First Look at Hopetown: The Spiritual Successor to Disco Elysium

Hopetown, a nonlinear RPG developed by Longdue Games, introduces a refreshing approach to narrative-driven gameplay. The studio, founded by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, has unveiled the first glimpse into the game's mechanics, positioning it as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. In Hopetown, players assume the role of a journalist who wakes up in a mining town following a night of heavy drinking. Struggling with a pounding hangover, the protagonist must unravel the events of the previous night while navigating a burgeoning local conflict. Players face critical choices that can either soothe tensions or stoke the flames of discord.

Hopetown Image: x.com

Screenshots from the game showcase a dialogue-rich experience where player choices profoundly influence the storyline. The game offers multiple archetypes, each providing distinct dialogue options and approaches to interactions. For instance, when engaging with an elderly woman feeding pigeons, players can choose different tones, significantly altering the conversation's outcome.

Longdue Games is gearing up to launch a Kickstarter campaign to support the development of Hopetown, with a dedicated page already live on the platform. Although a specific release date remains under wraps, excitement is mounting among fans of narrative-centric RPGs.

Hopetown is not the only game drawing inspiration from Disco Elysium. Two other studios, Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal, have also entered the fray, each working on their unique psychological RPGs, adding to the growing trend of deep, story-driven gaming experiences.