Boristan (playtest)

What it is

Boristan is an in-development, low-poly open-world driving game with a comedy tone, built in Godot. This playtest is free until Tuesday 20 October, 20:00 Eastern European time, after which the build stops working. It can be played in a browser or downloaded for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

From the developer

In the developer’s own words, from lifeofboris.itch.io.

❓ BORISTAN tester FAQ

⏰ When does the playtest end? Tuesday 20 October, 20:00 Eastern European time (EEST). That's 19:00 Central Europe, 18:00 UK, 17:00 UTC, 13:00 New York and 10:00 Los Angeles.

⬇ Download or browser? Download if you can. The Windows, Mac and Linux versions run much smoother. The browser version is fine for a quick look or on a phone; Chrome runs it best.

🎮 Controllers? Xbox and PlayStation pads work out of the box, with rumble. Steam Controller: start Steam first and use the Gamepad layout. On phones, touch controls appear in the browser.

🐢 It's slow or choppy. Press Esc, Settings, set Graphics quality to Low. On laptops with two graphics chips, use the download, or set the browser to "High performance" in Windows graphics settings.

🖱 The mouse doesn't turn the camera. Click inside the game once. Esc, Settings has Mouse lock and Mouse sensitivity.

🍎 macOS says the app is "damaged". It isn't, it just isn't signed by Apple. Try opening it once, then System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway. Steps are also in HOW-TO-OPEN-ON-MAC.txt in the zip.

📱 iPhone: the browser bar won't go away. That's an iPhone limit. Hold the phone sideways and use Safari's aA menu, Hide Toolbar, if offered.

👥 Co-op? Esc, Co-op. The host needs the download and clicks Host game, then shares the room code. Friends type it in, from the download or the browser. 2 to 4 players, everyone on the latest version.

🚗 Stuck? In a car, T (or LB on a pad) tows you back to the road. Otherwise Esc, Restart game.

🐞 Found a bug? Press F4 (fn+F4 on Mac) right when it happens, type a few words, press Enter. Post the screenshot and text file it saves in #playtest-bugs on our Discord: https://discord.gg/AEHgdjyUyW Ideas go in #playtest-feedback, your best Lada crimes in #comrade-moments.

It's a playtest, so expect bugs and the occasional Lada falling through the floor. Boris says thank you, comrade. 🫡

Editor takes

TheoThe Number Cruncher

“A free playtest that hard-stops on Oct 20 makes the long-term progression loop hard to judge, though 2-4 player co-op and a tow button suggest they're thinking about session flow.”

IrisThe Pixel Nerd

“The low-poly Soviet look has personality, but AI-assisted art and audio feel uneven — here's hoping the Lada falling through the floor is a bug, not a feature.”

How to play

Start the game in your browser or download the version for your system. You move through the open world by car; if you get stuck, press T to be towed back to the road, or open Esc and choose Restart game. Co-op for 2-4 players is available through Esc, Co-op: the host needs the download and shares a room code, while friends can join from the download or browser.

Tips

If the camera won't move, click inside the game once to lock the mouse.
For smoother performance, download the game instead of using the browser version.
If the game is slow or choppy, open Esc, Settings, and set Graphics quality to Low.
Use T (or LB on a pad) to get towed back to the road when stuck in a car.
On touch phones, touch controls appear in the browser version.

Questions

When does the playtest end?

The build stops working on Tuesday 20 October at 20:00 Eastern European time (19:00 CET, 18:00 UK, 17:00 UTC, 13:00 New York, 10:00 Los Angeles).

Is Boristan free?

Yes, this playtest is free. The itch.io page also offers a name-your-own-price download option.

Can I play with friends?

Co-op is available for 2-4 players. The host needs the downloaded version and shares a room code through Esc > Co-op; friends can join from the download or the browser.

Does it support game controllers?

Xbox and PlayStation gamepads work out of the box, with rumble. On phones, touch controls appear in the browser.

Why does macOS say the app is damaged?

The game isn't damaged; it just isn't signed by Apple. Try opening it once, then go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway. Instructions are also in the HOW-TO-OPEN-ON-MAC.txt file in the zip.

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