Esoteric Ebb Reviews
Esoteric Ebb is a gorgeously illustrated, dialogue-drunk RPG that marries Disco Elysium's inner-monologues with D&D's gameplay bones. Its bureaucratic labyrinths, strange citizens, and bickering ability scores keep every conversation swaying between revelation and the ridiculous. Solid writing and solid technical performance make the whole investigation run smoothly. It's a game for anyone willing to take the bad rolls with the good-and enjoy the story that spills out when the dice decide you're not the hero today.
What begins as a Disco Elysium imitation quickly grows into an exciting and compelling RPG experience that stands firmly on its own.
If you like RPGs, you owe it to yourself to play Esoteric Ebb.
I cannot say enough good things about Esoteric Ebb, which is positively stuffed with them. Like a good mimic, it's got teeth. It is both familiar in its shape and size and astonishing in its surprising depth and riches. Do not let its appearance fool you: There is a lot more to love about this "Disco-like" than its vibrant surface and wit might initially convey.
Raw Fury's new game brings a new take on the text-based CRPG format of videogame journey.
While it doesn't offer up information on completing quests, it does give you the freedom to explore the world and characters. If you're a fan of DnD looking for something unique with some solid writing and good humor, then you won't find a better game to play than Esoteric Ebb.
Esoteric Ebb is an achievement in video game storytelling, and one of the most endearing, hilarious and immersive roleplaying experiences I've ever had in the medium. It's absolutely a must-play, and carves out an astonishing identity for itself beyond the D&D and Disco Elysium inspirations that drive it.
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When I had finally solved the mystery of the tea shop, an epilogue allowed me to meander and tie up loose ends in relative leisure. There the Cleric remains, singular in his imperfections, basking in the rest he’s earned.
Esoteric Ebb borrows liberally from Disco Elysium, and both because of and in spite of that, it's one of the finest CRPGs ever made.
If you have been eagerly anticipating a worthy successor to Disco Elysium, Esoteric Ebb does a respectable job filling that void while offering some of its own fresh ideas.
Esoteric Ebb is a can’t-miss experience.
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Review in Russian | Read full review
Esoteric Ebb is a multitude of things: a low-stakes political mystery, a comedy with solid writing and fleshed-out characters that have personalities even if there are no vocal performances to go with them, and it's a good-looking game that feels like the spirit of Disco Elysium. Most of all, it's an enjoyable experience that begs for multiple playthroughs to see all of the different scenarios and personalities. This is a pleasant surprise of a title, and those who value good dialogue above all else will be very happy with Esoteric Ebb.
Christoffer Bodegård has made an excellent game in Esoteric Ebb, especially for a fantasy RPG and D&D fan like me. Even if you don’t know about D&D, it’s easy to get into. With a rich world to explore and an intriguing story, there is plenty to do, plus numerous interesting side quests. The satirical humour and colourful characters throughout provide a very fun fantasy world. With many hours of gameplay, the stunning graphics and attention to detail will keep you engaged, partnered with a solid soundtrack. Amazingly, this is Christoffer Bodegård’s debut game, and I’m beyond excited to see what they develop next. I’m thrilled to give Esoteric Ebb the Thumb Culture Platinum Thumbs Up! I previously reviewed Knights in Tight Spaces, a similar isometric fantasy RPG, so feel free to check that out too.
Esoteric Ebb will delight those who love fantastical tabletop adventures but have been craving a single-player experience, especially if you are remotely into medieval stuff, silly stuff, political stuff, and/or male identity stuff. I am not alone in thinking that it's one of the best successors to Disco Elysium, a game I very much loved. There's strong potential for Esoteric Ebb to get a sequel, or even some DLC, and I'll be lining up to try it. I think Esoteric Ebb is an excellent example of the CRPG genre, though it is pretty deep into its systems and those who are new to this style or don't enjoy it will be hard-pressed to click with it. But if you do love a TTRPG, you're gonna love it. I'm confident that, at the end of the year, I'll be putting it on my list of best indie games.
For those who appreciate dense narrative games and experiences that emphasize character role-playing, Esoteric Ebb offers one of the most interesting proposals in the genre in recent years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Esoteric Ebb succeeds because it embraces its inspirations with confidence and reverence. It borrows the philosophical backbone of Planescape: Torment and the introspective depth of Disco Elysium, then reshapes those ideas into something playful, political, and unmistakably its own. This “thinking person’s RPG” will surely find a spot in our Best of 2026 list.
A highly competent CRPG in its writing, freedom, and artistic style, delivering a relatively dense load of politically and socially relevant dialogue, but which, for better or worse, clings too much to its original inspirations.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Esoteric Ebb is an unexpected delight that pairs elements of D&D campaigns with Disco Elysium, which turns out to be a perfect fit.