Honestly, the first time you walk up to a payphone in Petria, you probably just call a taxi. It’s the safe bet. You’re trying to get to the border, and your legs are tired from walking miles of asphalt. But if you aren’t messing around with the actual dial pad, you are missing out on half the world-building in this game.
Road 96 phone numbers aren't just easter eggs. They are actual levers you can pull to mess with the political landscape or just see how deep the rabbit hole goes for characters like Robert or Sonya.
The Numbers You Actually Need to Know
Most people find the basic numbers on posters scattered across gas stations and motels. The game doesn't hold your hand here; you have to physically look at the environment. If you’ve seen those "Missing Teenager" posters, you’ve seen the 55-555 number.
55-555: The Sonya Hotline
This is the one for the missing kids. If you call it, you get a recording or a prompt related to the disappearance of teens in Petria. It’s haunting because, well, you are one of those teens. It doesn't do a lot for your wallet, but it sets the tone.
96-555: Donating to Tyrak
If you’ve got ten bucks burning a hole in your pocket and you want to support the status quo, this is your number. Calling 96-555 lets you donate to President Tyrak’s campaign.
- Cost: $10
- Effect: Increases "Abstention" (basically makes people less likely to vote for change).
96-777: The Florres Campaign
On the flip side, if you want to see the regime crumble, call 96-777. This is the donation line for Senator Florres.
- Cost: $10
- Effect: Increases "Vote" intention for the opposition.
It’s a small way to influence the ending of the game without even leaving the phone booth.
The "Secret" Numbers: Robert and the Black Brigades
This is where things get interesting. You might find 35-362 scrawled somewhere or mentioned in passing. This is Robert’s personal number. Robert is... complicated. He’s the leader of the Black Brigades, and calling him is a gamble.
If you have specific information—like stuff you’ve learned from other characters or by snooping in forbidden areas—you can actually try to blackmail him. It rarely goes the way you want it to, but it opens up dialogue that you simply won't hear anywhere else.
Then there’s 96-112.
This is the number to report Black Brigade activities. If you’re playing a character who just wants to survive and maybe get a little extra cash, this is tempting. Reporting John’s transmitter or other "terrorist" activities can net you about $30. It’s dirty money, sure, but in Petria, $30 is the difference between a bus ticket and a long walk through the desert.
The Mystery of 51991
There is a sequence where John is on the phone, absolutely losing it, yelling at Robert. If you’re a total nerd and listen to the DTMF tones (the sounds the buttons make), they actually translate to 51991.
A lot of players tried to call this immediately.
Spoiler: It doesn't work.
Usually, you just get a "number not in service" message. It’s one of those things developers put in as a detail for the sound design, but it’s not an active gameplay mechanic. Still, it’s a cool touch that shows how much thought went into the audio.
How to Actually Use the Phone
You can’t just pull out a cell phone. This is 1996. You need a payphone, and you need it to have power. Some phone booths are dead. Some require you to fix them if you have the right perks (shoutout to Alex for teaching us the "Beep Boop Beep" hacking skill).
Once you’re at a functioning booth, you have a few standard options:
- Phone Home: This is for the "Home Sweet Home" achievement. Depending on which teen you’re playing, you might get a loving mother, a dad who’s disappointed, or a police officer who tells you your parents are in jail. It’s a gut punch every time.
- Call a Taxi: Usually costs about $10. It’s the fastest way to travel but skips some of the more interesting roadside encounters.
- Manual Dial: This is where you enter the numbers listed above.
Things Most Players Miss
There's a number, 45-933, that belongs to Anthony Childress. He’s the guy who owns the car Alex drives. You can find this written on the sun visor inside the car. If you call it, you get a bit of flavor text that ties the world together.
Also, try calling 911.
Yeah, it’s a classic. In most games, it does nothing. In Road 96, you get a repetitive line from the Petria police. It’s a reminder that the authorities aren't exactly there to help you.
Why You Should Care
The phone system is basically a secondary narrative track. If you just rush to the border, you see the "A-plot." If you start dialing these numbers, you see the "B-plot"—the paranoia of the government, the desperation of the rebels, and the broken families left behind.
If you're looking for a specific outcome—like a peaceful revolution or a total collapse—the donation numbers are actually the most efficient way to nudge the "karma" meter of the nation.
Next Steps for Your Run
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Go find a working payphone in your next chapter and dial 35-362 if you've been snooping around the Black Brigades. If you're short on cash and don't mind being a snitch, keep 96-112 in your back pocket for when you find a transmitter. Just remember that every call in Petria might be monitored, so choose your words carefully.