Disco Elysium

 PC
  • Publisher: ZA/UM
  • Release Date: Oct 15, 2019
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1436 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,203 out of 1436
  2. Mixed: 96 out of 1436
  3. Negative: 137 out of 1436

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  1. iwul
    Nov 13, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game got me hooked right at the start - we get a typical Torment-like opening only to discover it's just the biggest of hangovers ever. The game reminds me of Torment:Tides of Numenera in many ways. It's hugely reliant on skill checks, the story is also gloomy and there is this deppresing vibe around it.
    The gameplay is wonderful - no meaningless fights, just exploration, and detective work. Mechanics are harmonizing with the storyline. It's a throwback to point'n'click detective games, but employs a lot of RPG spice to it - which blends together so well.
    It only makes it more amazing when you realize, it's the debut of ZA/UM, good luck with the future games, either it's a sequel or a totally new IP.    … Expand
  2. BulgarianCritic
    Dec 30, 2019
    10
    This is one of the rarest and best examples of how to create an RPG.The characters and the dynamic that they have with the world is incredibly well done and every little thing is connected to everything else in a grand scale.The relationships between Harry and Kim is one of the most polished things i have seen in a game in my entire life.The world is masterfully build to every littleThis is one of the rarest and best examples of how to create an RPG.The characters and the dynamic that they have with the world is incredibly well done and every little thing is connected to everything else in a grand scale.The relationships between Harry and Kim is one of the most polished things i have seen in a game in my entire life.The world is masterfully build to every little detail and its amazing how even your smallest choices change it.The story is incredibly well done even though some people really dislike the sudden ending making them feel a little empty and unsatisfied with it.I can understand that but there are a tons of theories on the internet of what exactly is happening to the world and the character that you play as.I have my own theory and the ending for me really connects with my theory making me feel very satisfied with it.The game play is mostly walking and talking with people but it was done so good that i was entertained every single time even if i was talking about trivial and useless things with the characters or was interacting with the world.There are a lot of funny parts and parts that fill you up with melancholy making the game feel like an amazing theatrical performance leaving you with sadness but also hope for the future.I love the customization that you can have on your character and all the different ways you can build him to interact with the world.The soundtrack is also amazing and i would always remember the Smallest Church in Saint-Saens.The only issue i sometimes faced was the item inventory UI which had some bugs and it made it hard to read some of the item descriptions.And sometimes the thoughts not giving the effect they were supposed to give.This is a great example of a game with an amazing story and characters and it should be used to teach other developers how to make good RPG mechanics and how to input them.Definitely one of the BEST GAMES OF THIS CENTURY.No wonder it got 4 award's… Expand
  3. ChewPai
    May 30, 2020
    10
    【极乐迪斯科】，由六位作家联手完成的大师级RPG作品。外行人把RPG元素做到了前所未有，难能可贵。作家团队定调了该游戏的武功路数。整个流程20小时，不长不短。剧情发展与你角色属性息息相关，走向又峰回路转花明柳暗。极乐迪斯科是当前世代不可多得的游戏。是初出茅庐的处女作，下笔痕迹里却满是老练娴熟。100/100（大师级作品）【极乐迪斯科】，由六位作家联手完成的大师级RPG作品。外行人把RPG元素做到了前所未有，难能可贵。作家团队定调了该游戏的武功路数。整个流程20小时，不长不短。剧情发展与你角色属性息息相关，走向又峰回路转花明柳暗。极乐迪斯科是当前世代不可多得的游戏。是初出茅庐的处女作，下笔痕迹里却满是老练娴熟。100/100（大师级作品）
  4. Benehime
    Mar 15, 2020
    10
    Truth is: you never knew what Disco is. «Disco Elysium»: why really the best game of 2019 is so disco (spoiler free)

    Disco Elysium is a unique detective RolePlayingGame experience on genres edge between ComputerRPG and adventure game (mostly known in Russia as quest), revealing itself practically as social RPG, because whole game run in open world map and dialog tab. In the    Truth is: you never knew what Disco is. «Disco Elysium»: why really the best game of 2019 is so disco (spoiler free)

    Disco Elysium is a unique detective RolePlayingGame experience on genres edge between ComputerRPG and adventure game (mostly known in Russia as quest), revealing itself practically as social RPG, because whole game run in open world map and dialog tab.

    In the industrial city named Revachol strike blows, then murder occurs and moreover here comes you – professional and broken detective to decide Revachols fate. But first, you need some devastating realty lay-down, therefore you are amnesiac – and why are you may turn out one even bigger case to solve.

    Disco Elysium would mostly appeal to those who can appreciate narrative passages and immersive reflection in videogames. That to say it is a Game of the Year for script and writing due to The Game Awards 2019 (actually leading in it also by number of awards in total with four) and many others. And it has completely no fighting system whatsoever, just very few in-fight dice-roll checks as to any other reliable action in the game. You heard it, Disco Elysium brings dice-rolls from broad games to the game once again.

    What so good about the game can be shown in it’s just first hour. It’s really innovative for player to feel, like as if you are experiencing this deep down drown of human being yourself. Characters of Disco can make you feel uncomfortable, pity and weak or smashing and hustling, but mostly just pity and weak.
    Within first hour you will be presented to all of its unprecedented features. Mechanically first of all it’s the Thought Cabinet where you along your amnesiac hero can learn the world, reality and yourself in it. Thought Cabinet lets you pick which of the thoughts generated by game encounters you will proceed with (yeah, I know, just like in real life!). It’s you formulate the thoughts by your actions precisely, then the thoughts you pick to internalize will formulate you (just like in real life, yeah?!).

    But most importantly it is the immersive psychologism in it. Oh boy it does psychologism on you. Frankly putting you in constant fight with your psyche (yeah, I know…). Where most of the game is you speaking to your more or less prescribed appearances (skills) in head – like logic, empathy, perception, endurance or less conventional conceptualization, drama and some esprit de corps (which is nevertheless really just cop discourse and level of your professional deformation). There was one, okay maybe a few more, times in game where I felt like I’m some beta-omega **** myself in real life because of the level of writing in its games NCP’s and how their rhetoric was slaughtering me at the moment.

    Disco Elysium is this unique game that delivers the joy of crushing learning like in childhood. Then continues it with your teen existential crisis. And finishes with more of it. So not to say to your good. Cas once the learning is over game suggests you will be haunted with the case. But the case turns out to be substantially aesthetic mystery…
    Never to say it is bad, but finishing it was hard enough via games native speaking English (though its Estonian developer) – so to say it is very good to strengthen your English – but also case progresses like there is no you involved, so as far as you good with proceeding at handling world and your psyche, case feels just not as much sensually important, always to far from you till games very end.

    Nevertheless increment ends, the game is abnormal at its core features that makes you feel just so involved with character, which gives Disco Elysium status of one of the best role playing game there is to be. Highly recommend for big, smart and sensual narrative.    … Expand
  5. Chucklenut
    Mar 29, 2020
    10
    tl;dr- You are a burnt-out, alcoholic, and amnesiac cop sent to solve a hanging case. There to help you are your innermost thoughts that constantly yell over each other to tell you what to do, uncooperative townspeople that don't acknowledge your authority, and another cop from a rival district that holds the title of world's most patient man.

    Disco Elysium strikes an incredibly fine    tl;dr- You are a burnt-out, alcoholic, and amnesiac cop sent to solve a hanging case. There to help you are your innermost thoughts that constantly yell over each other to tell you what to do, uncooperative townspeople that don't acknowledge your authority, and another cop from a rival district that holds the title of world's most patient man.

    Disco Elysium strikes an incredibly fine balance between "video game" and "visual novel." I won't pretend this is a game for everyone- it's extremely wordy, lacks traditional combat encounters, and is closer to a point-and-click adventure than it is to most modern RPGs. It is however brilliantly written, refreshingly original, and beautifully portrayed.

    Like traditional RPGs, you level up, and can allocate points into your skills. Unlike traditional RPGs, these 24 skills range from simply "Endurance", which determines your physical health, to the less conventional "Espirit de Core", which determines how well you understand cop culture. Also, they talk to you- each skill occupies occupies the mind of the main character and are constantly telling you what to do, to the point where you'll probably be hearing from them more than anyone else. They all have possess different personalities and goals; Encyclopedia is a know-it-all and at high levels encourages you to share your favorite bar trivia with the world whether they want it or not, while conversely your Pain Threshold is a glutton for punishment that only becomes more masochistic as you level it up, telling you to hurt yourself just to see how it feels. What type of cop, and more important, what type of person you are depends on which skills you choose to indulge.

    While the game has a health system, and you can game over, there isn't combat as you'd expect from an RPG. The game is similar to a point-and-click adventure in that while some things will hurt you, there aren't random encounters or boss fights. You have two healthbars, Wellness and Morale, that can be damaged in dialogue by failing certain checks. Fall trying to climb some debris? Unless your Pain Threshold is mighty, that's gonna smart. Lose an argument to a child? Oof, that's not great for your self-esteem.

    The game also doesn't slack in the graphical or audio department. Character and skill portraits are vibrant expressionist paintings. The scenery is all hand-drawn from an isometric viewpoint. The UI is cleverly designed as to not obscure the scene while simultaneously giving you reams of dialogue. The music is varied and perfectly accentuates the intended tone, from the Whirling-in-Rags catchy, upbeat muzak to the brooding, depressing tunes backing the main character's nightmares.

