In the world of gaming, there are a handful of games that, more than any other, prompt players upon finishing to ask, ‘Is there anything else quite like that out there?’ Mainly because they have an insatiable hunger for more.

Sadly, though, the games that prompt this question in such volume also happen to be the games that are the most unique and unmatched for design excellence. A category that Za/Um’s Disco Elysium very much falls into, as the fact that the game exists at all is nothing short of a small miracle.

The game is a staggering achievement that is somewhat like the classic CRPGs of old, but equally, a completely different beast entirely, making it one of those bucket list games you should play at least once.

But, with the breakup and legal fallout surrounding Za/Um, and the phoenix projects popping up left, right, and center, it seems we have a healthy stream of Disco Elysium-likes on the horizon.

So, in anticipation of these ambitious titles, I want to highlight what’s coming down the line and hopefully add a few more games to your ever-growing wishlist.

8

The Demons Told Me To Make This Game

What A Mouthful

Let’s get started with a game that I recently previewed and had an absolute ball with. The quirky but rather clumsily titled The Demons Told Me To Make This Game.

This game is effectively what would happen if you took Disco Elysium, popped it into a blender with time loopers like Slay The Princess, and In Stars and Time. Then threw in some Stranger Things-esque small-town weirdness for good measure.

It’s a game where you’re actively encouraged to investigate the ‘what-ifs’, listen to your inner demon feeding you intrusive thoughts, and guide your hosts through each scenario without ending up in the clutches of some Lovecraftian nasty.

The writing is zany, the characters and world are interesting, and the time-loop format allows for plenty of experimentation to gather new clues, follow new dialogue paths, and, most importantly, survive in this world where the wall between Earth and Hell is as thin as tissue paper.

This game is currently in early access right now with one of five planned episodes available, so do yourself a favor and give this one a try.

7

Shore of Jord

What Lurks In The Shadows

Just as Harry Dubois is a man who struggles to deal with his past, in Shore of Jord, you’ll play as the troubled soul Orm Junger, as they wrestle with who truly is in the driving seat. Him, or his alter ego, Shadow.

Inspired by Scandinavian Noir, you’ll encounter a setting still enduring the aftereffects of Ragnarök, and your goal will be to explore, make sense of the world around you, engage with larger-than-life characters, and make tough decisions that, in true classic CRPG fashion, you’ll simply have to live with.

You’ll need to manage your time carefully to ensure you make each passing day count, and you’ll need to dig deep into the lore to understand where this world starts and the influences of our own end.

It looks surreal, oppressive, and rich in detail, which is all a Disco Elysium fan could hope for, so this one is well worthy of wishlisting, even at this early stage.

6

Glasshouse

Cast The First Stone

If anyone remembers the classic Elder Scrolls quest Whodunit, which has you attend a party in Skingrad and systematically murder everyone without anyone catching on, that’s not too far off what you’ll be signing up for if you choose to play Glasshouse. Albeit, this experience looks a whole lot more bleak.

Trapped at the scene of a triple homicide during a military lockdown as a World War takes shape outside, you’ll need to use this time indoors wisely to investigate the scene, get to know your neighbours, and figure out who the murderer is before you also end up with a knife in your back.

This game is also a deeply politically charged one, much like Disco Elysium, where you will be urged to shape your ideologies in real time, and also, much like Disco Elysium, the world is steeped in dread and sorrow. So, don’t expect a happy ending.

We have no demos, dates, or hints of a release window to share for this one, but be sure to keep it on your radar moving forward.

5

Hope Town

Hoping For A Big Scoop

The job of a journalist, no matter where they are or what they have at their disposal, is to find an angle and turn a story. But when you get sent to a sleepy little mining town in the middle of nowhere, you would think that it would be nearly impossible to find something juicy.

However, there seems to be plenty to work with in Hope Town, as the area is an uncanny valley of ruins and conspiracy, and the fabric of this small society has the capacity to crumble to such a degree that the shape of the world is called into question.

So you, looking for the latest scoop that could relaunch your career, will need to use your pen as a sword to stir suspicion, control public opinion, and pull on the puppet strings of the residents of this mining town.

That said, due to the interconnected nature of the game’s intricate systems, we reckon that your decisions will affect you and your psyche just as much as they affect the world around you.

It’s an intriguing project with one of the most striking art styles of the bunch, so be sure to keep tabs on it as it develops.

4

Rue Valley

Let’s Do The Time Warp

You want more Groundhog Day scenarios? Well, we have another Disco Elysium-inspired time loop that will be right up your alley. Or should I say, Valley?

Unlike TDTMTMTG listed above, Rue Valley isn’t as much of a puzzle to solve as it is a time loop that allows you to explore, role-play, and carve out a path within the temporal anomaly you find yourself in.

It’s both a daily cycle that you’ll never want to stop experimenting with, and one that you literally can’t escape unless you delve deep into the deepest recesses of this sun-scorched environment.

A demo is currently available for this ambitious and exciting cartoon comic strip-style caper. So, do check out the taster course for this title, and wishlist it so you don’t miss any further updates, as we reckon this one will be pretty special.

3

Esoteric Ebb

DND With More Hehe

One thing that makes Disco Elysium so unique is that, despite focusing on a grim and bleak setting —a politically charged powder keg— the game is still able to be routinely silly and offer some truly slapstick humor at times.

This is something that Esoteric Ebb aims to emulate through the means of satire. Taking the core principles of a DND campaign and then flipping the script to offer something wholly different and much more comical.

Basically, this is a game that aims to offer the depth and freedom of choice of fantasy games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and the like, but equally, doesn’t take itself too seriously to allow players to express themselves and roleplay in a fantasy setting like never before.

Rolling twenties for skill checks and priming your build will be as important as ever. So, grab your twenty-sided die, your goblin sidekick, and dive into this game’s demo to see what this one is all about.

2

Project C4

The Official Spiritual Successor

Of all the games listed here, this is the one that we probably know the least about, but equally, it’s the one that has the most chance of bearing an uncanny resemblance to the original Disco Elysium. Mainly because this is the next game set to come out courtesy of Za/Um.

Granted, the employee landscape of Za/Um is a very different one for reasons too dense to get into right now. Check out this documentary if you want to know more. But, light skepticism aside, we have to hope and pray that they can catch lightning in a bottle again.

What we do know is that this new game will be a sci-fi epic with sprinklings of espionage, and that the game will not be Disco Elysium 2 in any shape or form, which is probably for the best, honestly.

It for all the world looks like a game where Disco Elysium and Citizen Sleeper collide, and if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.

1

XXX Nightshift

The Rogue Project

If you’re someone who wasn’t down with what went down at Za/Um and would be more comfortable siding with the defectors of that studio, then your best bet is to follow the story of XXX Nightshift, the upcoming game from Dark Math Games.

Mirroring their former employers, the former Disco devs have decided to go down the Sci-fi route, allowing players to explore a peculiar ski resort setting in Antarctica in the off-season. A resort that defies explanation and seems to exist outside of time and space.

Naturally, this means you’ll be dropped in the deep end of a world where you can roleplay however you choose, get lost in the rich tapestry of politics and social structures within the resort, and perhaps even discover that, masked by the ruckus of the endless parties, this resort hides a gruesome secret.

It’s yet another politically infused detective RPG, but in a setting you’ll have never witnessed anything like before. So, keep an eye on this one, and support the former Disco devs as they try to do the impossible all over again.