Welcome to Revachol - A Digital Art Booklet for Disco Elysium

by ZA/UM

One of the available content to be purchased alongside the Disco Elysium Soundtrack on Steam or GOG.com

Disco Elysium is a groundbreaking role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.
Unprecedented freedom of choice​. Intimidate, sweet-talk, resort to violence, write poetry, sing karaoke, dance like a beast or solve the meaning of life. Disco Elysium is the most faithful representation of desktop role playing ever attempted in video games.

Countless tools for role playing.​ Mix and match from 24 wildly different skills. Develop a personal style with 80 clothes items. Wield 14 tools from guns to flashlights to a boombox, or pour yourself a cocktail of 6 different psychoactive substances. Develop your character even further with 60 wild ​ thoughts ​to think – with the detective's Thought Cabinet.

A revolutionary dialogue system with unforgettable characters. ​The world is alive with real people, not extras. Play them against each other, try to help them, or fall hopelessly in love. Disco Elysium's revolutionary dialogue system lets you do almost anything.

Carve your unique path across the city​. Explore, manipulate, collect tare or become a millionaire in an open world unlike anything you've seen before. The city of Revachol is yours for the taking, one small piece at a time. From the streets to the beaches – and beyond.

Hard boiled, hard core. ​Death, sex, taxes and disco – nothing is off the table. Revachol is a real place with real challenges. Solve a massive murder investigation, or relax and kick back with sprawling side-cases. The detective decides – the citizens abide.

Genres: Art, Video Games

36 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Michael Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never opened this book, but I read easily 400,000 words playing the game, so I’m counting it as a book. 5 stars.

[Zunair · Rating 5 out of 5]

No idea what's in this book but the game is the best novel I've ever played.

[Luka · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the wise YouTube comment once said: "this is the best game I've read." And it truly is.

[kinslee ♉︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Never opened this book, but I read easily 400,000 words playing the game, so I'm counting it as a book. 5 stars.” - michael from goodreads

[juch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disco elysium is not a book, it is transcendent, “a violent and irrepressible miracle”
I was moved by the way political despair mixed w personal despair mixed w mysticism
Won’t spoil the ending but really makes you feel the incommensurability of your single case w something as big as the echoes of the past resounding into the future
Reminded me of the city and the city
I also thought of dear cyborgs and dance dance revolution, some of my other favorite books
I can’t wait to play this again after at least a year
Thank you disco elysium
“Of all the creatures I’ve met, you are the most beautiful / kindest”

[wolfgang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This counts as the game and the game counts as a novel, no I will not be taking questions

[Calliope Lagunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disco Elysium isn't a novel, and the only reason I am technically able to log a review of it is thanks to the fact this artbook is listed on Goodreads. But dammit, this game contains around one *million* words of prose and dialogue, I gave 90 hours of my life to playing it twice, and I will rant and rave until the gloaming if it means I can get someone to experience it for the first time, because Disco Elysium is that good.

You play as a tired and bloated meat-thing, an alcoholic apocalyptic superstar disaster of a human being waking from oblivion. In other words, you play as a cop. Turns out he's supposed to look into a murder in Revachol, someone whose death may just set off a powder keg involving a labor union striking against a major corporation. By his side is Lt. Kim Kitsuragi, his assigned partner, straight man, and closest ally in your quest to solve both the case of the hanged man, and mystery of you. Oh, and I may have forgotten to mention that you may also be guided by 24 voices in your head, stumble across a cursed game dev studio, embrace communism, hunt cryptids, and chat with your horrific necktie.

Every aspect of creativity and immense soul poured into this game shows. The art brings the living ruins of Revachol a detailed and intricate texture, every characters' portrait a breathing personification of who they are in remarkable brushstrokes and impressions. The writing is the best of its kind, ruthlessly political and funny one moment, bleeding with sincerity and hope the next. Narration and script alike are brilliantly actualized by the voice cast, emphasizing and supercharging the text with even more humanity.

So, please, if you consider by silly little opinions worth consideration, give Disco Elysium a shot. You won't regret it.

[Vladimir Veljkovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpeace

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read this art book but the game is practically a book so I'm counting it on my Goodreads.

Play Disco Elysium. It's incredible. One of the funniest, bewildering, depressing yet hopeful games I've ever played (I meant book, what a great book that I read and did not play).

I'd highly recommend it even if games aren't your thing or you're new to them. You just run around and pick dialogue options. Sometimes you pick up clothes and money, occasionally illegal substances.

If you're a raging communist you'll most likely enjoy it. Even if the game does allow you to be an ultra liberal or a downright fascist it is ultimately a game about communism. It takes the piss out of it and rips into most communists but in a way only someone who is one can do so while being affectionate and hopeful about it's future implementation.

Also you can get killed in the first 5 minutes by trying to pick up your tie.

[Michael (Horror Gardener) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm using this review as a stand in for the video game Disco Elysium. In no other game have I read so much. This game was made for readers! At several points the character can READ BOOKS in game!

