Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
Walking into the Los Angeles El Rey Theater for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is a bit like stepping into the Land of Oz. The iconic LA theatre is transformed into a sort of fantasy-world showroom for the RPG adventure game’s debut performance. It’s a risky move, given that Stray Gods is an adventure game, not a musical. But creator David Gaider admits to doubting that himself – until he witnessed the final product.
“I have to say, I was a little bit nervous,” Gaider admits to PC Game Spotlight at the Stray Gods press event. “I mean, this is an adventure game. How do you make a musical out of that?” As Gaider puts it, he has seen the “lost girl” hook in the song “I Can Teach You” hit home for many attendees – leaving them with a moment of clarity, potentially leaving them feeling a little more authentic as a young woman in a way they hadn’t before.
Stray Gods is a unique blend of development approaches. There is significant collaboration between Summerfall Studios, Wintory, Tripod, Montaigne, and the voice actors. The voice actors’ performances influenced the production of the songs, with additional instrumentation added later. The game also features a branching choice system – a staple of the adventure genre – where the choices you make impact the song’s lyrics, narrative, and coherency.
The team has plans for more branching content and choices than originally planned. Many players will be familiar with theatre, and those who are will perhaps recognise similarities to improv techniques and fourth-wall-breaking moments. Stray Gods marries well with the concept of dramatic musical numbers, offering a unique experience for players not familiar with the theatre world.
Gaider hopes Stray Gods resonates with players. “When you tell a story, you want it to go beyond the borders of just being an adventure game – it has to go beyond that. It has to touch you in a way that’s different from a book, different from a movie.” He feels Stray Gods succeeds in that regard, offering a perspective often overlooked in male-oriented adventures.
“Grace is a character who represents a lot of people,” Gaider says. “She represents the perspective that, you know, a lot of the time people are looking at male players and saying, ‘Well, what do you want? You’re the ones controlling the character.’ But it’s not that simple.” Stray Gods accurately depicts the struggle of figuring out life as a young woman, something that many players can relate to.
For me, Stray Gods is reminiscent of my experiences in musical theatre. It’s a place where I felt I could explore my identity and reflect my best self. It’s a place where I felt safe, and I hope this game will offer that to others as well.
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical debuts at the Los Angeles El Rey Theater on July 29 as part of its “I Can Teach You” tour. The show runs through August 1. Tickets can be purchased here.
