First Look at Hopetown: The Spiritual Successor to Disco Elysium

Hopetown, a nonlinear RPG from Longdue Games, offers a unique narrative-driven experience. Founded by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, the studio has unveiled a first look at its debut title, often described as a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium.

The game plunges players into the role of a journalist waking up in a mining town with a brutal hangover. The mystery begins: piecing together the events of the previous night, players navigate escalating local tensions, facing choices that can either de-escalate conflict or ignite the flames further.

Images and screenshots showcase a dialogue-rich gameplay experience where player choices profoundly shape the narrative. Multiple character archetypes are available, each with unique dialogue options and approaches to conversations. For instance, interacting with an elderly woman feeding pigeons allows players to select different conversational tones, leading to varied outcomes.

Longdue Games is gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign to fund Hopetown’s development, with a page already live on the platform. While a release date remains unannounced, anticipation is high among fans of narrative-focused RPGs.

Hopetown isn't the only game drawing inspiration from Disco Elysium. Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal are also developing their own psychological RPGs, creating a burgeoning subgenre within the RPG landscape.