Hopetown, a groundbreaking nonlinear RPG developed by Longdue Games, introduces a unique twist to narrative-driven gameplay. The studio, founded by former employees of renowned companies such as ZA/UM, Rockstar Games, and Bungie, has unveiled the first glimpse into the game's innovative mechanics. Positioned as a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium, Hopetown promises an immersive experience.
The storyline revolves around a journalist who wakes up in a mining town following a night of heavy drinking. Battling a severe hangover, players must reconstruct the events of the previous night and navigate an escalating local conflict. Choices made by players will determine whether they seek to de-escalate tensions or exacerbate the situation, adding depth to the narrative.
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Screenshots showcase a dialogue-rich environment where player decisions profoundly influence the storyline. The game offers multiple archetypes, each with distinct dialogue options and approaches during conversations. For instance, when interacting with an elderly woman feeding pigeons, players can choose from various tones, each leading to different outcomes.
Longdue Games is gearing up to launch a Kickstarter campaign to further fund the project, with a dedicated page already live on the platform. Although no specific release date has been announced, the anticipation among fans of narrative-focused RPGs is palpable.
Hopetown is not 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 growing genre of narrative-driven games.