    Disco Elysium is a once-in-a-lifetime, genre defining game, comparable to Papers Please or Hypnospace Outlaw. There hasn't been a game like this before, ever, and anything going forward from this is going to use it as the standard. At $40, some are going to be put off by its rather steep price for an indie game, but I implore you to try it if you're interested- if the game doesn't hook you in the first two hours, you can safely return it, but if it does, you're not going to regret it.    … Expand
  6. Muyrka
    Apr 7, 2020
    10
    It is a best RPG game since PT and Fallout 2. More in genre of interactive book with no action.
    But it is an absolute masterpiece and GOTY.
  7. grvk76
    May 7, 2020
    10
    a masterpiece. best gaming experience this year so far.
    the very ending... may be 8/10 there, expected a bit more... a new revolution would be good, but even so - overall is 10/10.
    and you know what - even if all the rest was just **** (which obviously is not) - the dance in the church (as it happened, holding a crow bar in hand - my favorite item to hold in hand i guess) - was simply    a masterpiece. best gaming experience this year so far.
    the very ending... may be 8/10 there, expected a bit more... a new revolution would be good, but even so - overall is 10/10.
    and you know what - even if all the rest was just **** (which obviously is not) - the dance in the church (as it happened, holding a crow bar in hand - my favorite item to hold in hand i guess) - was simply **** awesome. didn`t have such a good wave for a while this fake quarantine **** around.    … Expand
  8. lqstuart
    Sep 20, 2020
    9
    The important thing to know about this game is that it is, at its core, a text-based RPG. It consists almost entirely of reading and dialog options--and, if you're playing on an UWHD monitor, it's kinda tedious to keep staring at the right side of it. But it's a genre that is sorely underrepresented these days, as these games are capable of offering a depth of gameplay that AAA titles withThe important thing to know about this game is that it is, at its core, a text-based RPG. It consists almost entirely of reading and dialog options--and, if you're playing on an UWHD monitor, it's kinda tedious to keep staring at the right side of it. But it's a genre that is sorely underrepresented these days, as these games are capable of offering a depth of gameplay that AAA titles with amazing graphics and physics simply can't, and I strongly encourage people to give it a chance.

    I didn't realize this initially, and I was initially turned off by the incredibly heavy-handed political ideologies that are baked into the narrative and read like the Livejournal of a freshman at a third tier university, but the more I played, the more I became absorbed. The art style is really incredible, the characters are actually engaging, and the game gives you real choices just like an old school text adventure, as opposed to modern ARPGs where taking the obvious "wrong" choices will simply go nowhere. It's worth buying just to see if you like this kind of thing.    … Expand
  9. thundr_strike
    Feb 1, 2020
    10
    It's a masterpiece. With beautiful art style, great writing, amazing soundtrack and memorable characters, Disco Elysium is my GOTY 2019
  10. szymi262pl
    Feb 2, 2020
    10
    Brilliantly written, with wonderful, interesting, and sympathetic characters, a twisting and utterly unexpected plot line, an amazing, beautiful world, and a heaping of art and phil
  11. kordivan002
    Dec 12, 2019
    9
    que se puede decir , un juego excepcional con buena historia y manejo de la misma
  12. Roflpotamus
    Jan 31, 2020
    10
    Fantastically written game. I love all the branches to explore and possibilities.
  13. notbrianblessed
    Apr 4, 2020
    10
    Startlingly original, intelligent and well executed game. It's David Lynch's Baldur's Gate 2.

    Some surprising performance issues, but forgivable in a game of this pace.
  14. Shiv3R
    Apr 30, 2020
    10
    Created the account only to leave this rating. This game is a masterpiece... for me. Descendant of original Planescape Torment from dialogues perspective and it goes even further with it. Well written, great story with touching ending. This is one of these games you really hate to finish and think about it very long after finishing it. Unique retro style graphics and music that completesCreated the account only to leave this rating. This game is a masterpiece... for me. Descendant of original Planescape Torment from dialogues perspective and it goes even further with it. Well written, great story with touching ending. This is one of these games you really hate to finish and think about it very long after finishing it. Unique retro style graphics and music that completes fully the greatness of this game. It might be slow, it might feel there's too much text but once you will conquer your first hesitation it is truly rewarding and satisfies you completely. Can't wait for next chapters of this adventure. Well done producers and developers!… Expand
  15. vvavelord
    May 16, 2020
    10
    INTERACTIVE BOOK OF CHOICES.
    I have been waiting for such game so long time. There are no useless battles or boring grinding. But there are tones of interesting texts and tasks. It's like something between a book and a game mixed together with and amazing music. The expressionism style fills up the entire game. And don't forget that this is RPG game so you can play any role you want. It    INTERACTIVE BOOK OF CHOICES.
    I have been waiting for such game so long time. There are no useless battles or boring grinding. But there are tones of interesting texts and tasks. It's like something between a book and a game mixed together with and amazing music. The expressionism style fills up the entire game. And don't forget that this is RPG game so you can play any role you want. It means you can walk around the city wearing only one shoe. You can punch a kid in his face and don't feel sorry about it. And don't feel shame to pick up empty bottles and earn money. And then spend all your money to buy new shoes...
    I recommend this game for everyone who likes books, Dostoevsky and Franz Marc.    … Expand
  16. JuanLuisGG14
    Jun 13, 2020
    9
    Disco Elysium is a masterpiece of storytelling. The fact that the protagonist knows the same about himself when we start the game works great and inevitably compells instantly. Then, the plot is a labyrinthic sprawling mysterious quests that constantly defies your expectactions. Such good dialogue and plot is achievable through a believable lore and world and through the mentalDisco Elysium is a masterpiece of storytelling. The fact that the protagonist knows the same about himself when we start the game works great and inevitably compells instantly. Then, the plot is a labyrinthic sprawling mysterious quests that constantly defies your expectactions. Such good dialogue and plot is achievable through a believable lore and world and through the mental personalities that appear in the protagonist's mind . This leads to the only weakness of the game: it can be very excessive. There are just so many dialogues that every session feels at first like you have to push yourself. Dialogues can get excessively pretentious, although never without a reason. An that's the beauty of the game at the same time. That makes Disco Elysium a quite niche game , too.… Expand
  17. razMN
    Apr 10, 2022
    9
    (+) Good exploration. The lore and story is great, diallogues, characters, skill-system are also very good.

    (-) The game has some locked skill checks that you'll either need to grind or the game won't tell you that you'll simply have to wait until you can unlock the option. Some other stuff the game won't really tell you how to do/use, so you'll be going to Google sometimes. Oh, and the    (+) Good exploration. The lore and story is great, diallogues, characters, skill-system are also very good.

    (-) The game has some locked skill checks that you'll either need to grind or the game won't tell you that you'll simply have to wait until you can unlock the option. Some other stuff the game won't really tell you how to do/use, so you'll be going to Google sometimes. Oh, and the ending is lazy af.    … Expand
  18. joshbreviews
    Feb 5, 2020
    10
    This is an extremely good RPG. If you like the noir genre, you'll love this. It's dark yet funny. It's very engaging. It has a unique stat system that is so weird and original that it's awesome.

    I've read some comparisons to True Detective. That's accurate. If you love RPGs, then buy this game. I hope the devs make tons of money because they've earned it. Also, that would mean    This is an extremely good RPG. If you like the noir genre, you'll love this. It's dark yet funny. It's very engaging. It has a unique stat system that is so weird and original that it's awesome.

    I've read some comparisons to True Detective. That's accurate.

    If you love RPGs, then buy this game.

    I hope the devs make tons of money because they've earned it. Also, that would mean another game from them which would be great.

    Hopefully their next game is still an RPG, but is high-fantasy, dark-fantasy, or maybe sci-fi, so that there can be combat. That's the only con, here - no combat. But other than that, this is an absolutely mind-blowing game. There a few experiences out there quite like this.

    PLAY IT.    … Expand
  19. vijay11
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    loved the game, story, writing and mostly characters and story. CUNO loved it as well :)
  20. Crimert
    Jan 24, 2020
    9
    One of the best RPGs I have ever played. I don't need much to say. 26hrs on record.
  21. otterone
    Mar 10, 2020
    8
    Disco Elysium is a fantastic game for RPG lovers, who love to read tons of dialogue and build their character throughout the story the way they want. Yes, the dialogue gets very pretentious at times and you do want to keep a dictionary close just in case, but everything from world building to the characters is done amazingly and it definitely overshadows those problems. If you're all aboutDisco Elysium is a fantastic game for RPG lovers, who love to read tons of dialogue and build their character throughout the story the way they want. Yes, the dialogue gets very pretentious at times and you do want to keep a dictionary close just in case, but everything from world building to the characters is done amazingly and it definitely overshadows those problems. If you're all about self-examination, artistry, politics, murder mysteries or anything in-between, do give Disco Elysium a try!