An absolutely beautiful tale of a drunkard drug-addled detective that wakes up with no memories and you spend the next week investigating a murder and discovering who you are. The best thing about it is that the game developers gave so many options that you can mold the character to be whomever you like. I played the game with my own values and it was very satisfying and a lot of fun.

Contains: Laughter, tears of joy, budding friendship, cryptids, lost loves, addiction, dancing, karaoke, failure, politics, racism, class war and more

This game is "HARCORE TO THE MEGA!"

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this video game and recently just had the itch to consume as much stuff surrounding it as I can.

I don’t really know if you can call this a book it’s more what it says in the title; containing artwork, initial sketches and other images from the game. But it’s here on goodreads so I’m adding it!

While what was there was really cool I’m only giving it a 3 because I wish it was longer and that there was a bit more to it. I need this but with 70+ pages instead, and a bunch of text detailing the world and characters. Maybe there is something like that out there that I need to look for.

[Ostrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what this book is, but I agree with anyone else saying that playing the game is very akin to completing a long novel in both volume and practice.

DE is easily one of the greatest videogames I have ever played. Not flawless, but it's got the heart and the brains to make up for any issue I may take with some of its gameplay systems.

And I do like the ending. It felt appropriate and well executed, I don't understand the hate. Let's hope future games set in Revachol meet the quality of the original.

Edit: I hoped in vain 😭

[Antonio Marcos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solo por Kim merece 5 estrellas.

[Matthew Ribar · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's right, I also never read this specific digital art booklet. However, I have played the greatest book ever: Disco Elysium. This masterpiece stands above everything else I have ever read, even my formerly favorite novel Don Quixote. Everything that happens throughout the story fluctuates between depressing, hilarious, enlightening, captivating, and, most often, all of the above. I can't think of any low points in the story's qualities. Every twist and turn results in wonderful development for the plot, characters, or world in general.

The narrative focuses on a detective (whose lost ALL his memories from partying too hard) solving a seemingly simple homicide case. Unfortunately, nothing in this game is that simple. He must exhaustively question the residents of a town he knows nothing about, figure out his own identity, grapple with dozens of voices in his head shouting at him, deal with his extreme substance abuse problem, and experiment with the extreme ends of various political ideologies. Speaking of which, what genre would I even classify this story as? It's a detective choose-your-own adventure story, sure, but what about the rest? I've never read anything that sets explicitly named political systems (communism, fascism, liberalism, etc.) in a world that mirrors our own but is completely different at the same time. There's probably some subgenre this game would fall under, but I've certainly never encountered anything like it.

I won't go into the plot any further as this story should be experienced in all its glory with minimal beforehand knowledge. Instead, let's focus on the characters. The lead detective (who may or may not have a badass name, you must play to know) functions as an excellent self-insert for the player while still retaining his own distinct personality. Namely, how psychologically broken this poor man is. The dialogue options range from procedural police questions to straight-up breakdowns. There are multiple times when you can kill yourself, resulting in a game over. You can inject whatever political ideology or cop style you want into him, so long as its off the deep end. My playthrough consisted of being a fascist socialist superstar with a propensity for solving cases that have nothing to do with the active murder investigation.

Accompanying our hero is his newly assigned detective partner: Kim Kitsuragi. This legend is the final boss of any straight man's sexuality. He provides a stoic contrast to the flamboyant protagonist, which allows each character to improve the other as their partnership grows stronger. Officer Mental Breakdown makes Kim enjoy life outside of his job, while Kim helps the player character get a hold of himself. That is, assuming you don't commit yourself to a downward spiral of drugs and violence, as that would make disappoint Kim. You never want to disappoint Kim.

Then there's all the other characters that I adore who would take way too long to list. I'll list some of their names to give you an idea of the colorful characters you'll meet: Gary the Cryptofascist, Racist Lorry Driver, Sunday Friend, Measurehead, Cindy the SKULL, Pissf****t (that's how it's spelled), Idiot Doom Spiral, Cuno (Cuno doesn't give a SHIT about what he's named), and so much more. There's normal people too who remain just as interesting as the absolute insane roster listed above. I can not name a single poorly written character. Even Don't Call Abigail's unfunny repetitive joke foreshadows a soul-crushing moment you can have just north of him.

These people populate a fleshed-out world similar to our own, but different enough to make it distinct. Maps of an uncanny world can be found alongside history books detailing its rich past. Religious sects, political revolution, existentialist material spelling the inevitable collapse of life, you name it. Motor carriages may carry out the same function as real-life cars, but they are clearly designed with a different history attached to them. The best part about all this worldbuilding? It is interwoven with the characters, making you interested in learning about each one to understand the other more.

Quite simply, Disco Elysium has the greatest writing I have ever seen. I've barely scratched the surface of the genius that is this masterpiece. I implore you, for your own sake, to play this when you have the chance. The gameplay is unorthodox (it's dialogue, walking, and dice rolling) but it's so worth getting used to. The greatest book ever, and one of the greatest games ever.

