Hopetown, a groundbreaking nonlinear RPG from Longdue Games, introduces a novel approach to narrative-driven gameplay. Established by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, the studio has unveiled its first glimpse into the game's mechanics, positioning it as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. The storyline revolves around a journalist who wakes up in a mining town following a night of excessive drinking. Players, grappling with a severe hangover, must reconstruct the previous night's events and navigate an escalating local conflict, deciding whether to soothe tensions or exacerbate them.
Image: x.com
Screenshots showcase a dialogue-rich experience where the choices made by players profoundly influence the narrative trajectory. The game offers multiple archetypes, each with distinct dialogue options and interaction styles. For instance, when conversing with an elderly woman feeding pigeons, players can choose various tones, which can significantly alter the conversation's outcome.
Longdue Games is gearing up to launch a Kickstarter campaign to finance the project, with a dedicated page already live on the platform. Although no specific release date has been announced, excitement is mounting among enthusiasts of narrative-focused RPGs.
Notably, Hopetown isn't the only game inspired by Disco Elysium. Two other studios, Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal, are also developing their own psychological RPGs, adding to the growing interest in this genre.
