. But I’m honestly still excited to see him in his golden years. Forever Ago seems poised to show how we can still find joy in the activities we love as we grow older, even if it’s not always in the way we expect.
Developed by Third Shift and published by Annapurna Interactive, Forever Ago will launch on October 8th, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. In the meantime, you may Wishlist it on Steam here.
