Experiencing Esoteric Ebb feels like embarking on an adventure with an exceptional dungeon master.
It took me a bit to really dive into Esoteric Ebb, a fresh CRPG from developer Christoffer Bodegård. Imagine Disco Elysium, but set in a fantasy world reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons: you step into the shoes of a cleric exploring a quaint town, unraveling mysteries like the explosion of a local tea shop, all while engaging in conversations with various character traits that exist in your mind. Much like Disco Elysium, the game presents an isometric, top-down view and demands plenty of reading, as you navigate the opinions of your inner voices and make daring dice rolls that don’t always pan out. Initially, I felt like I was just wandering aimlessly, but by the end, I was completely hooked and laughing more than I have with any game in a long time.
When you kick off your adventure in Esoteric Ebb, you create your cleric by distributing ability scores—classic D&D stats like strength, wisdom, and charisma—and selecting a background to give your character some backstory. If you prefer not to spend too much time customizing, there are a few pre-made characters available. I opted for the “Unstable Cleric,” boasting the highest charisma, as I enjoy persuasive dialogue in these games. This character also had a solid dexterity score, which came in handy for pickpocketing. After finalizing my character, the game humorously labeled me the “dumbest cleric imaginable.” Depending on your starting stats, you’ll receive different descriptions, but in my case, it was a useful perspective; instead of chasing the “best” outcomes, I leaned into my character’s quirks to see where they would lead.
Throughout my journey, this approach led to all sorts of hilarious moments. During an election subplot, I urged everyone to vote for me, claiming I would reign as a god-wizard-king, which made the townsfolk quite skeptical. At one point, while fishing with a merman who also happened to be a landlord, I chose to bite my tongue instead of commenting on his merman status, resulting in a rather graphic description of my character literally biting his tongue, leaving blood pooling around his boots, which the merman seemed to overlook.
Combat scenarios pop up occasionally, and while the game is primarily about text interactions, you’ll face some tense dice rolls that can sway the outcome of battles. I met my demise often, but since I usually saved before key encounters, it wasn’t a major setback. You can cast spells to influence situations, boost your dice rolls, or unlock new dialogue options with various characters throughout the game. I even had a chat with a giant snail.
Looking back, I realize that my initial feeling of aimlessness was actually part of the intended experience of Esoteric Ebb. Much like a captivating fantasy novel, it takes a little time to immerse yourself in the game’s world, and as I progressed, I discovered how interconnected the characters were, with their stories gradually unfolding. For instance, after my tongue-biting incident with the merman, he revealed a surprising detail about my cleric’s past.
The game’s introduction is personally signed by Bodegård, who mentions that “we’ll play” for about “5 to 8 sessions.” This sets the stage for an engaging experience, guided by a skilled Dungeon Master who has crafted an entertaining campaign while also embracing your wild instincts to shape an interesting journey. Bodegård truly delivers. As I approached the game’s conclusion, I became so engrossed in the story and eager to explore every absurd situation that I rushed to see it through. Remarkably, the narrative threads came together, making my 16-hour adventure feel rewarding. I discovered that even my bumbling cleric could rise to the occasion and become a hero.
Esoteric Ebb is now available on Steam.