    However, it is important to note that there will be heaps of text, and some of it will be as tedious as it is to very slowly walk around town. Therefore I wouldn't blame anyone who might feel overwhelmed by Disco Elysium, especially considering how long of a game it is. This is nothing completely unbearable, but still recommended to keep in mind.    … Expand
  22. GabFire
    Aug 9, 2020
    9
    Jogo simplesmente genial, muito bem pensado, passei horas desfrutando dessa bela obra indie, por isso sempre digo, indies são muito importantes para a indústria, e ''Disco Elysium'' nos mostra que há gênios por toda parte e que merecem um certo reconhecimento. Parabéns por esse jogo fantástico, super recomendo para quem tá precisando de um RPG diferente para jogar na falta de jogos do PC.
  23. NeverSm1Le
    Feb 1, 2020
    8
    РПГ которую истинные ценители заслужили, в ней все что задумано реализовано на очень высоком уровне
  24. Draugnimir
    Feb 21, 2020
    9
    If you could get just one game throughout this whole year, it should be Disco Elysium (yup, I believe it could be considered over The Last of Us: Part II or Cyberpunk 2077).

    I'll spare you too many words in this review, as there are so many of them in the game. Read those instead, they are written soooooo brilliantly. Long story short: it's one of the best RPGs I've ever played...    If you could get just one game throughout this whole year, it should be Disco Elysium (yup, I believe it could be considered over The Last of Us: Part II or Cyberpunk 2077).

    I'll spare you too many words in this review, as there are so many of them in the game. Read those instead, they are written soooooo brilliantly.

    Long story short: it's one of the best RPGs I've ever played... and the best game I've ever read. And I'm not sure if it's possible that anything will change that... ever. It's a masterpiece from beginning to the very end.    … Expand
  25. OrrinHeroes3
    Feb 26, 2020
    8
    The game is really interesting, but I admit honestly - I did not go through it to the end. A huge part of the game is based on the textual interaction of the characters, but the author of the texts is distinguished by graphomania and excessive artistry. It is unlikely that a cop is an alcoholic so eloquent alter ego. For a non-native speaker, playing is quite difficult. I am waiting forThe game is really interesting, but I admit honestly - I did not go through it to the end. A huge part of the game is based on the textual interaction of the characters, but the author of the texts is distinguished by graphomania and excessive artistry. It is unlikely that a cop is an alcoholic so eloquent alter ego. For a non-native speaker, playing is quite difficult. I am waiting for translation and going to try it again.… Expand
  26. Axa4u
    Jul 17, 2020
    10
    Rational words fail describe how this game made me feel, so i'll just let my emotions take the wheel:

    I've swinged myself through this whole real rockstar stuff, and need to say it's damn sexy baby! I mean you are a half cop, half rockstar and half lifesaver. You are 50% + 50% + 50% so you are more than 100%, and that's hot! I would share a bed with the dialogue style in this    Rational words fail describe how this game made me feel, so i'll just let my emotions take the wheel:

    I've swinged myself through this whole real rockstar stuff, and need to say it's damn sexy baby!

    I mean you are a half cop, half rockstar and half lifesaver. You are 50% + 50% + 50% so you are more than 100%, and that's hot!

    I would share a bed with the dialogue style in this game. I mean literally slapping the cheeks of all the sentences which are written in this masterpiece. Everyone who thinks otherwise, I accept that, but FU!?

    After I've seen the end credits roll over my screen, I've realized I'm another human now. I'm Disco now. And that's all because I've never lived such an experience before in my life. And damn yes I would go through all this clicking, licking, thinking and reading again so I can experience this game with another character build.

    I love this game and if you love this game too I love you too. Otherwise I have two fingers for you, and they aren't crossed, they are held straight into your face.

    DISCO, BABY.    … Expand
  27. falsegamer
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. The themes are so somber but the writing is funny and the game is not cynical like a lot of other medias tend to portray this stories. The game is heavy on the texts but thankfully the writing is very enjoyable.
  28. Gonzaked
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First you're doing prank calls to the phone, wasting your precious coins hardly earned...

    Then, you remember a number...
    And it's her... Your ex-wife on the phone...

    You're going from a good laugh to a nearly sobbing state...
    The colors, the music... everything in this game is helping you to feel what the character is feeling.

    It's a small and anecdotic example of what this game can make you feel...

    And It does it well... It's a marvel that must be discovered even if you don't like RPG or puzzles...    … Expand
  29. Yosiris
    May 7, 2022
    8
    +
    Atmosphere
    Visual style & Graphics
    Voice acting
    Music
    Dialogues & Unique world
    Pleasant, indulgent and poetic

    -
    Almost linear
    Too small text window, pain to read
    Boring, insignificant and too long dialogues (sometimes)
    No real fighting
    Unbalanced character development system
    Political agenda
  30. rhazesmo
    Jun 16, 2022
    10
    I made an account just so I could review disco. This is the god-king or rpgs.
  31. Turnip
    Oct 28, 2019
    10
    I don't expect anyone to read this, but I want to bump up the number of reviews this game has, because it absolutely deserves all the praise it is being given.

    Games like these don't come often. If you played Planescape: Torment, Tyranny, Kotor 2 for the plot and decisions, this game delivers the same in spades. Set in a brilliant mundane alternative world, with just enough weird    I don't expect anyone to read this, but I want to bump up the number of reviews this game has, because it absolutely deserves all the praise it is being given.

    Games like these don't come often. If you played Planescape: Torment, Tyranny, Kotor 2 for the plot and decisions, this game delivers the same in spades. Set in a brilliant mundane alternative world, with just enough weird elements to make it familiar but slightly weird and even eerie.

    This game is not only a serious contender for game of the decade, but it will either be remembered as the most criminally underrated cult-classic or the strongest debut of a rising game company since Black Isle made Fallout 1.    … Expand
  32. LazerDoofus
    Oct 24, 2019
    9
    - GET READY TO READ... RATHER A LOT.
    - This game starts in something of a tropey & weird place, but it goes someplace wonderful
    I'm not a big game reviewer, but I felt I owed the dev team a review after I had such a wonderful experience with my first playthrough of this game (this will be other playthroughs). I laughed, I almost cried, I actually felt ashamed of one of my decisions    - GET READY TO READ... RATHER A LOT.
    - This game starts in something of a tropey & weird place, but it goes someplace wonderful

    I'm not a big game reviewer, but I felt I owed the dev team a review after I had such a wonderful experience with my first playthrough of this game (this will be other playthroughs). I laughed, I almost cried, I actually felt ashamed of one of my decisions after everything panned out. I really did care for many of these characters and really enjoyed spending over 30 hours with them. This game has some very strong writing while handling some challenging themes. I only wish my decisions lead to better outcomes...

    oh well, hopefully next playthough :-)    … Expand
  33. Drizzdal
    Nov 1, 2019
    10
    Best RPG and probably best game i ever played. Absolutely fantastic piece of art. I would love to see this type of game and mechanics in low medieval fantasy or D&D type of setting...
  34. AccordionHero
    Oct 22, 2019
    10
    Disco Elysium is a text-heavy isomorphic RPG in the vein of Planetscape: Torment

    [DRAMA[Medium: Failure] A moment sir- too formal! Spice it up! RHETORIC[Medium: Success] A game review should at least describe HAND-EYE COORDINATION[Trivial: Failure] teh gmae in some fahsion. VOLITION[Medium: Success] Pull it together- you can do this! Despite sharing none of the setting or    Disco Elysium is a text-heavy isomorphic RPG in the vein of Planetscape: Torment

    [DRAMA[Medium: Failure] A moment sir- too formal! Spice it up!
    RHETORIC[Medium: Success] A game review should at least describe
    HAND-EYE COORDINATION[Trivial: Failure]

    teh gmae in some fahsion.

    VOLITION[Medium: Success] Pull it together- you can do this!

    Despite sharing none of the setting or lore, it mimics Ps:T in being aggressively weird- the vast majority of the discussion in the game will literally be your skills competing for time inside your head, bolstered by random thoughts about invisible insects or the nature of art criticism

    SHIVERS[Hard: Success] A breeze and the sound of a child close by. The mother looks for the lost toy
    EMPATHY[Challenging: Success] Wrap this up. It's too long and the readers are rolling their eyes.
    VOLITION[Hard: Success] Not without explaining what the game is like. It's too good to ignore.
    LOGIC[Medium: Success] Writing a compelling review will help sales, thus possibly creating more games like Disco Elysium.
    AUTHORITY[Hard: Success] JUST BUY THE DAMN GAME ALREADY!    … Expand
  35. chiroben
    Oct 27, 2019
    9
    I think it's dark and it looks like it's rain, you said
    And the wind is blowing like it's the end of the world, you said
    And it's so cold, it's like the cold if you were dead And you smiled for a second I think I'm old and I'm feeling pain, you said And it's all running out like it's the end of the world, you said And it's so cold, it's like the cold if you were dead And you smiled    I think it's dark and it looks like it's rain, you said
    And the wind is blowing like it's the end of the world, you said
    And it's so cold, it's like the cold if you were dead
    And you smiled for a second
    I think I'm old and I'm feeling pain, you said
    And it's all running out like it's the end of the world, you said
    And it's so cold, it's like the cold if you were dead
    And you smiled for a second
    Sometimes you make me feel
    Like I'm living at the edge of the world
    Like I'm living at the edge of the world
    It's just the way I smile, you said