[Faith McElroy]

I haven’t read this book but I recently finished the game it was based on, which was basically a click through (choose your own adventure) novel. Top 5 game for me - hilarious, poignant, and refreshingly dark. You wake up in a complex fantasy as an alcoholic cop with no memory of his past, tasked with solving a murder in a strange city. The different parts of your psyche give you clues, suggestions, or intuitions about how to proceed, though you can’t always trust them. No combat, basically a novel in video game form and a very immersive RPG.

[Nikolay Genchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Never opened this book, but I read easily 400,000 words playing the game, so I'm counting it as a book. 5 stars.” - michael from goodreads

[Inés · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como todo el mundo, voy a marcar esto como si fuera el videojuego. No me lo he terminado, me he quedado ya en la parte final pero no he podido acabar debido a la universidad. Aun así lo quiero marcar como leído este año ya que seguramente cuando lo retome lo empezare de nuevo.
El resumen es que es un juegazo. Es increíble lo que me he podido reír y la forma en la que pasa de momentos tristes a momentos estupidisimos sin ningún tipo de transición esa es mi mierda. La historia es increíble y los actores de voz son increíbles, uno de mis juegos favoritos.

Kim, se que eres un policia muy policia y que tienes el dedo del gatillo bastante suelto y en fin... pero da igual yo te amo u.u aunque amo mas a ruby por fa ruby dame un beso por favor un besito solo soy una chica por favor porfa porfa
Y bueno titus... la voz de titus.... solo soy una chica muy bisexual de verdad por favor titus tengo dos manos dame tu una y que ruby me de la otra si? porfa va venga vaaa

[xyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

im writing a review for the game, not the book.

I have literally never been so fundamentally changed by a single piece of media in my short life.
This book inspired me my interest in philosophy, politics, the idea of healing, introspection, writing, making art, world-building, ttrpgs, reading. i know it sounds dorky, but this game ignited a passion for creating that i carry to this day.

Literally, not a day goes by since I played it some three odd years ago that I do not think about this game.

I am in a perpetual state of needing to replay this game. But there's never enough time to see things I never saw, or uncover all of the secrets, or to look and interpret each detail of the game through some new lens.

my fingers are frozen in fear with the sheer volume of thought that they would have to write if i told them to write every single thing that i love about this game.

i love being a violent, irrepressible miracle.

[bosbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

concurring w other reviews in that i haven't read this but adding it anyway bc playing disco elysium is reading a book in itself. anyway i haven't stopped thinking about this game since finishing my first playthrough (psyche build, communist superstar cop). after gathering enough will to endure the long loading times i'll def play it again. probably one of the greatest games i've ever played, it gave me that existential dread i get after finishing a masterwork and has encouraged me to look into reading more political theory (i'm coming for you marx). harry and kim is hands down my favorite video game duo PERIODD.

[Chantane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars but only bc the ending wasn’t my cup of tea :(

Yah like everyone here I played thru this game which basically was like reading an extremely long novel that has infected me with brain rot, tho I will be honest I actually do want to get my hands on this bc I want to absorb the art style of this game like a sponge. Anyways I’m in love with Kim Kitsuragi :)

[Sad Sunday (Books? Me?!? NEVER!!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a recent mega fan of everything Disco Elysium, it was fantastic to dive again into the seen and unseen corners of Revachol. Great art, insightful text.

Considering everything that has happened with the project, I really hope, with all my heart, that it is not the end and we will see more of Elysium.


HARDCORE!!!!!!!!!!

[Gorana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the two best games I've ever read (to echo all other comments here). The second being, of course, Planescape torment.
Considering how much hours I have clocked in, should definitely count as book (similar to how strawberry oat milk ice cream should count as fruit).

[cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teniendo en cuenta que el juego consiste en leer y escuchar durante muchas horas, marco esto como si fuera el juego. Es un juego increíble, me está gustando mucho y seguramente lo rejuegue buscando otros caminos de la trama en un futuro.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, makes me want to draw and paint more.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t know what this book actually is but I just finished the game and it absolutely counts as a novel so I’m giving myself credit for it.

[tama · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is only an art book but the game is over 300,000 words, so i’m gonna go ahead and mark it as another book read for the year lol

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

یکی از زیباترین آرت بوک ها و یکی از زیباترین گیم های عمرم بود. دیسکوالیزیم تاثیر به سزایی در شکل گیری مفهوم استایل در آرت و چگونگی گوشه سازی های هنریم داشت.

[Austin Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife say that games you’ve read doesn’t count but I’d love for her as an avid reader to read this game. 5 stars.

[Blabli Pazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I played disco Elysium, i read so many words that I'm using this as a book for my Goodreads.

Best game of all time though 5 stars

[Asher Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read this. But I did read 1,000,000 words to play this phenomenal game. So I’m counting it as a book for my goal :)