Disco Elysium: A Game that Captures the Essence of Millennial and Gen-Z Disenchantment

Disco Elysium’s well-crafted conversation system and nihilistic message resonates with frustrated millennials and Gen-Z, making it a popular hit

This blog post is part of an ongoing series where I analyze the top 100 best video games of all time as part of the David Perry Challenge. Disco Elysium is ranked #10 out of 100.

Disco Elysium is a very well-made narrative role-playing game that has gained immense popularity in recent years. Despite my own lack of interest in the game’s message, I believe that the reason for its success lies in its captivating gameplay mechanics and the fact that it resonates with many frustrated millennials and Gen Zers due to its nihilistic message.

The game’s standout feature is its conversation system. The conversations are the main part of the game, and are the core of the story, plot, and information gathering. The game’s progression systems are also notable. Players start with a specific character build, which then colors their path through the conversations. This makes for a more personalized and unique experience for each player.

The world design in Disco Elysium is not intuitive, and it is likely that this was done on purpose to add to the game’s overall tone and atmosphere — a slowly traversed painterly map with lots of objects and points of interest to examine. The meta weirdness with the main character having internal dialogue also adds to the game’s charm and uniqueness.

While these are strengths, I believe that the real reason for the game’s success is its bleak message presented in such a compelling fashion. The story presented in Disco Elysium is a scathing review of systems that feel out of reach to the normal person. This resonates with many millennials and Gen Zers who are feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the world around them. The bleakness of the game’s world is conveyed through its gritty graphics and audio direction, making it an even more powerful experience.

The psychological debate inside the main character’s head is also interesting and makes for some insightful moments within the otherwise banal story. The high-quality voice acting is another notable strength, adding to the game’s overall immersive experience. I loved the tutorial agent character because it breaks the fourth wall in the one place where it makes sense in this particular game.

However, there are also some aspects of the game that can be frustrating. For example, the death mechanic in the game felt arbitrary and made it difficult to enjoy the story and choices. The menus and inventory management were also confusing, making it difficult to access the character upgrades or check my character’s stats.

Despite these drawbacks, I believe that Disco Elysium is a well-made game that has managed to strike a chord with many people. Its conversation system is fascinating and very well made, and the nihilistic message resonates with a generation that is feeling disillusioned with the world around them. The game’s success is a testament to the power of narrative-driven games.

In conclusion, while Disco Elysium may not be a game that appeals to everyone, it is certainly a game that has resonated with a significant portion of its player base. Its strengths lie in its captivating gameplay mechanics, its unique level design, and its powerful message. As game designers, it is important to take note of what makes a game successful, and Disco Elysium is certainly a game worth studying.