GameChanger Studio, the acclaimed Indonesian developer behind My Lovely Daughter, My Lovely Wife, and My Lovely Empress, has announced its next emotionally charged title, 1998: The Toll Keeper Story. Launching October 28, 2025, on Steam, the game delivers a deeply personal narrative about survival, resilience, and moral conflict set during a national financial collapse.
A Human Story in a Time of Turmoil
1998: The Toll Keeper Story follows Dewi, a pregnant toll booth worker in the fictional nation of Janapa, as she faces daily choices between compassion and survival during a devastating economic crisis. Inspired by real events surrounding the 1998 Asian financial collapse, the game blends story-driven simulation with “Papers, Please” style mechanics, where every driver at the tollgate presents both opportunity and risk.
Each shift brings new challenges, enforce corrupt regulations to protect your job, or risk everything to help those in need. Every decision ripples outward, shaping Dewi’s family, her community, and the outcome of her story.
Emotion Over Action
Led by Riris Marpaung, one of Indonesia’s first female studio CEOs, GameChanger Studio continues to build a reputation for blending emotional storytelling with strikingly inventive gameplay. Known for exploring love, morality, and human fragility, the team now turns its lens toward the struggles of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
“This game is more than just about physical survival; it’s also about emotional resilience,” said Marpaung. “It’s a portrayal of how ordinary people survive amid fear, scarcity, and uncertainty.”
Gameplay Features
- Choices That Matter: Each moral decision shapes Dewi’s life, from following state orders to defying them for compassion.
- Multiple Endings: Outcomes change depending on your balance of empathy, resources, and survival instincts.
- Escalating Tension: Every in-game day introduces new rules, dangers, and ethical dilemmas.
- Resource Management: Juggle limited food, money, and safety while protecting your family.
- Distinct Visual Style: Sepia-toned, late-90s-inspired presentation reflecting the look of period newspapers and official documents.
- Social Impact: A portion of proceeds will support Indonesian Women in Game (IWIG), empowering women in the region’s game industry.
A Studio Known for Breaking Boundaries
With the My Lovely trilogy, GameChanger Studio has already earned worldwide recognition for its haunting, morally complex storytelling. Now, 1998: The Toll Keeper Story pushes that emotional intensity into a grounded, socially conscious narrative, exploring what it means to endure when the world around you begins to collapse.
1998: The Toll Keeper Story launches on October 28, 2025, for Steam. Players can wishlist the game now to experience its gripping story when it releases later this month.
