Hopetown, a groundbreaking nonlinear RPG crafted by Longdue Games, introduces an innovative approach to narrative-driven gameplay. The studio, established by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, has unveiled a first glimpse into the game's mechanics, heralding it as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. Set in a mining town, the storyline follows a journalist who wakes up with a brutal hangover and must unravel the events of the previous night while navigating an escalating local conflict. Players face critical decisions that determine whether to soothe the brewing tensions or exacerbate them, adding depth to the narrative experience.
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Screenshots of Hopetown reveal a richly dialogue-driven game where players' choices profoundly influence the unfolding story. The game features multiple character archetypes, each providing distinct dialogue options and approaches during interactions. For instance, when engaging with an elderly woman feeding pigeons, players can choose various tones that shape the dialogue's outcome, emphasizing the game's focus on player agency and narrative depth.
Longdue Games is gearing up to launch a Kickstarter campaign to support the development of Hopetown, with an active page already available on the platform. Although no official release date has been set, excitement is mounting within the community of fans eager for narrative-centric RPGs.
Hopetown is not the only title taking inspiration from Disco Elysium. Two other studios, Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal, are also developing their own psychological RPGs, indicating a growing trend in the genre.