    Writing 10/10. Graphics 8/10. Interfacing 5/10. Inland Empire 11/10. Shivers 11/10.    … Expand
  36. maxmoefoe
    Dec 8, 2019
    10
    Great writing, great worldbuilding. Finished this in 3 days. Easily my game of the year 2019.
  37. zephtyr
    Dec 4, 2019
    9
    An RPG I never knew I needed, definitely a new standard for the genre, a must play for rpg fans out there
  38. jacksonelhage
    Nov 30, 2019
    8
    One of the more unique games of the year, Disco Elysium sets out to tell a story and nothing but. Don't expect exciting gameplay. You'll have the same sort of fun with this game as you might have when reading a good book. The writing fits the tone. It's fluffy and matter of fact, sort of reads like a **** stretched over a whole game. Especially your dialogue, expect to be spouting off likeOne of the more unique games of the year, Disco Elysium sets out to tell a story and nothing but. Don't expect exciting gameplay. You'll have the same sort of fun with this game as you might have when reading a good book. The writing fits the tone. It's fluffy and matter of fact, sort of reads like a **** stretched over a whole game. Especially your dialogue, expect to be spouting off like a complete dumbass. There's also the mechanic where you can talk your skills themselves, but that's a whole other beast. The way they read depends on the skill. You might be stuck with a communist revolutionary or a vain celebrity as your little brain buddy. If you're unlucky you'll constantly get interrupted by a massive racist. The detective segments are my favourite bits though, working with your partner and your bickering skills to deduce what the hell happened. If you're looking for an RPG with exciting gameplay, give this one a miss and try The Outer Worlds, it tackles similar themes in a more light-hearted fashion, but if you're willing to stick it out a bit, you'll probably have a lot of fun with this game.… Expand
  39. fioritos
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    A magnificent game. The only mistake is that sometimes looks like you're not making considerable progress despite playing hours and hours. When I finished, I could only think that the game universe is unique and original, even today, where originality is rare. The political game, the satirization of our organizations and systems, the loneliness as a joke of oneself, are all a greatA magnificent game. The only mistake is that sometimes looks like you're not making considerable progress despite playing hours and hours. When I finished, I could only think that the game universe is unique and original, even today, where originality is rare. The political game, the satirization of our organizations and systems, the loneliness as a joke of oneself, are all a great backdrop to an interesting story with striking characters.… Expand
  40. ReAliTycn
    Mar 21, 2020
    9
    "The" best lovecraft style pure rpg DND/COC like game in industry.
    All the pros you can find from a hardcore rpg,great story,meaningful choice,immersive environment,etc are in the game.
    But also all the cons which are a lot casual gamer hated,complicated mechanic,long dialog,slow pace and so on.
    SO it is a very dedicated targeting game for certain gamer,and they will definitely love it,like us.
  41. ErhanCeylan123
    Jul 17, 2020
    10
    This game have a soul.This is how you make your characters interesting.I love everything in this game.World,characters,dialogue,skill system and of course phasmids.
  42. Umadbro
    Nov 10, 2019
    9
    A very strange journey through the human mind and an interesting spin on the isometric RPG genre. You can be insane and talk to visions or just use stone cold logic all packaged into a detective noir storyline, just don't expect any form of combat. One of my favorites this year.
  43. iseeall
    Jan 15, 2020
    9
    A walking+dialog adventure/rpg detective story with psychological depth, but not for a typical RPG player.

    Pros: - nice art with distinctive style, and good audio - a lot of skill checks and generally a huge number of branches in the dialogs, far more than, say, in Fallout 2 or Baldur's Gate - the general feel of decadence/apocalypse So-so: - it's just dialogs. No tactical/combat    A walking+dialog adventure/rpg detective story with psychological depth, but not for a typical RPG player.

    Pros:
    - nice art with distinctive style, and good audio
    - a lot of skill checks and generally a huge number of branches in the dialogs, far more than, say, in Fallout 2 or Baldur's Gate
    - the general feel of decadence/apocalypse

    So-so:
    - it's just dialogs. No tactical/combat part that would be typical for RPGs but that's what this game is about: talking and navigating huge dialog trees with skill checks
    - text is complex and hard to read which you could call "pretentious" or "refreshing" depending on how you want to look at it. Frankly, it impressed me at first but got me even more bored after a few hours
    - the main character is an alcoholic with weak health. I guess that's interesting to try out in a game for once. However, since I don't drink or smoke IRL, I can't really empathize with that. I have zero interest in problems of alcoholics and would prefer if this game had no references to substance abuse at all, of if that topic was used in NPCs, not the main character.
    - the whole topic of a police investigation: if it's your cup of tea, you will like it, but I was bored to death after the scene with the hanging corpse (basically, where I dropped the game). Why would I be interested in investigating a crime of which the character learnt just recently and isn't even fully sure he's a cop? I would't want to be a cop IRL, I don't respect the police (in fact, even dislike it quite a lot).. i couldn't care less why some body is hanging there and what political tensions exist between some fictional organizations..

    Bad:
    - nothing really

    In short, I share the sentiments which critiques have about this game: that it's unique and a milestone in games. However, personally, it's not what I would enjoy for more than an hour because I'm more of a math person than poetry person. I see why this game is good but sorry, I'm not the type for it. Definitely check it out if you are writer/poet/journalist with a drinking problem!    … Expand
  44. oolevityoo
    Jun 30, 2020
    9
    It's a solid 9 or 10. While the game does slightly deceive players in some respect, it's all forgiveable for such a memorable and engaging experience. The soundtrack is incredible too!
  45. mikepatyaev
    Apr 9, 2021
    9
    Disco Elysium is an open world role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters
  46. elryo
    Aug 6, 2020
    10
    Sure, this is more of a novel than a game. But my word, it is incredible. The writing, themes, music, graphics all make this world come alive. Every character you meet is memorable in every way. Let me get this straight - if you don't like reading, this game isn't for you. There is A LOT of it. But it's all just brilliant. I couldn't tell you how many times this game made me laugh outSure, this is more of a novel than a game. But my word, it is incredible. The writing, themes, music, graphics all make this world come alive. Every character you meet is memorable in every way. Let me get this straight - if you don't like reading, this game isn't for you. There is A LOT of it. But it's all just brilliant. I couldn't tell you how many times this game made me laugh out loud. Mostly from failing a skill-check. It's also unbearably sad in places. You learn more and more of the world and the plot as you go on and it keeps you fully engaged throughout this 25-30 hour adventure. And the world. My goodness, I wish I could learn more about it. There are so many mysterious qualities about it that left me gagging for more. It touches on the bizarre without making you go 'pfft, that's too unrealistic' which for me was just perfect. I rarely replay games anymore. I'm replaying this just a few months after I first completed it - which is a testament to how good it is, but also a testament to how replayable it is. Choosing different options, perhaps roleplaying it differently too. Is your cop super smart but as frail as a piece of tissue paper? Or perhaps he's incredibly stupid but built like a monster? Your choice, and it feels so organic. This game is a breath of fresh air and I hope it inspires other companies to make more like it. Not an easy task I imagine, as the writing in most games is okay at best. In this it truly feels like I'm reading a great novel, so I have to give ZA/UM massive credit there.… Expand
  47. UncleMaka
    Nov 11, 2019
    8
    This game is getting mixed reviews mostly because of the way it approaches ideologies. And this, indeed, is its absolutely worst aspect. Most characters are categorized by their "ideology", and said ideologies lack any nuance. You're either a hardcore bolshevik, a brick-headed fascist, soulless capitalist, or something along these lines. This aspect of the game can easily break immersionThis game is getting mixed reviews mostly because of the way it approaches ideologies. And this, indeed, is its absolutely worst aspect. Most characters are categorized by their "ideology", and said ideologies lack any nuance. You're either a hardcore bolshevik, a brick-headed fascist, soulless capitalist, or something along these lines. This aspect of the game can easily break immersion and reminds you that you're not solving a real crime. People are never so simple.

    It's also worth mentioning that, sometimes, the game can be a little too crazy or assign insane difficulty to very easy tasks. In many cases, also, you're not allowed to do the most obvious thing. Instead, you're being sent on a wild goose chase.

    This being said, the game endears you to itself with its art style from the first moment. Its (rare!) voice acting is great, graphics are enthralling, and even such tiny things as pictures used for stats, are generally mesmerizing. Writing is stellar, despite some ham-fisted approach to ideology. But most importantly, your game really depends on who your character is. To the point I've never seen in any game before.

    Character creation in Disco Elysium is unique. You don't play a warrior or a rogue; you're a cop and a cop is his mind, his charm, his physique and his motorics. All these aspects decide whether you can tell if someone is lying to you, how you respond under pressure, whether you understand what it is being a cop, or how much you can rely on your gut feelings. If you're a guy who can spot a lot, you're most likely not very good at reading intentions, even though you may notice blood-shot eyes. But it's not as simple as that. If your perception is too good, you may focus on a childhood scar of your interlocutor, completely forgetting about your case for two days. Middle road gets you nowhere but when you specialize, you may easily lose yourself. Not to mention that if you're not composed enough, swaying hips of a gal can be more than enough to make it impossible for you to think straight.

    What hooked me into this game is that character choices do matter. There's plenty of moments when you can perform a perfect investigation and end up with completely bogus results because you weren't able to recognize some cultural motif and your empathy towards a child led you astray. In other cases, you need to get something done and agree to a rotten compromise, just to learn that there were other ways of accomplishing things. Most tasks are interesting, the main story has its twists, and there are also quite a few things intentionally designed to waste your time.

