All apps and companies

D
App · Games

Disco Elysium

A narrative RPG with detailed micro-reactivity.

2 sources2 tips

Where Disco Elysium comes up2 episodes and tests

Gcreator of Game Maker's Toolkit testThe 100 Games That Taught Me Game DesignGcreator of Game Maker's Toolkit testCan we Improve Tutorials for Complex Games?
In short

Disco Elysium tells one story with no big branches, yet it remembers small choices like running everywhere, insulting characters or walking around in your underwear, and refers back to them. Its dialogue boxes also echo a Twitter feed, so players need little instruction. The lesson: track small actions and reflect them back, and borrow familiar interfaces to cut tutorial needs.

At a glanceDisco Elysium has characters remember and comment on small choices
  1. 1Player makes small choiceRun everywhere, insult people, wear underwear
  2. 2Game tracks itStill one story, no big branches
  3. 3Characters reactThey comment on it in dialogue
  4. 4Late scene recapsCharacters discuss your whole journey

From Justin Keenan, ZA/UM writer

What was said about Disco Elysium

  • Disco Elysium remembers small choices and has characters comment on them. It has largely one story with no big branches or multiple endings. It still tracks whether you run everywhere, insult characters or walk around in your underwear, and characters react to it, even in a late scene where they discuss your journey.

    ZA/UM writer Justin Keenan calls this micro-reactivity, close to a good dungeon master listening to you. The lesson drawn: "even small choices can be impactful and memorable when done right".

  • Disco Elysium borrowed a Twitter feed look for its dialogue. Its dialogue boxes echo a Twitter feed, a familiar interface that players need little instruction to read.

    Reigns does the same with Tinder's swipe. The principle is that "by leaning on stuff that players already know, games can feel intuitive to play".

More in Games

Games

Nintendo

A Zelda adventure where Princess Zelda copies objects and monsters as echoes to solve puzzles and fight.

G64 sources · 356 tips
Games

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo's long-running action-adventure series about Link exploring Hyrule, solving puzzles and fighting Ganon.

G30 sources · 203 tips
Games

Dead Space

A major video game publisher and the guest's employer.

G29 sources · 94 tips
MGames

Mind Over Magnet

A puzzle platformer where you escape a factory using a magnet and a magnetic field.

G9 sources · 126 tips
Games

Far Cry 2

An open world action game where you recruit and play any of London's citizens.

G34 sources · 69 tips
Games

God of War

A combat-focused action adventure game from Santa Monica Studio with Norse mythology and light puzzles.

GB16 sources · 56 tips
MGames

Mind Over Magnet

Mark Brown's first game, a puzzle game he made while learning Unity.

G5 sources · 38 tips
Games

Dishonored

A first-person stealth action game from Arkane with supernatural powers and the Clockwork Mansion level.

G11 sources · 36 tips