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. Marko986
    Oct 16, 2019
    10
    Amazing atmosphere, brilliant writing, refreshing and intellegent skill system. Masterpiece.
  2. brips
    Nov 7, 2019
    10
    Truthfully I'd rate this game a 7 or 8, but the amount of people rating it a 0 with the justification that this text-based, role playing game has too much text means I have to do my part to signal boost something that's actually different in a world where those same people constantly complain about things being the same.
  3. Cicada12
    Oct 27, 2019
    10
    It made me excited for video games again.
    Absolute masterpiece in every sense of the word.
  4. Popey99
    Oct 15, 2019
    10
    It's a true masterpiece!!
    Compelling story line, beautiful art style and also lot of reading.
  5. anihavoc
    Oct 19, 2019
    10
    Absolutely out of left field, never heard of this game til it released and WOW! What a pleasant surprise. The writing is phenomenal, the story telling is astounding and the atmosphere is just oh so perfect. I couldn't recommend this game enough for RPG fans that crave a good uncanny valley Nior mystery story. By far my GOTY. Anyone who is on the fence due to the amount of dialogue. I wasAbsolutely out of left field, never heard of this game til it released and WOW! What a pleasant surprise. The writing is phenomenal, the story telling is astounding and the atmosphere is just oh so perfect. I couldn't recommend this game enough for RPG fans that crave a good uncanny valley Nior mystery story. By far my GOTY. Anyone who is on the fence due to the amount of dialogue. I was as well, until i realized how much the writing sucks you in, making you crave more and more.. not allowing you to put the game down.… Expand
  6. pumpclub
    Oct 15, 2019
    10
    Back to the old cool way of playing games, lovely artwork, sound acting and writing, really enjoying this one. Runs nice on my low end pc!
  7. 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
  8. Kemp
    Jul 7, 2020
    7
    A 7/10 for me represents a good game that's worth your time. The writing in this game is downright hilarious sometimes. I legitimately laughed out loud, by myself, while playing it. If you like weird, self-deprecating humor, colorful characters, and dialogue-based games, you'll love this game.

    I absolutely loved the RPG elements and really felt that they altered the way I played. The    A 7/10 for me represents a good game that's worth your time. The writing in this game is downright hilarious sometimes. I legitimately laughed out loud, by myself, while playing it. If you like weird, self-deprecating humor, colorful characters, and dialogue-based games, you'll love this game.

    I absolutely loved the RPG elements and really felt that they altered the way I played. The stuff you can say in this game is bizarre. The story ends up being pretty good, though not quite as satisfying as I was ultimately expecting.

    My main complaint is probably that it felt like a lot of the game I was just clicking through long text walls of dialogue. Sometimes they were very interesting, other times, not so. At times, it felt like I was reading a book rather than playing a game. The plus side is the writing is much more akin to a book than a game. The down side is there is much less game here than a typical game. While I did find it fun deciding whether to be a free market fundamentalist or an outright communist, I didn't feel that my choices had all that much of an effect on the overall outcome.

    That said, you won't play many games like this one. I give it points for being unique even among neo-noir mysteries. It's worth your time if you like this sort of game, so I give it a 7/10.    … Expand
  9. rxerick
    Mar 29, 2022
    3
    I can't in good conscious recommend the game. This is my second sitdown with it, and it's just not fun. I got over it being text heavy and tried to lean into the story except there isn't much that lures you in. The pace of the game itself, as in the travel, is so god awfully slow. Dying of a heart attack because you kicked a trash can or turned on the lights doesn't have much comedic valueI can't in good conscious recommend the game. This is my second sitdown with it, and it's just not fun. I got over it being text heavy and tried to lean into the story except there isn't much that lures you in. The pace of the game itself, as in the travel, is so god awfully slow. Dying of a heart attack because you kicked a trash can or turned on the lights doesn't have much comedic value to start, but then to have to think about everything I have to trudge through again to get to that point. I don't *want* to save and reload constantly. I want my consequences to stick, but the consequences for *everything* can't be death. This falls under the game type of Undertale where folks are enjoying the story enough to overlook the complete absence of a game. It doesn't help that other reviews lead me to believe that choices don't actually matter.… Expand
  10. 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
  11. 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）
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. kordivan002
    Dec 12, 2019
    9
    que se puede decir , un juego excepcional con buena historia y manejo de la misma
  20. Karamitros
    Jan 15, 2020
    5
    One of those games that can change your life . The repetition of talking to your "inner selves" takes place in real life after a while. The work that has been done in the dialogue trees is excellent. Adventure - rpg in its finest and in its darkest . The graphics suck tho.. but who cares !
  21. Roflpotamus
    Jan 31, 2020
    10
    Fantastically written game. I love all the branches to explore and possibilities.
  22. 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.
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. vijay11
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    loved the game, story, writing and mostly characters and story. CUNO loved it as well :)
  29. gameking
    Dec 11, 2022
    7
    This is a good game. If you like the read books you will enjoy too much in this game. You can choose too many things in this game and it effects everything.
  30. Crimert
    Jan 24, 2020
    9
    One of the best RPGs I have ever played. I don't need much to say. 26hrs on record.
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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 »