Summerfall Studios’ Stray Gods takes center stage in just a few days—and as the players warm up, now is the perfect time to think about how you’ll approach finding your own voice in the epic role-playing musical.
In the lead role of Grace, a college dropout suddenly granted the power of the Last Muse, you’ll change fates with the choices you make. Each of these choices is woven into the soundtrack—and much like the character- and story-driven RPGs that inspired Stray Gods (including Creative Director David Gaider’s previous project Dragon Age), how you play your tune shapes how Grace’s tale and relationships unfold.
Grace’s defining decisions are characterized by a trio of traits that Summerfall calls Charming, Kickass, and Clever.
- Charming: This is Grace with soul and charisma! She tries to do the right thing, and everyone likes her more for it.
- Kickass: In your face! This Grace is very punk rock, and not afraid to get reckless and aggressive when it’s called for.
- Clever: Sometimes you need to think your way out of a problem, right? This Grace is sneakier, smarter, and witty.
When trait-based decisions turn up at key moments in Stray Gods’ songs, your choice can alter not just the character beats, but the tone, the tempo, and even the musical style of the tune. A Kick-Ass turn can shift things into high gear, while the choice to be Charming might find you singing a more soothing groove.
To account for all these narrative and stylistic possibilities, Music Director and BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory, alongside fellow song co-writers Tripod and Montaigne, were faced with the truly Herculean challenge of creating branching music, words, and melodies—and making those branches flow together seamlessly. That’s thousands of potential song variations all told. For a peek at the music-making process, check out Austin Wintory’s behind-the-scenes video showcasing his sessions with Orchestra Victoria.
How do you think you’ll play Grace? Will you charm? Will you strong-arm? Will you try to use your head? Or will you just go with the flow and see where the music takes you?
Let us know on Twitter, and get ready to follow your Muse when Stray Gods arrives on August 10 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
