20 Recent Incredible Video Games That Came Out Of NOWHERE

The developer behind Esoteric Ebb, Christoffer Bodegård, dubbed Esoteric Ebb a Disco-like — referring to Disco Elysium — and we’re inclined to agree. Though it was released with little build up, Disco Elysium fans and Dungeons & Dragons fans both quickly took notice.

Though reminiscent of Disco Elysium in how dialogue trees with skill checks are a large portion of how progress is made in the game, it’s also heavily inspired by tabletop gaming. 

You play as the world’s worst cleric, who’s investigating a mysterious explosion with their goblin sidekick. Much like Dungeons and Dragons, you wield spells that allow you to do things like charm people or speak with the dead, and whether you’re interviewing a witness, trying to swipe something valuable, or wrestling someone in the pub, a roll of the dice will determine your fate.

Despite wearing its inspirations on its sleeve, Esoteric Ebb manages to deliver an incredibly engaging experience, with story-rich gameplay that left both critics and players impressed.