The highly anticipated Disco Elysium spiritual successor, Hopetown, has achieved a remarkable feat by surpassing its Kickstarter funding goal in mere hours. Developed by the indie studio Longdue, Hopetown boasts a team comprised of former developers from both the acclaimed Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM and other notable titles like The Witcher 3, setting the stage for an exciting new RPG experience.

Released in 2019, Disco Elysium earned widespread recognition as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, praised for its originality and innovative approach to the genre.  However, subsequent controversies and internal disputes led to the departure of key developers.  Currently, four different studios are striving to create spiritual successors to Disco Elysium, with Hopetown emerging as one of the most prominent contenders.

Longdue's Kickstarter campaign quickly gained traction, exceeding its initial goal of approximately $32,338 (£25,000) in just a few hours. At the time of writing, Hopetown had already amassed over $44,000 from 725 backers, a testament to the strong interest and anticipation surrounding the project.  In Hopetown, players assume the role of a journalist investigating the mining town of Hopetown.  Gameplay revolves around utilizing various journalistic styles, such as Conspiracy, Investigative, Gossip, and Gonzo, to shape the narrative and influence the world around them.

The game prominently features the concept of “psychogeography,” where player choices not only impact character interactions but also dynamically alter the environment itself.  True to its RPG roots, Hopetown promises rich dialogue, extensive choices, and ample opportunities for immersive roleplaying.

Adding to its pedigree, Hopetown features contributions from notable figures such as ZA/UM Cultural Movement founder Martin Luiga and the voice of Disco Elysium's narrator, Lenval Brown.  This has led many to view Hopetown as the true heir to the cult classic RPG. However, Longdue is just one of four studios vying for that title.  Dark Math Games is currently developing XXX Nightshift, while Red Info is working on an as-yet-unnamed project.

ZA/UM recently announced C4, an espionage RPG described as a “mind-warping story of espionage and team-building in an original yet achingly familiar setting.” While C4 is also positioned as a potential spiritual successor to Disco Elysium, it appears to differ significantly from Hopetown in its focus on choice-driven narratives with betrayals and shifting alliances, rather than Hopetown’s emphasis on shaping reality through language.

With multiple games seeking to capture the essence of Disco Elysium, it remains to be seen which will ultimately resonate most with players and achieve lasting success.