    The game deserves stellar note of 9/10. Alas, it's not perfect mechanics-wise. I could use "always run" mode, it would be nice to manage your equipment, fewer loading screens would be welcome, proper multicore optimization is a must in 2019 and so on. These are all rather minor things. All the same, -1 for limited quality of life.

    All in all, it's a must-play for fans of the RPG genre who don't mind reading a lot. If you don't enjoy reading, this game is simply not for you. No harm in that. To those, who are afraid that Disco Elysium is filled with useless narrative like the latest Planescape Torment, don't worry. Every line of test is both well written and interesting.    … Expand
  48. BlueTree
    Jan 11, 2020
    8
    This is a great game, but I feel like people overlook some serious flaws. It suffers some pacing issues, a staggering amount of typos (some in the first five minutes of the game) and is horribly optimized. Playing Disco Elysium for 45 minutes (mostly reading text) makes my GTX 2070 fans run at 100%. A another minor issue is the game can't seem to decide to open at full screen or windowed.This is a great game, but I feel like people overlook some serious flaws. It suffers some pacing issues, a staggering amount of typos (some in the first five minutes of the game) and is horribly optimized. Playing Disco Elysium for 45 minutes (mostly reading text) makes my GTX 2070 fans run at 100%. A another minor issue is the game can't seem to decide to open at full screen or windowed. It's 50/50 on my system.

    Overall this a beautiful, dark, well written chose your own adventure book. It's not perfect though.    … Expand
  49. Lazyyybone
    Apr 19, 2020
    9
    사실 스토리만으로 보면 소설과 비교했을 때, 마지막 결말 부분에 있어서 부족한 점이 있는 것은 사실. 하지만 중반부의 몰입감은 여타 다른 문학과 비교해봤을 때도 나쁘지 않았고, 유화로 색칠한 듯한 심도 깊은 세계관 속에서 인물들과 사건들간의 복잡성 그리고 결국 내면에 대한 이야기라는 것을 감안했을 때는 훌륭했다. 그리고 단순한 라이트노벨게임과는 다르게, 커스터마이징, 이야기의 진행에 있어서의 주사위와 능력치 그리고 물건과 NPC 등 그렇게 퉁치기에는 게임적 요소가 너무나 다양했다. 걸작.사실 스토리만으로 보면 소설과 비교했을 때, 마지막 결말 부분에 있어서 부족한 점이 있는 것은 사실. 하지만 중반부의 몰입감은 여타 다른 문학과 비교해봤을 때도 나쁘지 않았고, 유화로 색칠한 듯한 심도 깊은 세계관 속에서 인물들과 사건들간의 복잡성 그리고 결국 내면에 대한 이야기라는 것을 감안했을 때는 훌륭했다. 그리고 단순한 라이트노벨게임과는 다르게, 커스터마이징, 이야기의 진행에 있어서의 주사위와 능력치 그리고 물건과 NPC 등 그렇게 퉁치기에는 게임적 요소가 너무나 다양했다. 걸작.
  50. bancandrei
    Feb 10, 2021
    8
    Everything is so great and fits together nicely that minor things you wouldn't even notice in another title stand out like glaring flaws or bugs. For example the set-up is a little weak, the train-wreck which is your character was just yesterday, how can you change or solve a case that quickly? A stand-out title in that you don't have any combat, but it does feel more like an RPG than anEverything is so great and fits together nicely that minor things you wouldn't even notice in another title stand out like glaring flaws or bugs. For example the set-up is a little weak, the train-wreck which is your character was just yesterday, how can you change or solve a case that quickly? A stand-out title in that you don't have any combat, but it does feel more like an RPG than an adventure game. So, I would call it a revolutionary title.… Expand
  51. plusRichman
    May 19, 2021
    10
    Disco Elysium is a work of genius. It's RPG in it's purest form with unparalleled mature writing, that doesn't scare away from being artistic, political, meta or outright silly. It's character development and gameplay is totally out of the box with your skills being personified representation of you character inner self that try to influence you. The outcome may not always be successfulDisco Elysium is a work of genius. It's RPG in it's purest form with unparalleled mature writing, that doesn't scare away from being artistic, political, meta or outright silly. It's character development and gameplay is totally out of the box with your skills being personified representation of you character inner self that try to influence you. The outcome may not always be successful for your character but it is always interesting. The amazing writing and the novel gameplay are complemented by an aesthetically impressive artwork, making the whole game a masterpiece. Although this game is not for anyone, if you are into rpg genre you should totally play it.… Expand
  52. Vr2000
    May 9, 2022
    10
    This is a masterpiece. You rarely get such a unique and mature story, with gritty dark humor. It is a fictional setting, but it is absolutely believable. It is an rpg, but I feel this is really about exploring the story and amazing characters. I could spend a year in this game.
  53. TheMitherer
    Apr 11, 2023
    9
    Dear me, some people haven't done their research before buying again. Obviously it isn't for everyone. I got it cheap in the sales and I have to say if I'd have paid full price my score would be 8 not 9 because the game is rather short. There is some replayabilty but not a great deal. I found it hypnotic, engrossing and very funny in parts. The writing is first class and the artDear me, some people haven't done their research before buying again. Obviously it isn't for everyone. I got it cheap in the sales and I have to say if I'd have paid full price my score would be 8 not 9 because the game is rather short. There is some replayabilty but not a great deal. I found it hypnotic, engrossing and very funny in parts. The writing is first class and the art eye-catching. The skills that you can acquire are intriguing and fresh and the story is very well told. Most of the politics can be avoided if you wish and save scumming is definitely not required to enjoy the game. I have minor gripes about the plot and the GUI needs some polish but overall a great experience.… Expand
  54. Klewer
    Jul 5, 2022
    8
    A great RPG experience set in an interesting world with a multitude of ways to play. Dialogue can get a little tedious at times but it draws you in and the way you choose to play feels like it can lead you down different paths of the game.
  55. RMDsilva
    Sep 11, 2020
    8
    This game defines roleplaying, in an intensely original **** up way. Go for it.
  56. runner
    Nov 27, 2021
    9
    I have started playing the game for some time and about halfway got the Final Cut update. It's essentially still the same game, but I would refer to the Final Cut mostly.
    Now, this game is a unique and peculiar take on RPG. In fact, I personally felt this is more like a point and click adventure with only *some* RPG elements.
    In short, you have plenty of personality traits and those are    I have started playing the game for some time and about halfway got the Final Cut update. It's essentially still the same game, but I would refer to the Final Cut mostly.
    Now, this game is a unique and peculiar take on RPG. In fact, I personally felt this is more like a point and click adventure with only *some* RPG elements.
    In short, you have plenty of personality traits and those are your "stats" where you'd spread your skill points. Skill points would be gained by exploring the world, advancing with the main story but also for many, MANY other things you can find out and discover around you while exploring and talking with people.
    Many of the actions in the course of these explorations actually depend on those traits, and so your personality will have an effect on a large part of the story.

    Now, describing it like this may make it sound a bit laconic, and it really isn't. But what it does reflect correctly is that this game is not about being purely RPG but it is really all about the story.
    If you're into stories - you'll be fine. You'll be walking around, talking with people and finding out the bizzarre stories and characters of Revachol.
    The game has even much more to it, BUT - if you're lost when it's too much story oriented then this is probably not the game for you. The conversations are very lengthy and I think it's not an overstatement to claim these are the main contents of the game. The original version had it all in piles and piles of text, which made it rather tiring. The Final Cut had it all voiced-over, which I personally found much easier.

    Still, Disco Elysium is not easy to digest. It required your attention and patience. It took me quite some time to finish the game, more than a few months actually, and not because of its length - but because it can be hard to actually take the time to invest in this game when you have a busy schedule and just want a light gaming session at the end of the day, Still, once I DID take the time, I was never bored, and the world and environment were always intriguing and made me want to go on with the game some more.

    Speaking of length, this may vary a lot according to your playstyle. I don't think I played more than 30 hours overall. The true "meat" of the game is that you may restart it with different statspersonality, and while the main story is always the same - the way the world around you reacts may change significantly (or so I've heard, as I'm yet to try a second playthrough).

    What's beautiful about Disco Elysium is that you may truly do what you want and feel is best (or worst) for your characters. While there are a few "game over" occasions, I personally didn't hit that many while playing rather spontaneously. You may fail some (or many) of the tasks and challenges given to you, and this would still develop the story in an interesting way, sometimes even better than expected. At any rate, the autosave system will save you of most troubles.

    So, as stated, along with being a masterpiece it's one of the sort which may be tiring at once and need some of your patience and faith in it. The game is not perfect, but it is very close to it.

    Few irritating points which you may need to overlook - first, without any spoilers, early in the game if you're not careful you MAY make mistakes which would leave you stuck at the end of the day without a way to advance. As mentioned there are plenty of autosaves and manual saves are possible as well, so this shouldn't really be game-breaking, and as I mentioned I didn't encounter such points while playing very spontaneously and not reading too much walkthroughs, etc.
    Still, not completely player-friendly. Speaking of that, the game is generally not player-friendly. Many of the mechanics aren't really explained to you, and as this is a detective game, I'm guessing this is somewhat intentional. There IS some magic in figuring stuff on your own, yet some basic stuff are simply never explained. One technical issue is that loading times can be irritating and completely non-proportional to the content being loaded, whether you're moving to a full scale-city or a tiny room, you'll be encountered by a loading screen of around 10 seconds. This usually doesn't occur THAT much, but there are some points where it's really annoying, especially in a game which is based on exploring and traveling around.

