Hopetown, a groundbreaking nonlinear RPG crafted by Longdue Games, offers an innovative spin on narrative-driven gameplay. The studio, founded by former employees of ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, has unveiled a first glimpse into the game's mechanics, presenting it as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium. The storyline follows a journalist who wakes up in a mining town after a night of heavy drinking. As players navigate the game with a pounding hangover, they must unravel the mystery of the previous night and manage a burgeoning local conflict, deciding whether to soothe tensions or stoke the flames.
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Screenshots showcase a dialogue-rich experience where player choices deeply influence the narrative. The game offers multiple archetypes, each with unique dialogue options and approaches to conversations. For instance, interacting with an old woman feeding pigeons can vary widely depending on the tone players choose, leading to different outcomes.
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, excitement is growing among enthusiasts of narrative-focused RPGs.
Hopetown isn't the only game drawing inspiration from Disco Elysium. Two other studios, Dark Math Games and Summer Eternal, are also developing their own psychological RPGs, adding to the vibrant scene of story-driven gaming.
