Esoteric Ebb Reviews
Esoteric Ebb is an absolutely worthy successor to its inspirations. It effortlessly manages to be both intellectually rigorous and deeply, humanly messy, blending its philosophical questions with the overarching narrative and tea shop mystery, elevating all aspects in the process.
Weaving Terry Pratchett, Terry Gilliam and more, Esoteric Ebb is a comedic D&D adventure where a waylaid Cleric is tasked with solving a crime, days before the world's first election.
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.
Quote not yet available
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.
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 is the videogame equivalent of the best kind of cover band – one that understands, remixes, hybridises and ultimately shows great affection for its inspirations. While its immediate and constant comparisons to Disco Elysium do often do a disservice to its narration and companionship, its writing, thoughtful reflections on chance, sense of humour and largely successful melding of D&D 5e systems with Disco Elysium’s storytelling creates a flawed but otherwise accomplished foray into a richly designed world.
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.
A game that will feel like a remedy for those craving Disco Elysium. Those who can’t find an FRP group but still want to dive into a tabletop-style adventure can also pull up a chair and join in without hesitation. With a bit more production backing, it could have been a true contender for the top of its genre.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Quote not yet available
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.
I already had good expectations for this narrative RPG but somehow it has managed to exceed them by far. Yes, it draws heavily from Disco Elysium (and from other sources such as the legendary Planescape: Torment), but it's not just a shallow copy of the original, instead it's a game with a strong identity of its own, one that can stand proudly alongside some of the best RPGs of the last decade.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Make no mistake: Esoteric Ebb is just what the doctor ordered for a quick-witted, choice-heavy, path-altering, and experience-defining RPG title that knows how to tinker with your cerebral mentionables.
Despite the occasional punishing dice roll, Esoteric Ebb is a stunning achievement in narrative and gameplay design that is a sheer joy to play from start to end. It takes a familiar framework and brings it to life with a world that reacts wonderfully to every chaotic choice you make. And sure, it does borrow some ideas from the greats of the genre, but with Esoteric Ebb adding its own unique ideas and sense of flair to the mix, it stands out perfectly alongside them as another must–play release.