Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

About Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a narrative-heavy RPG developed by ZA/UM. Released March 30, 2021, it’s an expanded version of the 2019 title with full voice acting, new quests, and additional endings. Set in the fictional town of Revachol, you play a disgraced detective with no memory, investigating a murder while navigating political corruption, existential crises, and surreal side cases. The game blends deep dialogue trees with skill-based mechanics, letting you approach problems through combat, charisma, or even delusional self-talk. Available on PC, consoles, and Switch, it’s a 40+ hour odyssey for players who love branching choices and philosophical themes.

Gameplay

You spend most sessions managing a detective’s fractured psyche, balancing traits like "Rational Thought" and "Emotional Control." Combat is rare but tense, relying on quick-time actions and weapon proficiencies. Investigation hinges on interrogations, evidence gathering, and environmental puzzles. The game’s "Thought Cabinet" lets you debate your decisions internally, with outcomes shaping dialogue and story progression. Side quests range from solving minor crimes to mediating town disputes, all while uncovering Revachol’s decaying social fabric. Choices matter, allying with unions, exploiting citizens, or ignoring the case altogether leads to wildly different endings. Controls are intuitive, but the dense interface and text-heavy scenes demand patience.

What Players Think

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut holds a 92.6/100 on IGDB, with 100% of 201 ratings positive. Average playtime is 45 hours, though 17% of players complete all 16 achievements (1000 points). Community moods highlight "Thought-provoking" and "Rewarding," with some calling it "a masterpiece of writing." A 4.8/5 on Steam sees reviews like, "Every decision feels monumental." However, 12% of players label it "Overwhelming," citing dense lore and slow pacing. The game’s 17% completion rate suggests it’s not for everyone, those who stick with it often finish in 60+ hours.

PlayPile's Take

At $39.99 (or equivalent), Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a must-play for fans of branching narratives and moral ambiguity. Its 1000-achievement system incentivizes replayability, but the grind for 100% completion adds 15+ hours. This isn’t a game for quick sessions, it demands long stretches and deep engagement. If you value dialogue over action and enjoy games that challenge your worldview, this is your jam. Skip it if you prefer fast-paced gameplay or linear stories. The Final Cut justifies its price with voice acting and expanded content, but be ready to invest time.

Storyline

Disco Elysium is a stylish open-world role playing game where it's up to you to decide what sort of detective you want to be. After waking up in a trashed hostel room with a hangover and no memory of his past, follow a detective trying to piece his life back together while investigating a murder in the town of Revachol. After initially appearing to be an open and close case, it soon transpires this murder has triggered a chain of events that has wider implications on the city and its inhabitants. ​Death, sex, taxes, and disco – nothing is off the table. Revachol is a real place with real challenges. Solve the massive murder investigation or relax and kick back with sprawling side-cases. The detective decides - the citizens abide.