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Tides of Tomorrow Release Date, Times, and Everything You Need to Know

DigixArt and THQ Nordic's upcoming narrative adventure game, Tides of Tomorrow, is set to release on April 22, 2026, across console and PC.


The game comes from the same studio behind Road 96, and it brings a fresh take on solo storytelling through its asynchronous "Online Story-Link" system.


Hooded figures in vibrant robes reach towards the viewer amid a futuristic, colorful coastal cityscape. Text: "Tides of Tomorrow."
Image credit: THQ NORDIC

The story takes place on Elynd, an ocean world devastated by a massive Great Flood. Now, a new danger, "plastification," looms, threatening the survival of all remaining life. Players take the role of a Tidewalker, a mysterious survivor connected to others across time, sailing through flooded ruins and making choices that carry real, lasting weight.


The tone blends environmental horror with themes of human connection and survival, wrapped in a plastic-punk aesthetic that feels distinct and atmospheric.


What Makes It Stand Out

The headline feature is the Online Story-Link system. According to DigixArt, "Every choice made by every player is recorded." At the start of a playthrough, players choose a Tidewalker seed to follow, which could belong to a developer, a friend, a streamer, or a complete stranger. The events, characters, and outcomes in your game shift depending on the choices that the player made before you. When your run is done, your own decisions become a seed for future players to follow.


Players can switch the seed they follow at the end of each level. If you progress beyond the player you are following, you are required to pick a new one before continuing. A new playthrough also generates a fresh seed, so the system stays dynamic across multiple runs.


This is not a co-op or multiplayer game in the traditional sense. It is a single-player experience at its core, but one shaped by a living web of community decisions.


Release Times by Region

The game goes live simultaneously across all platforms. Here are the global launch times:

  • Los Angeles: 6:00 AM PDT

  • Mexico City: 7:00 AM CST

  • New York: 9:00 AM EDT

  • São Paulo: 10:00 AM BRT

  • London: 2:00 PM BST

  • Montpellier/Vienna: 3:00 PM CEST

  • Riyadh: 4:00 PM AST

  • New Delhi: 6:30 PM IST

  • Beijing: 9:00 PM CST

  • Tokyo: 10:00 PM JST

  • Sydney: 11:00 PM AEST


Pricing and Editions

The standard edition is priced at $29.99 / €29.99 for both digital (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam) and physical versions.


Physical copies are available for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.


No Deluxe or Collector's Edition has been announced as of now.


Pre-orders are live, and anyone who places one gets the Delta Agent Pack, which includes an exclusive speedboat skin and a Tidewalker cosmetic set.


PC System Requirements

For those planning to play on PC, here is what you will need:

Minimum Specs:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)

  • Processor: Intel Core i5 4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 2300U

  • RAM: 16 GB

  • GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5700

  • DirectX: Version 12

  • Storage: 15 GB


Recommended Specs:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)

  • Processor: Intel Core i5 8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT

  • RAM: 16 GB

  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 XT

  • DirectX: Version 12

  • Storage: 15 GB


The game supports ultrawide resolutions. DLSS and FSR are not available at launch, but the team is actively working on implementing both. No Denuvo DRM is included, which will likely be welcome news for the PC crowd.


Gameplay and Length

The gameplay loop mixes first-person exploration, sailing, resource gathering, light puzzle solving, and narrative choice-making. The pace is relaxed to moderate, with the focus firmly on story and discovery rather than intense action. An average playthrough will take around 10 to 15 hours. There are five major endings, and the seed system adds meaningful replay value for those who want to see how different choices play out.


Character creation is on the simpler side. Players can choose their skin, gender, and voice. The game does not support split-screen or online co-op. It also does not include microtransactions of any kind.


FAQs

Here is a quick rundown of the most common questions players have been asking:

  • Is there co-op or multiplayer? No. Tides of Tomorrow is a single-player game. The Story-Link system is asynchronous, meaning you feel the influence of other players but never interact with them in real time.

  • Do I need friends to enjoy it? Not at all. You can follow random players or streamers. An offline mode with premade seeds is also available.

  • Will my choices actually matter? Yes. Your decisions visibly alter NPCs, events, and story branches for the players who follow your seed after you.

  • Can I follow someone not on my friends list? Yes. A random selection feature lets you follow complete strangers. You can also follow someone specific if they share their seed code with you.

  • Can I change who I follow mid-game? Yes, but only at the end of each level. You can continue following the same player or pick someone new.

  • Does it have Road 96 easter eggs? Yes, there are some hidden references for fans of the studio's previous work.

  • Is it open world? Not quite. The game has non-linear elements and lets you choose the order of certain levels, but it is not a fully open world.

  • What languages are supported?

    • Voice Over: English

    • Text and Subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian

  • Is it on Game Pass or PS Plus at launch? No

  • Does it support Steam Deck? It is currently listed as Playable, with full Deck verification still in progress.

  • Will there be VR support? No.

  • Are there motion blur or film grain toggle options? Not at this time. Those post-processing options are currently unavailable.

  • Is there a demo available? Yes on Steam and PS5 (not on Xbox). Size: 5.2GB.


What Critics Saying

The review embargo was lifted on April 21, 2026, and here are a few of them.


The unique way the story is conveyed is more impressive than the story itself, but it's still a great time for fans of choice-driven games.

Game8 (8/10)

Tides of Tomorrow is a breath of fresh air. It’s a unique take on a post-apocalyptic future that conveys something deeper to the player through its player-driven narrative and the moral dilemmas you’ll have to face. More than that, the asynchronous multiplayer features and the variety of gameplay allow for a more entertaining interactive adventure. While it may have simplistic gameplay and binary decision trees, it’s definitely not an average adventure game; it's a remarkable experience that excels at what it does.

Tides of Tomorrow boasts an interesting world, and has great foundational ideas, particularly with its approach to asynchronous multiplayer. However, it feels more inconsequential and disjointed than it should, and as a result doesn't fulfill its potential.

Tides of Tomorrow is a narrative adventure set in a gorgeous but deadly ocean beset by a plastic apocalypse. Filled with episodic adventures across each island, weighty story decisions are placed within those made by a community of players. At times, this makes it feel like a theme park ride with cast members – but a really good, well-crafted one. Unique, vibrant, and a genuine thrill, this is a stunning journey that'll stay with you.

I can't help but wonder what could have been with Tides of Tomorrow. The choice of following another player and being impacted by their choices had the potential to be a truly memorable experience, but it doesn't go anywhere near as deep as it should. As a result, I've struggled to form any sort of connection with the game.

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