The Makers Of My Lovely Empress Announces New Adventure Title Set In 1998 Indonesia

After having a hand in the supernatural and the imperial, Indonesia developer GameChanger Studio is taking things a little more serious and historical with its upcoming adventure title.

The developer has announced a new game called 1998: The Toll Keeper Story, which is a narrative simulation game where you play as a mother-to-be working as a toll keeper in the fictional country of Janapa, a nation on the brink of chaos. You work at the toll booth, talk to people around you, and endure the eventual political unrest that will tear the nation apart, all with muted colours and artwork that reflect the period.

If you know your Indonesian history, the game is inspired by the real-life 1998 Indonesian and Southeast Asian financial crisis and eventual May 1998 riots in the country. CEO of GameChanger Studio Riris Marpaung said in a press release that the game is more than just physical survival, as 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.”

There’s no release date for the game as of now, but you can wishlist the title here as it’s slated for a PC release (Steam). Key features and trailers below:

Features

-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, what rules you follow or bend.

-Distinct 90s-Inspired Visual Style: Fusing dot textures, old-paper aesthetics, and a blueish filter, the art direction echoes printed materials from the 90s—grounding the game in the mood and texture of its era.

-Inspired by True Events: This game is set during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, with Indonesia’s situation 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.