Hopetown, a nonlinear RPG crafted by Longdue Games, introduces a compelling new approach to narrative-driven gameplay. The studio, founded by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, has unveiled the first glimpse of the game's mechanics, heralding it as a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium. The storyline revolves around a journalist who wakes up in a mining town following a night of heavy drinking. Plagued by a relentless hangover, players must unravel the mysteries of the previous night and navigate an escalating local conflict. They have the power to choose whether to soothe tensions or intensify the situation.
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Screenshots showcase a dialogue-rich experience where players' decisions profoundly influence the narrative trajectory. The game features various archetypes, each providing distinct dialogue options and interaction styles. For instance, when engaging with an old woman feeding pigeons, players can choose different tones, which can significantly alter the interaction's outcome.
Longdue Games is gearing up to launch a Kickstarter campaign to support the project, with a page already live on the platform. Although no specific release date has been announced, the excitement is palpable among fans of narrative-focused RPGs.
Notably, Hopetown isn't the only game taking cues from 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.
