If you've been craving a deep, narrative-driven RPG that feels like rolling dice with a masterful Dungeon Master, look no further than Esoteric Ebb. Developed by Christoffer Bodegård, this game takes the introspective, voice-filled mechanics of Disco Elysium and transplants them into a whimsical fantasy world straight out of Dungeons & Dragons. You play as a cleric wandering a small town, untangling the mystery of a tea shop explosion while conversing with the warring personalities inside your own head. It's reading-heavy, dice-reliant, and beautifully strange. Below are ten essential things you need to know before diving into this unique CRPG.
1. The Disco Elysium Comparison Is Accurate—But With a Fantasy Twist
Like the acclaimed Disco Elysium, Esoteric Ebb uses an isometric top-down perspective and demands a lot of reading. However, instead of a detective in a city, you're a cleric in a small fantasy town. The internal dialogue is not just psychological—it's magical. Your character traits literally talk back to you, as if a D&D party of personalities lives inside your head. Each voice has its own agenda, and you must weigh their advice to progress.
2. You Play as a Cleric with a Mysterious Past
The protagonist is a cleric—a class steeped in divine magic and moral responsibility. But here, your deity may be silent, and your past is clouded. The story unfolds through conversations and discoveries, not combat. Your clerical abilities (like healing or divine insight) come into play during dialogue and exploration, adding a layer of strategy to how you interact with the world and its inhabitants.
3. The Central Mystery: A Tea Shop Explosion
The plot revolves around a bizarre event: a tea shop in town has exploded. Why? Who is responsible? And what does it have to do with the strange forces at work in the region? This isn't just a whodunit—it's a metaphysical puzzle. The explosion may be linked to the town's history, the cleric's forgotten memories, or even the internal voices themselves. Every clue matters.
4. Dice Rolls Determine Success—But It's Not Pure Luck
Just like a great DM, the game blends randomness with narrative logic. When you attempt something—convince a townsfolk, recall a memory, cast a spell—you roll dice. But your character's stats, earlier choices, and even the current dominant internal voice affect the outcome. A failure might not mean a dead end; it could lead to a more interesting story twist. This keeps each playthrough unpredictable.
5. Internal Voices Are More Than a Gimmick
Your cleric's psyche is fractured into distinct personalities: the logical Mind, the emotional Heart, the instinctual Gut, and perhaps others. Each voice offers advice and sometimes conflicts with others. You can choose which voice to listen to at key moments, shaping your cleric's personality and unlocking different dialogue options. This system echoes Disco Elysium's skill-based conversations but feels fresh because the voices are tied to your class and story.
6. The Town Feels Alive—But Small
Don't expect an epic open world. The setting is a single small town, but it's densely packed with characters, secrets, and side stories. Every NPC has a name, a routine, and a reason to be there. You'll revisit locations and notice changes based on your actions. The intimacy of the setting allows for deeper engagement with the mystery and the people involved.
7. Reading Is Required—And Rewarded
This is a text-heavy game. There are no cinematic cutscenes or voiced dialogue. Instead, you'll read paragraphs describing scenes, internal monologues, and NPC speeches. The writing is literary and evocative, reminiscent of a well-crafted choose-your-own-adventure book. If you love world-building through prose, you'll be hooked. If you prefer action, this may test your patience.
8. Your Choices Have Real Consequences
Like any good RPG, Esoteric Ebb tracks your decisions. But because the game is relatively short and focused, even small choices—a lie told early, a side quest ignored—can dramatically alter the ending. The internal voices also remember your allegiances, and a voice you've suppressed may become hostile later. This encourages multiple playthroughs to see all the permutations.
9. The Dice Mechanic Mirrors a Tabletop Session's Unpredictability
One of the game's most charming elements is how it simulates the feeling of playing with a creative DM. You might plan a course of action, only to roll a critical failure that spins the story in a wild direction. The game embraces this chaos; some of the best moments come from unexpected dice results. It's a tribute to the tabletop experience that many CRPGs try to capture but few achieve so authentically.
10. It's a Short but Dense Experience
Don't expect a 100-hour epic. Esoteric Ebb can be completed in roughly 10–15 hours, but every hour is packed with meaningful dialogue, tough choices, and atmosphere. The brevity makes it perfect for players who want a concentrated narrative punch without filler. It also means that replaying to explore different voice alignments or outcomes isn't a huge time investment.
Ready to Roll the Dice?
Esoteric Ebb may not be for everyone—it demands patience, a love for reading, and a tolerance for randomness. But if you've ever sat at a D&D table and felt the thrill of a critical success or the hilarity of a critical failure, this game will resonate. It's a love letter to the improvisational, character-driven storytelling that makes tabletop roleplaying so special. Start with our first point and see if this fractured cleric's journey is one you want to undertake.