Hopetown, a nonlinear RPG from Longdue Games, offers a captivating new approach to narrative-driven gameplay. Founded by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, the studio has unveiled a first glimpse into Hopetown's mechanics, hinting at a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. The game plunges players into the shoes of a journalist who awakens in a remote mining town with a brutal hangover and a hazy memory of the previous night. Faced with a brewing local conflict, players must unravel the mystery of their arrival while navigating complex relationships and deciding whether to mediate or exacerbate the tensions.
Screenshots reveal a dialogue-rich experience where player choices profoundly shape the narrative. Multiple character archetypes are available, each offering unique dialogue options and approaches to conversations. Even seemingly minor interactions, such as a conversation with an old woman feeding pigeons, can yield vastly different outcomes depending on the player's chosen tone and approach.
Longdue Games is preparing a Kickstarter campaign to fund Hopetown's development, with a page already live on the platform. While a release date remains unannounced, anticipation is steadily growing among fans of narrative-focused RPGs.
Hopetown isn't alone in its inspiration from Disco Elysium. Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal are also developing their own psychological RPGs, further demonstrating the enduring influence of this genre-defining title.
