Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans Must Play 2019’s Dark Detective CRPG With a 92 on OpenCritic

But still, nothing has quite scratched that Baldur’s Gate 3 itch. Naturally, the vast freedom of choice and world reactivity that Larian crafted for BG3 is difficult to replicate—it has a lightning-in-a-bottle quality to it. But more than that, it’s hard to find a game that matches Baldur’s Gate 3‘s specific quality of writing, storytelling that is at once electrifying and mature. Even a game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a title that’s much better than Baldur’s Gate 3 in certain areas, isn’t quite as nuanced as BG3 in most respects. If this is what you’re looking for, then you don’t have to wait: there’s already at least one impeccably written, meaty, and ingenious CRPG waiting for you.

Don’t Wait for the Next ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’—Play Disco Elysium Instead

Six Years Later, Disco Elysium Is as Powerful as Ever

As previously mentioned, one of the things that makes Baldur’s Gate 3 so good is its mature narrative—a narrative that would be just as appropriate for an epic dark fantasy novel as it is for an ambitious video game. A diverse, compelling cast, razor-sharp dialogue, and perfectly subversive plot beats contribute to Baldur’s Gate 3‘s storytelling excellence, and these are all traits shared by Disco Elysium, a 2019 CRPG that remains one of the best-written video games of all time.

Disco Elysium isn’t a fantasy as such, but it is darkly magical. Players assume the role of a detective in the fictional city of Revachol, in a small neighborhood called Martinaise. The lore of Disco Elysium is surprisingly robust and detailed, and Martinaise itself has a rich history of war and revolution. But for simplicity’s sake, and to protect against spoilers, all that prospective players need to know is this: Martinaise is effectively separate from the rest of the in-game world, destabilized after years of military conquest and power struggles, and is almost entirely controlled by a single worker’s union by the time the game begins.

There are many in the gaming community who have criticized Disco Elysium for its endorsement of communism, and others who have praised it for the same, but both of these camps tend to miss the game’s nuance. Yes, Disco Elysium criticizes capitalism, authoritarianism, and fascism, but to say that it outright endorses or co-signs any specific political opinion is a bit of a reach. It would be more accurate to say that Disco Elysium comments on social structures and ethics broadly, and that this commentary includes references to certain forms of governance by necessity. It leverages real-world political systems and economics to tell its story, but it doesn’t try to convert anyone or encourage the adoption of a specific stance, despite what many of the game’s most vocal detractors would have you believe.

What Disco Elysium Lacks in Freedom, it Makes Up for in Intense, Manic Creativity

The amnesiac cop angle might be a bit played out, but make no mistake, Disco Elysium is the farthest thing from derivative or cliché. Players must solve a murder mystery, but the mystery is more about the context of post-war society than about action, grand revelations, or dramatic showdowns. There’s also the protagonist himself, who is among the funniest, most fascinating player-characters ever. His psyche is partitioned into 24 different personas, which will speak to both him and each other during dialog encounters. For example, while interviewing an uncooperative witness, the protagonist’s Empathy may chime in, prompting a more conscious approach, only for Authority to barge in and try to steamroll the conversation with aggression.

Even more remarkable is how these personas tie into Disco Elysium‘s gameplay. There’s no combat system, so challenges are instead depicted as dialog checks with dice rolls, affected by stat-based modifiers, much like in Baldur’s Gate 3. Rather than the usual suspects—charm, intimidation, etc.—Disco Elysium‘s dialog checks are influenced by the personas. In other words, the personas take the place of conventional RPG stat categories and perks, making for a truly one-of-a-kind interactive dialogue experience.

Like Baldur’s Gate 3, Disco Elysium Lets Players Shape Their Own Experience

Choices matter in Disco Elysium, but not nearly as much as they do in Baldur’s Gate 3: Disco Elysium has a much more structured and linear story compared to Larian’s massive D&D adaptation. While this might be disappointing to some, especially those who cut their teeth on the CRPG space with Baldur’s Gate 3, it can also be viewed as a boon. Disco Elysium isn’t about saving the world or becoming consistently more powerful, but about coming to terms with one’s own past, navigating substance use, and grappling with the wounds that war and class struggle leave behind.

There’s so much more to love about Disco Elysium, from its uniquely depressing soundtrack and unforgettable art style to its sprawling cast of complex, believable characters. It’s virtually impossible to convey all these strengths in text, especially without issuing major spoilers, so take my word on this: Disco Elysium is absolutely worth your time, whether you like CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 or not.

Released

August 3, 2023

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence