Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
- October 15, 2019
- ZA/UM
- 21h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreDisco Elysium: The Final Cut is a critically acclaimed role-playing game that combines elements of detective work and urban exploration. As a hard-boiled cop with a twisted sense of justice, you must solve a grisly murder while navigating the seedy underbelly of a city on the brink of revolution. With its rich, immersive world and innovative gameplay mechanics, Disco Elysium offers a truly unique RPG experience.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Cloud
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- story12,333 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of *Disco Elysium* is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and unique narrative style, blending elements of detective fiction with profound philosophical and political themes. Players navigate a richly detailed world filled with memorable characters, where their choices significantly impact the unfolding story, leading to multiple endings and varied experiences. While the game is heavily dialogue-driven and may feel slow-paced at times, its exceptional writing and voice acting create an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players, making it a standout in the realm of story-driven RPGs.
“The amazing story, well-written cast of characters, and excellent voice acting came together beautifully in this one-of-a-kind game.”
“The writing is exceptionally good, weaving an intricate, multi-layered story spanning only a few in-game days on a surprisingly small and compact map where every NPC and interaction is an entire world to be explored.”
“Disco Elysium is a triumph of storytelling, artistry, and gameplay innovation that transcends the boundaries of gaming, venturing into the realm of true artistry.”
“The story is captivating, weird, and unexpected.”
“The plot is not overloaded with delusional elements like parallel universes, but there are still plenty of crazy and interesting things at the junction of reality and madness, which give you space to interpret and guess what is happening.”
“The main story ends in a sudden but not surprising way.”
- gameplay3,652 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Disco Elysium* is primarily dialogue-driven, with a heavy emphasis on narrative and character interaction rather than traditional mechanics like combat. Players engage in a unique skill-check system that utilizes dice rolls to determine the outcomes of conversations and actions, allowing for a variety of character builds and playstyles. While the game is praised for its innovative mechanics and rich storytelling, some players find the gameplay slow and heavily reliant on reading, which may not appeal to those seeking more action-oriented experiences.
“Overall, Disco Elysium is a masterpiece in narrative gameplay and is an experience that I won't forget anytime soon!”
“The gameplay and story are great, with a unique skill system that allows for deep character customization and meaningful choices.”
“The gameplay is unique and engaging, almost like an incredible book that you are up at 3 AM reading even though you have work in the morning.”
“The lack of real combat mechanics feels like a missed opportunity.”
“There's no interesting gameplay, no fights, no action scenes.”
“The gameplay is quite standard and in itself does not really stand out.”
- humor3,351 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Disco Elysium is widely praised for its exceptional humor, which ranges from dark and absurd to deeply poignant. Players frequently highlight the clever writing and witty dialogue that elicits genuine laughter, often juxtaposed with serious themes and emotional depth. The game's unique character mechanics, where different aspects of the protagonist's psyche engage in humorous internal dialogues, further enhance its comedic appeal, making it a standout in narrative-driven RPGs.
“Disco Elysium had me both laughing and almost crying right out the gate; this game has some of the cleverest, most well-executed jokes I've seen in not just the genre of RPGs but in the medium of video games as a whole.”
“The writing is often hilarious, and the theme is fresh as hell involving a total memory loss detective in a murder mystery gone awry.”
“The dialogue is sharp, darkly funny, and it delves deep into serious themes.”
“A point and click is supposed to be funny, and it started pretty well; I giggled a lot, then it became tedious, too much narration, too much useless information from a world that is neither exciting nor interesting. I arrived at a point where I didn't wish to read anymore; alas, reading is all the game has to offer.”
“Way too pretentious and not funny.”
“Jokes which are not funny, an invented world full of strange names that are only that... strange names.”
- graphics2,629 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Disco Elysium* are widely praised for their unique and stunning art style, often described as a beautiful watercolor or oil painting aesthetic that enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling. While some players note that the graphics may not be technically advanced compared to modern standards, the artistic direction and visual presentation are considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the immersive experience. Overall, the combination of striking visuals, evocative character portraits, and atmospheric music creates a captivating and memorable environment that resonates with players.
“The art style is beautiful and the soundtrack is remarkable.”
“The hand-painted, watercolor expressionist art style, combined with the atmospheric music and sound design, creates a mesmerizing ambience that sucks you into its world and refuses to let go.”
“The art style, soundtrack, the world, the characters... every element harmonizes and brings together something spectacular that only video games can really achieve.”
“Overall compared to modern games, the graphics may seem to be not good.”
“The graphics are a stylish blend of noir and fever dream.”
“The graphics are fine, but the artsy involved is what makes this so immersive and engrossing.”
- music2,289 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Disco Elysium" has received widespread acclaim for its haunting and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the game's emotional depth and narrative immersion. Composed primarily by British Sea Power, the soundtrack is noted for its melancholic tones that complement the game's unique art style and storytelling, although some players found it repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a vital component of the game's identity, contributing significantly to the player's experience in the richly crafted world of Revachol.
“The art style, soundtrack, the world, the characters... every element harmonizes and brings together something spectacular that only video games can really achieve.”
“The music, the aesthetics, the characters... the repercussions of your decisions.”
“Music is average and kind of uninspired.”
“The music is surprisingly catchy and for 10 bucks this was a home run!”
“The music, the visuals and the art-style of the game are great, and finally you will get the memes about it.”
- emotional1,247 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Disco Elysium" is widely praised for its profound depth and complexity, with players reporting a range of feelings from laughter to tears throughout their experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend humor with heart-wrenching moments, creating a narrative that resonates deeply on personal and philosophical levels. The writing, character development, and immersive storytelling evoke strong emotional responses, making it a standout example of video games as a powerful medium for exploring the human condition.
“It touches on sensitive aspects of humanity, blending the real and the fictional, the imaginative and the emotional.”
“Everything about this game is elegant and emotional, and this is a perfected example of games being an art form.”
“This game is a masterpiece, it is incredibly well written and genuinely funny and emotional at times, so play it now.”
“I wanted to like this game; honestly, it's a boring game with a boring story. It probably gets better, but the story is so bad I couldn't force myself to keep playing.”
“Couldn't get me over the boring story and lousy gameplay though.”
“Boring story.”
- atmosphere956 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Disco Elysium" is widely praised for its rich, immersive quality, combining beautifully hand-painted visuals with a haunting soundtrack that enhances the game's melancholic and surreal tone. Reviewers highlight the intricate world-building and character depth, which create a unique, engaging environment that feels alive and reflective of its complex themes. The game's ability to evoke a range of emotions—from humor to existential dread—through its atmospheric design and writing is frequently noted as one of its standout features.
“The world-building and atmosphere are top-notch, a sort of highly-polarized and deranged post-steampunk apocalypse.”
“The hand-painted backgrounds create a distinct atmosphere, capturing the gritty and noir feel of the game's world.”
“The atmosphere, music, writing, and characters all contribute to an incredibly immersive experience.”
“The atmosphere of a shelled out slum in the dark of winter surrounded by the poor and the desperate right on the cusp of a union dispute about to boil over into violence is extremely immersive if a bit depressing, and the soft, mournful music really gets you in the mood to redeem yourself and solve the case.”
“The atmosphere of the 'shit world' that the characters live in can be tough to deal with if you feel like you're going through a hard time in your life, and I found myself somewhat in that position while playing this game, but in the end I enjoyed the experience overall.”
“The grim atmosphere can feel a little overwhelming at times, but it's a joy to look at and play.”
- replayability745 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a prominent feature, with many players praising its depth and variety of choices that lead to different outcomes and experiences. While some reviews note that the core story remains largely linear, the diverse character builds and skill systems encourage multiple playthroughs to explore different dialogue options and interactions. However, a few players express concerns about the repetitiveness of certain elements, suggesting that while replayability is significant, it may not be as high as initially expected after multiple runs.
“Packed to the brim with fantastic dialogue across several ideologies and personality types, and designed in a way such that failure is often no less valid an option than success, the game has immense replay value.”
“The way your character's defined physiology influences every interaction and aspect of the game makes the experience both rewarding and highly replayable.”
“The replay value is high as playing the game with different builds yields interesting new conversations and perspectives that add more to the already-rich story.”
“I guess that they were going for a system that encouraged replayability, but it doesn't work, and it instead just feels like a streak of things you keep missing out on unless you reload. Failing rolls on 80% chances because of the clunkiness of it all does not feel good.”
“This 'choices matter' tagline is too simple and wants you to think that you can change the story, characters, and world with each sentence or action that these types of games select for you, but alas, your choices don't actually matter all that much because every outcome and ending is predictable, and the game becomes not as replayable.”
“One of my only issues is with replayability, and while I and many friends have endeavored to complete a second playthrough, we've often given up due to the repetitiveness of certain aspects of the story.”
- grinding309 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players expressing frustration over lengthy dialogues, repetitive tasks, and the need to frequently manage inventory for skill checks. While some appreciate the depth of the narrative and writing, the overall consensus is that the gameplay can feel slow, drawn-out, and at times, unnecessarily convoluted, leading to a tedious experience for many.
“No tacked on combat, no farming or grinding, just some of the most consistently entertaining and evocative writing I've experienced in an intriguing world.”
“What surprised me is that this game doesn't have combat, so even casual gamers can take it up without the fear of getting stuck somewhere because of choosing incorrect skills at the start or not grinding enough experience.”
“Its very forgiving in awarding XP so you have freedom to explore and there is no grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding for experience points was never fun.”
“The endless grind of dumpster-diving for loot, ping-ponging between NPCs on 'quests,' prebuffing as a lead-in to challenge-free grinding fights, min-maxing stats to achieve modest incremental changes that yielded merely more points to min-max, dialogue trees that were like administrative checklists... all of this conspired to make me throw in the towel.”
- character development253 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Character development in Disco Elysium is widely praised for its depth and intricacy, allowing players to shape their character's abilities and personality through a unique skill system and meaningful dialogue choices. Reviewers highlight the game's rich narrative and world-building, which enhance the character development experience, making it feel personal and impactful. The combination of compelling writing, innovative mechanics, and immersive storytelling positions Disco Elysium as a standout title in the RPG genre, offering a profound exploration of identity and decision-making.
“Disco Elysium is a tour de force in the world of narrative-driven role-playing games, breaking conventions and setting new standards for storytelling and character development.”
“The character development system, based on skill checks and dialogues, allows players to tailor their detective's abilities to suit their preferred playstyle, adding depth and replay value to the game.”
“The writing is phenomenal, which is a good thing as this game could be considered an interactive novel that allows for almost unparalleled decision of action and character development.”
“Character development - non existent”
“This game is not an rpg, it has very limited character development.”
“The skills system and its rolls for failure/pass somewhat encourage quicksaving and loading just for the sake of exploring all options - it seems to undermine the general character development.”
- stability168 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing, visual issues, and dialogue mismatches. While some users experienced a relatively smooth experience, others found the game to be "buggy as hell," leading to frustration and the need for frequent saves. Overall, the game's stability issues seem to detract from an otherwise engaging experience, with many recommending caution and patience for potential players.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck as well!”
“So far, it has been completely bug-free.”
“Almost completely bug-free to boot, which is impressive as hell.”
“It seems the game is experiencing significant glitches.”
“The only bugs or glitches I encountered were that if you reload a save when you were in a cutscene where inanimate objects were moving, then the objects started in the position they were supposed to end up in or didn't appear at all.”
“There are some pretty significant glitches like Kim clipping through buildings and UI and scenes with the smoker on the balcony and Measure-Head glitching and locking you in the last line of text, but it just means you gotta save a bit more often.”
- optimization149 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting solid performance and no bugs, while others have experienced significant issues, particularly on Mac and AMD systems, including stuttering, long loading times, and inconsistent frame rates. Despite these problems, many players praised the exceptional voice acting and writing, which often overshadowed the technical shortcomings. Overall, while some users enjoyed a smooth experience, others found the game's optimization lacking, impacting their overall enjoyment.
“Performance was solid throughout my playtime and I didn't run into any bugs or glitches.”
“I have an Intel i3 7th gen core laptop and most graphics-heavy games don't even launch, but this game is surprisingly optimized.”
“The game runs smoothly, I experienced no crashes in almost 40 hours.”
“Very badly optimized for Mac.”
“The performance is poor as the game isn't optimized for PC.”
“Horrible optimization even though the game is basically only sprites.”
- monetization35 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, particularly regarding the company's shift towards profit-driven strategies after the original creators were ousted. Reviewers express concern over the potential introduction of microtransactions and live-service features, suggesting that future titles may prioritize revenue over creative integrity. While the game itself is praised for its uniqueness and depth, many recommend purchasing it only on sale to minimize financial support for the current management's monetization tactics.
“Another thing to mention is that this new Za/um team are hiring people with a goal to turn the next Za/um product into a game with microtransactions, DLC, and live-service features in order to 'maximize revenue'.”
“Za/um, the publishers of the game have fired the main leads that have developed this story; this world full of depth for over a decade, took their IP, and is now moving towards a monetization approach that no longer follows the vision the original creators had in mind when building the world of Disco Elysium.”
“Edit: the company behind Disco Elysium has staged an investor-led coup of the IP and have ousted all the main writers and the lead artist behind the game to push out a sequel quicker and probably with more monetization.”
“Yes, I recommend the game, but only buy it on sale to give as little money to the company that fired all the talent and pays only the bigwig cash grabbers.”
“The original creators were booted by the company in the name of monetization, which is really ironic considering the game's stance on such topics.”
“Another thing to mention is that this new Za/um team is hiring people with a goal to turn the next Za/um product into a game with microtransactions, DLC, and live-service features in order to 'maximize revenue'.”
