Introduction

Sometimes a game comes along that makes you question everything you thought you knew about gaming. Disco Elysium is that game. It's like the existential crisis you never knew you needed, wrapped in a pretty package of surrealism and police procedural. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to wake up after a three-day bender and be tasked with solving a murder, well, let me tell you, it's more exhilarating than it sounds, and far less hangover-inducing.

Gameplay

This game is almost entirely dialogue-based, which is a fancy way of saying there’s literally zero explosive action sequences. Instead, players mold their character, a hungover detective with an amnesia problem as crippling as a poorly-timed meme. The game leans heavily into role-playing mechanics, offering dialogue trees that respond to your 'skills.' Yes, in Disco Elysium, your skills are basically your inner voices, and they aren't afraid to argue with each other. Want to talk your way through a scenario? Hope you’ve picked the right skills, or you might just end up talking to yourself on the street like a crazy person. Trust me, it's a vibe that's hard to shake off.

Graphics

Graphically, Disco Elysium isn’t going to push the Switch to its limits, and that’s delightful. It's presented in a painterly style that will make you feel like you're exploring the inner workings of a fever dream. It’s akin to walking through an art gallery, if all the paintings were painted by a slightly deranged Salvador Dali. The environments are lush, layered, and immersive, striking a balance between beauty and melancholy. It’s the kind of art that makes you contemplate life - or at least your character’s terrible choices - as you wander the streets of a dystopian-esque city.

Conclusion

Disco Elysium on the Switch is like discovering an obscure indie band that just happens to be the soundtrack to your existential crisis. It’s thought-provoking, hilarious, and deeply flawed - much like humanity. If you enjoy games that encourage pondering metaphysical questions about life, death, and detectives who’ve drunk their way into a mess of self-discovery, then leap into this one headfirst. Just don’t forget to take breaks, because you and I both know that staring into the abyss of your own flaws through the eyes of a fictional, drug-induced detective isn’t exactly healthy. 10/10, would existentially dread again.

See Latest Prices for Disco Elysium on Switch on Amazon