    No one is perfect though, right? and this are really the very few downsides I found. This is, again, very story oriented. In terms of production values, the game is rather top-notch, and while not having the super advanced graphics of AAA titles, it has a just-enough top-down vibe with terrific surroundings, soundtrack, and superb voice-overs, and has a highly complex story which is worth the ride.    … Expand
  57. PrincessRose
    Feb 3, 2023
    9
    This game is amazing with top notch writing, characters and voice acting.

    I like that characters have plenty of good unique dialogue as I have played an RPG where you wasted time talking to anyone and everyone to find quests and alot of the NPC's would have some repetitive useless remark, small talk or comment that was the same as the other person. This game is amazing that there is so    This game is amazing with top notch writing, characters and voice acting.

    I like that characters have plenty of good unique dialogue as I have played an RPG where you wasted time talking to anyone and everyone to find quests and alot of the NPC's would have some repetitive useless remark, small talk or comment that was the same as the other person. This game is amazing that there is so much unique, good dialogue.

    I mostly enjoyed playing it , but there were times I felt it dribbled on and bored me especially the political stuff as I dislike political stuff and have no idea about any of it so just select an answer even though I am not sure what it is, so at times Iam as confused and feel as lost as the main character. I have also made a few choices I wasn't happy with and found out I missed out on some things but didn't reload as I feel that is just being authentic and showing that me and the main character(I wont say his name as I don't wish to spoil anything for others)aren't perfect and are your typical flawed human that makes mistakes and life is never perfect so I will choose to reflect that.
    The game did sometimes crash for me so it's imperative to have multiple saves and to quick save often.

    Even so I consider this game a must play for those who love RPG's, adventure games and a good story.    … Expand
  58. TomasLacerda
    Aug 31, 2021
    10
    Just play this game.
    The freedom on how you can shape your character and how your decisions echoed throughout the story, this is a true RPG. Don't check trailers, just jump into it so you don't get any spoilers. It's gorgeous! I'm usually must more towards FPS and typical RPG like Fallout & Mass Effect, and this game just wow'ed me.
  59. bskierys
    Feb 18, 2020
    9
    Fascinating world that feels so much strange yet familiar. The game has a really well told story with insane and gorgeous moments. Prepare yourself for walls of text that you will read with mixed feelings of fascination, tension and occasionally boredom. And you will smile or laugh more than few times. The game balances its humor and tension perfectly, so even when the moments aren'tFascinating world that feels so much strange yet familiar. The game has a really well told story with insane and gorgeous moments. Prepare yourself for walls of text that you will read with mixed feelings of fascination, tension and occasionally boredom. And you will smile or laugh more than few times. The game balances its humor and tension perfectly, so even when the moments aren't really funny, they will be hilarious for you, because the rest of the world was so dark.
    What this game is? It is a disco-noir buddy detective point & click game with side quests, statistics and dice rolls. If you want to play a classic cRPG game like Baldur's Gate - turn around. But if you want to play a classic pen & paper RPG where story matters - this will be a great game fro you.
    I love the art style of this game. Everything from character portraits to user interface and music is so well done. And if you afraid of the writing - don't be - the dialogues are really well written and it is a pleasure to read them.
    The game of course has its problems. The one that stands out is that you can get stuck. You jumped the fence too early? Be prepared to search for the exit for a long time. You forget to get some money to sleep tonight? load the game save from an hour age to solve this. Because everything is based on skill checks, there are quite a few things that you can miss and there is a temptation to either use a walkthrough or save-load brute-force combination.    … Expand
  60. Derf3L
    Mar 29, 2020
    8
    A slow-burn game, which in my opinion it's closer to a point-n-click adventure rather than a RPG. It's very "hipster": amazing in terms of narrative, with great design/art., but the idea of playing an amnesiac drunk detective in a very grime world wasn't too exciting.
    The core gameplay of developing and interacting with your own sides of personality is very interesting and gets better as    A slow-burn game, which in my opinion it's closer to a point-n-click adventure rather than a RPG. It's very "hipster": amazing in terms of narrative, with great design/art., but the idea of playing an amnesiac drunk detective in a very grime world wasn't too exciting.
    The core gameplay of developing and interacting with your own sides of personality is very interesting and gets better as you progress through the game.
    On the other hand, the dialogs are often way too heavy: especially in the beginning you are bombarded with lore and super long conversations with NPC's ... at least the more you play and get involved with the story, the better this become.

    pros:
    - great narrative, will keep you interested once things get started
    - amazing art style and User Interface
    - Character customization & development through your mind/body traits is super cool

    cons:
    - dialogs can be a bit overwhelming: there's way too much lore and walls of text. They could have cut down a bit on this and kept the game more dynamic.
    - settings are very dark/negative: you play as a drunk detective with amnesic problems. There's some much potential to create a similar game but with a more interesting setting.
    - I personally found the music pretty bad.    … Expand
  61. muzmuz
    Jun 30, 2020
    8
    Disco Elysium is a rather unique take for a video game, at least in my experience. I would call it an interactive sandbox novel with RPG mechanics, dialogue choices, inventory management and slight puzzles. The gameplay could be compared to any other point and click titles, but it sports an artistic writing comparable to books with dialogues and choices influenced by the player and yourDisco Elysium is a rather unique take for a video game, at least in my experience. I would call it an interactive sandbox novel with RPG mechanics, dialogue choices, inventory management and slight puzzles. The gameplay could be compared to any other point and click titles, but it sports an artistic writing comparable to books with dialogues and choices influenced by the player and your character's fully customizable attributes -- which makes up the primary RPG flavour of the game. It is an interesting change of pace, but it's not for everyone.

    Get it if you love point and click, story rich and choices matter games; and most especially if you don't mind reading A LOT, as that will be needed.    … Expand
  62. evandroledema
    Apr 30, 2023
    10
    Best game ever, loved it. All it's character are so deep and we'll written.
  63. 4y4
    Feb 25, 2020
    9
    Great game! I have had many funny moments playing this game. Watch some gameplay on YouTube before buying it so you will know if it's for you.
  64. Dubsys
    Feb 16, 2020
    9
    The best game I ever played in 2019, It kept me gripped from start to finish and made me want to dedicate time to playing it, the ending was sudden which I wasn't a fan of but other than that it was a great time.
  65. arostislavna
    Oct 30, 2022
    9
    Cool developers, and a pretty cool game to boot.

    It's a real shame that ZA/UM was basically hijacked and sabotaged from the inside, I do not think I would feel comfortable giving whoever controls the company any more money now.

    I oppose imperialist capitalist conquests that hurt the developer.
  66. Leo_Manzano
    Feb 13, 2023
    8
    Working........................................................................
  67. MonrealProSinon
    Feb 1, 2020
    8
    good game but a bit repatative and very short to my liking .....................................................................
  68. FurionPS4
    Aug 30, 2020
    10
    Love it..................................................................................................................................................................
  69. Archound
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    There are enough excellent sentences written in Disco Elysium script, no need to add anything to it. Stop reading this review and go play this gem!
  70. niko433a
    Feb 14, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the greatest video game experiences I've ever had.

    Truly lives up to the word of truly letting you make your character: From being a communist to an ultraliberal or even a fascist and being a rockstar-cop or a very nihilistic person.

    Mixed with some of the best and most creative writing I've seen to date. That explores new ways of building characters. Where the world around you truly reacts to your choices and how they affect the overall narrative.

    Really looking forward to seeing more from this studio ;)    … Expand
  71. Wineneeder
    Sep 9, 2022
    9
    Fantastic, surpassing everything I expected. It's well-written, with beautiful and intricate art assets, and a deep and interesting setting. I suspect it has at least two or three replays worth of content.
    An amazing return to isometric RPGs, too... and there's not really an actual combat system. I just forgot it 'needed' one along the way, that caught up into it.
    The soundtrack is    Fantastic, surpassing everything I expected. It's well-written, with beautiful and intricate art assets, and a deep and interesting setting. I suspect it has at least two or three replays worth of content.
    An amazing return to isometric RPGs, too... and there's not really an actual combat system. I just forgot it 'needed' one along the way, that caught up into it.

    The soundtrack is spectacular, forlorn and beautiful. The music sells the eerie, depressing bleak but beautiful setting. The voice acting is great, and even the sound design is pretty great, all in all a delight to ear.

    The story and content narrows as the game nears the end, I'm sure I had interacted with most everyone in Revachol by the 4th day, and most of the content by the 5th. Maybe one more unlockable section, and some more to do would have helped, for me anyway. It becomes quite linear, too. I understand it isn't a big studio, and you have to wrap up a story (especially one which can adapt to successes and failures).

    This might be the first game that I consider to be 'art', whatever that means today. Also, if they adapt it right, it might also be the only video game to transcend the impossible video game movie* barrier, without being incredibly campy/tongue in cheek or a guilty pleasure.

