KEEP IN CONTACT SPORT

ROLLER DRAMA is a narrative game with a few bruises

- Samantha Greer

Anyone who knows me would be surprised to know I’ve actually never played roller derby. Violence on wheels? Seems like my thing. Thankfully, Roller Drama has come along to not only offer me a taste of the sport, but the drama and camaraderie that surrounds it. When it’s not getting tackled by its own UI shortcomings, Roller Drama skates on its characters, art style, and the near unbearable responsibility of being a team coach.

You take on the role of Joan ‘Jeanne D’Arc’ Galliano, a coach for a women’s roller derby team who have all moved in to the same house together. The game is split between the hijinks of keeping your team, plus their personal lives, in order and winning matches. It’s part management game, part visual novel, though if there are branching paths in the story it was hard for me to notice. I was drawn into the role of Joan, stressing over how to speak to the women under my care. Usually in games relationships are defined simply by wanting characters to like you but in Roller Drama, as a coach, you’re also worried about being respected and trusted. Giving you a specific role to play gives the narrative an interesting angle that made me think about choices beyond trying to get on everyone’s good side.