    *(Yes, I know the adaptation is going to be a 'TV show', but movies have lost the mandate of heaven for years now, unfortunately.)    … Expand
  72. pinismenshox
    Feb 23, 2020
    9
    this really reminds me of planescape tides of numenera because of a very alike interface. this one is less surrealistic and altough disco was a thing of the future in this game, you`ll learn that you are surrounded by a mist of nothingness gripping in around the world you live in and discover that it is not round but rather broken and full of holes. the dialogue is filled with funnythis really reminds me of planescape tides of numenera because of a very alike interface. this one is less surrealistic and altough disco was a thing of the future in this game, you`ll learn that you are surrounded by a mist of nothingness gripping in around the world you live in and discover that it is not round but rather broken and full of holes. the dialogue is filled with funny references and the unique itens and characters makes you be what you want to be in a rather peculiar alignment system ranging on your morality and dialogue choices in the game "moralistic, fascist, ultraliberal, communist" and it shapes what you are and so does what you wear. it has different point systems for your characters status and you can play it entirely bullheaded, smartly or empathically, which will yield different results. so play this if you liked planescape torment and tides of numenera because it kind of goes like that while you primarily investigate who murdered someone with many other sidequests.… Expand
  73. toxyk
    Oct 17, 2020
    10
    De los mejores juegos y RPGs que he jugado en mi vida, totalmente recomendable te guste o no el RPG y las historias interactivas, JUEGAZO
  74. visforvito
    Jan 22, 2021
    8
    If you usually skip dialogues in videogames, well, this game is not for you. The writing is very interesting, even though the ending of the game was a bit anti-climatic to me. The RPG elements work well when exploring the semi-open world. I have really enjoyed the game, even tho oftentimes I was put off by racism and homophobia in the dialogues. I get that the devs wanted to portrayIf you usually skip dialogues in videogames, well, this game is not for you. The writing is very interesting, even though the ending of the game was a bit anti-climatic to me. The RPG elements work well when exploring the semi-open world. I have really enjoyed the game, even tho oftentimes I was put off by racism and homophobia in the dialogues. I get that the devs wanted to portray reality as faithfully as possible, but there are other ways to express hate without using slurs.… Expand
  75. agentbinky
    Dec 1, 2022
    10
    To me this is the perfect game. A narrative that matters and choices that have an effect on the plot. It's what I want most out of gaming. Some of the circumstances are unforgettable. In what other game can you pretend to accept a racial supremacy ideology to trick a nationalist bodyguard into sneaking past him to swindle his mafia union organizer boss?
  76. Kunray
    Apr 9, 2021
    9
    Me, for my part enjoyed it. I recommend this game!.This games art style is awesome. It’s got a great soundtrack. Is both beautiful and creepy, but mostly charming.
  77. Carlst3n
    May 12, 2021
    9
    It was a very interesting game, I didn't give this game a 10 because i think that the dialogues sometimes was a bit to long and confusing. Since i'm not a political guy i found it hard to understand all the political statements and they didn't seem to catch my interest either. Although i think they did a great job at explaining alot of the stuff for you with Kims dialogue. I think that KimIt was a very interesting game, I didn't give this game a 10 because i think that the dialogues sometimes was a bit to long and confusing. Since i'm not a political guy i found it hard to understand all the political statements and they didn't seem to catch my interest either. Although i think they did a great job at explaining alot of the stuff for you with Kims dialogue. I think that Kim is the best character of the game and there were actually numerous times that this game made me laugh. I would've like to continue to Jamrock for a Sequel for sure!!… Expand
  78. MarsDell
    Nov 14, 2021
    9
    Потрясающе сделанные диалоги, их интересно читать, я не любитель читать книги в большом количестве и думал что будет скучно, но к счастью я был не прав. Диалоги в игре сделаны на высшем уровне.
    Они иногда провисают и становится скучно но в целом вести расследование очень интересно.
    Динамика повествования, локации, музыка на высоком уровне но местами встречаются недостатки. Небольшие    Потрясающе сделанные диалоги, их интересно читать, я не любитель читать книги в большом количестве и думал что будет скучно, но к счастью я был не прав. Диалоги в игре сделаны на высшем уровне.
    Они иногда провисают и становится скучно но в целом вести расследование очень интересно.
    Динамика повествования, локации, музыка на высоком уровне но местами встречаются недостатки. Небольшие придирки такие как музыка которая к середины игры мне настолько приелась что я её отключил, или огромное количество сюжетных миссий настолько тесно переплетающихся между собой что я забывал что я должен делать и приходилось наматывать круги по малюсенькой карте
    Но диалоги, персонажи и сюжет настолько круто сделаны что я испытал огромное удовольствие прохождения игры 9/10    … Expand
  79. chronicrenegade
    Mar 19, 2021
    10
    The best game I've ever played. All games are political inherently, but I'd argue this is the only game that gets it right. The narrative and characters are captivating. Gameplay is smooth and intriguing. The choices you make in game have weight and I often found myself agonizing over paths to take because I was that engrossed. The Communist playthrough is my favorite so far. Cannot waitThe best game I've ever played. All games are political inherently, but I'd argue this is the only game that gets it right. The narrative and characters are captivating. Gameplay is smooth and intriguing. The choices you make in game have weight and I often found myself agonizing over paths to take because I was that engrossed. The Communist playthrough is my favorite so far. Cannot wait for the Final Cut to release on console in March.… Expand
  80. keens
    Jan 8, 2023
    10
    Fantastic Game!
    A detective novel with a lot of role-playing elements.
    Amazing dialogs, voice acting and amazing plot.
  81. VG_Alex
    Dec 4, 2021
    9
    I don't have experience in CRPG,but it presents me with a very attractive world. Whether in political discussion or expression of values, the game is displayed from a completely different angle. In terms of thinking, the inner performance of the protagonist's 24 personalities is even more incisive, and the collision between different thoughts has created one wonderful spark after another.I don't have experience in CRPG,but it presents me with a very attractive world. Whether in political discussion or expression of values, the game is displayed from a completely different angle. In terms of thinking, the inner performance of the protagonist's 24 personalities is even more incisive, and the collision between different thoughts has created one wonderful spark after another.

    'DISCO ELYSIUM' has certain requirements for players' reading experience, but this does not prevent it from becoming a very excellent CRPG.

    Review of "Disco Elysium The Final Cut"

    Graphic/Art: 8

    Music/Sounds: 8

    Narrative/Performance:9.5

    Gameplay: 8

    Score: 8.8 (+0.4)    … Expand
  82. MurphyBrandon
    Aug 22, 2020
    8
    If you don't love to read, Disco Elysium may not be for you. You'll only hear voice acting when new characters are first introduced or when an important scene is happening. It took me 51 hours to do everything and beat the game. 90% of it was reading and responding.
  83. hello_world
    Jul 26, 2021
    9
    Disco Elysium is a great RPG for people who love role play and narrative. The narrative, despite being called a detective RPG, isn't actually all that great as a murder mystery. Sure there are twist and turns, but much of the information is just given to you via checks. There is actually very little detective work on part of the player. If you want that, you're better off with "Return ofDisco Elysium is a great RPG for people who love role play and narrative. The narrative, despite being called a detective RPG, isn't actually all that great as a murder mystery. Sure there are twist and turns, but much of the information is just given to you via checks. There is actually very little detective work on part of the player. If you want that, you're better off with "Return of the Obra Dinn." The story is better as a deep dive into the psyche of the main character, how he deals with loss, heartbreak and the crushing realisation that disco music just isn't cool anymore. Throw in an enduring buddy cop dynamic with a straight laced partner that has to put up with the player character's antics and a metric buttload of world building and you're in for a wild ride. The world, is vast and has a deep political history for sure, but most of my enjoyment came from the comedic writing and the relationship you forge with your partner.

    Gameplay wise, you will be doing a lot of reading (or listening now that 99% of the lines are now fully voice acted) and choosing dialogue choices, some of which requires a check. There is no combat, instead all of the skills are mostly ones that flesh out the personality of the main character. Are they capable of lying? Are they deductive like Sherlock Holmes? or are they an insane cop who listens to the wind and does enough drugs to kill a horse. Most of the time, these skills won't radically change the outcomes of any given quest, though some do have multiple solutions, but rather they colour your experience by giving you insight into the story because of what skills you have.

    My main complaint for the game is how they handled clothes in the game. Clothes are treated like gear in a game and they provide buffs or debuffs to skills. The issue is that most of the time, there is no downside to exiting out of a dialogue tree when you see a check and switch clothes to give you the highest chance of success. This results in you constantly switching clothes which can be tedious at times. There is no real way to sort the clothes or have a way to easily identify which set of clothes provide which buff at a glance. I would prefer if the increase the benefits of clothes but made it a commitment such that you can't switch it out and it's just part of your character's build. Alternatively they could make it give buffs that aren't tied to skill checks so you aren't incentivised to switch all the time.    … Expand
  84. Soullex
    Nov 15, 2022
    9
    Oynanış sıfır olsa da bir daha bu kadar iyi bir RPG gelmez.....................
  85. Mizuiro
    Aug 19, 2022
    10
    Masterpiece 10/10. It has the best plot and dialogues of all videogame history probably. A truly gem nowadays where the characters has real CHARISMA, and you end loving them. Not like the modern games that only have graphics but the story and characters are soulless.

    I hope they release more and more games based on Disco Elysium universe! Good job devs!!
  86. Welkinz
    Oct 11, 2020
    10
    The storyline and the philosophy behind it are so beautiful. I felt great content when I finished the game.
  87. edxtan
    Feb 27, 2023
    9
    Disco Elysium uses the parallels between our worlds and how we interact with them to deliver a powerful message.
  88. andmedved
    Dec 22, 2020
    10
    Disco Elysium is my favorite game in 2019 and one of my favorite games. It game so many different emotions from happiness to sadness. So I want to thank all creators of this game.
    Hope this game will get Russian localization soon, so more people could enjoy it. But I still think that it's better to play Disco Elysium in English to understand all jokes and wordplays. As for me I wrote a    Disco Elysium is my favorite game in 2019 and one of my favorite games. It game so many different emotions from happiness to sadness. So I want to thank all creators of this game.
    Hope this game will get Russian localization soon, so more people could enjoy it. But I still think that it's better to play Disco Elysium in English to understand all jokes and wordplays. As for me I wrote a full notebook of word translations to understand each phrase.    … Expand
  89. Denis94
    Feb 10, 2021
    10
    Animado por la nueva traducción de este título al español me decidí a probarlo de una vez ya que mis ganas eran inmensas de incar el diente a este juego, en este caso me encontré con un juego mejor de lo que esperaba que ya era mucho.

    Nos encontramos en un juego donde el azar, la lectura y el diálogo entre personajes es la base, un juego donde se tratan temas de actualidad tanto políticos    Animado por la nueva traducción de este título al español me decidí a probarlo de una vez ya que mis ganas eran inmensas de incar el diente a este juego, en este caso me encontré con un juego mejor de lo que esperaba que ya era mucho.

    Nos encontramos en un juego donde el azar, la lectura y el diálogo entre personajes es la base, un juego donde se tratan temas de actualidad tanto políticos como sociales si esas dos cosas no van de la mano siempre claro, con unos tintes de humor que personalmente me reí muchísimo en alguna ocasión y que me recuerda por qué me gusta tanto esta industria.

    Gráficamente parece un cuadro pintado con acuarelas, lo cual lo hace muy bonito visualmente sumado a los cambios de clima que crean una atmósfera perfecta, la ambientación más de lo mismo atrapante de principio a fin.

    La banda sonora es sin duda la parte menos trabajada del título, no es muy amplia pero lo solventa con la buena calidad de los temas.

    Disco Elysium no es para todo el mundo, es un RPG lento basado por y para la lectura y eso sí... con una personalidad y carisma espectacular, se convierte para mí en uno de los mejores juegos de los últimos años.    … Expand
  90. Zhenia
    Jun 17, 2023
    10
    One of the best games with beautiful atmosphere and characters. Just fascinating.
  91. Renaigse
    Aug 23, 2021
    8
    Игра кнш очень самобытна, такого объема умного текста, философских и политических размышлений нет нигде больше, только ради этого в принципе можно попробовать окунуться в этот мир. В остальном же, очень неплохая РПГ с интересным сюжетом, графика невзрачная кнш но и плохой ее не назовешь, быстро привыкаешь. Интересные персонажи, нет особого деления людей на заведомо плохих и хороших, уИгра кнш очень самобытна, такого объема умного текста, философских и политических размышлений нет нигде больше, только ради этого в принципе можно попробовать окунуться в этот мир. В остальном же, очень неплохая РПГ с интересным сюжетом, графика невзрачная кнш но и плохой ее не назовешь, быстро привыкаешь. Интересные персонажи, нет особого деления людей на заведомо плохих и хороших, у всех есть свои плюсы и минусы и все не совсем так как кажется на первый взгляд.… Expand
  92. Prometheus1241
    May 28, 2021
    9
    Actually, everything about Disco Elysium is said in it's description. It is a groundbreaking roleplaying game, which is probably the one that can change the genre in the future, and also one of the best games of our time.

    9/10
  93. tom_harding
    Aug 12, 2021
    9
    Disco Elysium takes the the classic point and click RPG format and brings it bang up to date. Complex mechanics, peerless writing, an intriguing setting and plenty of dark humour makes the game a pleasure to explore. The story on the surface seems straight forward but contains multiple layers of nuance and the political and social commentary is on-point.

    The games confident isometric    Disco Elysium takes the the classic point and click RPG format and brings it bang up to date. Complex mechanics, peerless writing, an intriguing setting and plenty of dark humour makes the game a pleasure to explore. The story on the surface seems straight forward but contains multiple layers of nuance and the political and social commentary is on-point.

    The games confident isometric style and detailed environment makes for a graphically stunning game. I wanted to explored every nook and cranny of the beautifully dark and grimy world. The user interface is superb, allowing walls of text and branching decisions to be easily read. It really is a credit to the developers exceptional writing and design choices that such a text focused game remains engaging and well paced throughout.

    I have some minor criticisms in how the story is wrapped up but these issues are far outweighed by nearly every other aspect of the game. This is the best point and click experience I have ever had and If you are a fan of this type of game then this is masterpiece that cannot be missed.    … Expand
  94. ThiccestPenguin
    Jan 24, 2020
    9
    Overall: Masterpiece

    Pros: +Brilliantly and densely written +Extremely unique +Wonderful theme and commentary* +Beautifully hand-painted graphics and environments +What feels like infinite replayability. For interpretation: =A LOT to take in =Gritty subject =Slow, patient gameplay (mostly not tedious, however) =Barebones soundtrack =Closer to a point and click adventure    Overall: Masterpiece

    Pros:
    +Brilliantly and densely written
    +Extremely unique
    +Wonderful theme and commentary*
    +Beautifully hand-painted graphics and environments
    +What feels like infinite replayability.

    For interpretation:
    =A LOT to take in
    =Gritty subject
    =Slow, patient gameplay (mostly not tedious, however)
    =Barebones soundtrack
    =Closer to a point and click adventure than the cRPG the game claims to be

    Cons:
    -Animation issues
    -*Can sometimes come off as pretentious
    -Several immersion-breaking bugs
    -Inconsistent voice acting (probably because of the sheer amount of dialogue and low budget)
    -Censorship :/    … Expand
  95. PanMrkvicka
    Sep 14, 2020
    10
    masterpiece of CRPG it has amazing writing and story, game is pretty postmodern at times and very political, just pure art.
  96. Metauserkld
    Feb 21, 2021
    10
    Best game of 2020 and one of best RPG all time.
    Reminds of Planescape: Torment.
  97. Black_Turtle
    Jan 16, 2021
    10
    ´´Ι can see it too``
    tears start to fall..
    After playing games for a long long time, i have to say the following: ..this is probably the best game ive ever played so far, not just the best rpg..but a full, rich experience, wrapped up in beautiful artwork and captivating music, leaving you with thoughts and emotions even after finishing the game and turning off the computer. It is made    ´´Ι can see it too``
    tears start to fall..

    After playing games for a long long time, i have to say the following: ..this is probably the best game ive ever played so far, not just the best rpg..but a full, rich experience, wrapped up in beautiful artwork and captivating music, leaving you with thoughts and emotions even after finishing the game and turning off the computer. It is made with lots of love by the poduction team, who probably spent attention even at the smallest little detail and tried to give us the best possible version of their original idea. More than anything, it pushed up the bar higher for what games should mean/be and possibly showed other creators that new ideas and concepts are not something to be afraid of. Thanks a lot ZA/UM, keep up the great work! a 10/10 from me.    … Expand
  98. tk_248
    Jun 4, 2022
    9
    охуительный эрпэгэ.............. перепройду еще разок, без ошибок
  99. forfeitbee
    Sep 2, 2023
    8
    Disco Elysium reminds us the beauty of good and classic RPG, the nearest example of a video game trying to offering the same experience of a board game. The most exciting thing about the work of ZA/UM is the continuous sense that every our action or choice will influence the world around us. The objects to interact with, the characters to talk to, the place to explore are overwhelming,Disco Elysium reminds us the beauty of good and classic RPG, the nearest example of a video game trying to offering the same experience of a board game. The most exciting thing about the work of ZA/UM is the continuous sense that every our action or choice will influence the world around us. The objects to interact with, the characters to talk to, the place to explore are overwhelming, maybe, sometimes, in a little tiresome way. Despite this, Disco Elysium remains a unique experience, entirely based on what you are, as a person and as real human being, because, in front of this story of despairing hope, all of us react in a different manner.… Expand
  100. Piruz
    Apr 10, 2022
    10
    i don't even need to finish this game to understand what quality level it represents. Revolutionary, exceptional, 12/10
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2019
15
#15 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 64 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 63 out of 64
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 64
  3. Negative: 0 out of 64
  1. Adventure Gamers
    Apr 10, 2020
    100
    A murder mystery set in a rich, fictional setting, Disco Elysium is told with sweeping profundity and hilarious absurdity. With no combat to impede story progression, this is a choice-driven role-playing adventure that deftly raises the bar of quality for the medium.
    Read full review
  2. Gamersky
    Mar 28, 2020
    95
    Disco Elysium is a very special RPG that most of your time will be spent on reading. It features a well-written detective story, various tricky skill trees, and memorable characters. This game might be the best one of its kind. But if you can't stand reading for a long time, just don't try it.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 28, 2020
    80
    Unconventionally conceived adventure game with excellent visuals and world worked out to the smallest detail. But it will satisfy only those of you who are not afraid of the huge amount of English dialogue, because it makes up the vast majority of gameplay. [Issue#299]
See all critic reviews »