Esoteric Ebb
News, coverage and analysis tracking Esoteric Ebb across the outlets.
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The creator of our running RPG of the year weighs in on BioWare's closure: 'They were fundamental to the…
Developer Christoffer Bodegård, creator of the RPG Esoteric Ebb, reflects on the closure of BioWare, acknowledging its foundational role in the CRPG genre and inspiring his own career. He fondly recalls playing MDK2 and Dragon Age: Origins, highlighting BioWare's significant impact on game development.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Oct. 2: Steam Autumn Sale and friends
The annual Steam Autumn Sale has begun, offering discounts on a wide range of PC games, including recent releases and older titles. Several other digital storefronts like GOG.com, Epic Games Store, and Fanatical are also hosting their own autumn sales, providing various deals and free games.
10 great games to grab during the Steam Autumn Sale 2026
The Steam Autumn Sale 2026 is offering significant discounts on a variety of PC games, with a focus on horror-adjacent titles due to the Halloween season. The sale features ten top picks, all at their lowest prices ever on Steam, including "007 First Light," "Sons of the Forest," and "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth." The sale concludes on October 8, 2026.
Featuring a host of our favorite games from this year and 2 of our favorite gaming devices, you can now place your votes for the best in gaming in the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
The nominations for the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards 2026 have been announced, with games like Resident Evil Requiem, Big Walk, and 007 First Light receiving multiple nods across 21 categories. Voting is open until October 23, and the winners will be revealed on November 11. This year's nominations are noted for their diversity, featuring both indie hits and AAA blockbusters.
State of Indie 2026 Part 1: Winners and Losers
The indie game landscape has shifted significantly since 2021, with AAA games experiencing a resurgence while many indie publishers have struggled. Genres requiring more skill and manpower, like open-world and Metroidvanias, are seeing higher returns due to less competition, while easier-to-make genres are oversaturated. Co-op games are increasingly popular, particularly among younger audiences, but success remains challenging, with a large percentage of indie games selling fewer than a thousand copies.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Aug. 21: The Humble Store Summer Sale continues
This article rounds up various PC game deals available from multiple digital storefronts, including Humble Store, Battle.net, GamesPlanet, Ubisoft Store, Green Man Gaming, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GOG.com, and Steam. Notable sales include Humble Store's Summer Sale, Battle.net's August Game Deals, and Ubisoft's Gamescom sale, featuring discounts on a wide range of titles.
Esoteric Ebb is the D&Disco Elysium I never knew I needed, but more importantly it's proof I'll never be cut out for political canvassing
Esoteric Ebb is an RPG that blends Disco Elysium's narrative depth with Dungeons and Dragons elements, focusing on political canvassing in the city-state of Norvik. The game explores various ideologies and the awkwardness of political discourse, offering players choices that impact the election and the protagonist's role. Despite its heavy themes, the game uses humor to keep players engaged.
2026's best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants 'to do a first-person game at some point'
Developer Christoffer Bodegård discusses his journey into PC gaming, highlighting influential titles like Dragon Age: Origins and Deus Ex. His recently released CRPG, Esoteric Ebb, was inspired by tabletop RPGs and aims to replicate their unpredictability. Bodegård is exploring ideas for his next project, potentially a first-person game, and shares his current gaming habits, including extensive play of Paradox Interactive's grand strategy titles like Victoria 3 and Europa Universalis IV.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several gaming industry figures share their weekend gaming plans, including Digital Extremes' annual Tennocon event for Warframe and Soulframe, and attempts at mastering the higher difficulties of Endless Legend. Other titles mentioned include a secret review game, Esoteric Ebb, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and the turn-based strategy game Frosthaven, with discussions on its complex card system.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continues
The Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 26: Steam Summer Sale and friends
Multiple PC gaming storefronts, including Steam, GOG.com, and Epic Games Store, are hosting major summer sales with thousands of deals. Notable discounts are available on titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Some platforms also offer free titles or additional discounts for subscribers.
Five things to avoid when marketing your indie game | Opinion
This opinion piece outlines five common marketing pitfalls for indie game developers, emphasizing the importance of understanding the target audience, focusing on emotional connection over technical details, avoiding analysis paralysis, diversifying marketing efforts, and treating PR as an ongoing activity. The article highlights that while marketing may seem secondary to development, strategic efforts are crucial for games to gain visibility and achieve their full potential in a crowded market.
You Are Everyone’s Intrusive Thoughts In Citizen Sleeper Dev’s Upcoming Fungal RPG
Signet City, the upcoming first-person fungalpunk RPG from Gareth Damian Martin, the developer behind Citizen Sleeper, will feature players as a sentient spore infecting individuals to influence their actions. The game mechanics revolve around emotions and a six-sided die system, similar to tabletop RPGs, allowing for diverse approaches to challenges. Martin aims to explore complex perspectives on control and revolution within the game's narrative.
On Sale
A sale is currently active on Steam featuring discounts on several games. The Resident Evil franchise is included, with specific deals on Esoteric Ebb (20% off), Fabledom (70% off), and The Doors of Trithius (30% off).
I never understood the appeal of a jumbo novelty d20 until I saw one inspired by one of my favorite new RPGs
Die Hard Dice has released a new line of d20 dice inspired by the RPG Esoteric Ebb, featuring designs based on the game's characters. The collection includes standard-sized dice and a large novelty metal d20 celebrating 'The Cleric'. The article also touches on the game's developer, Christoffer Bodegård, and his approach to save scumming.
My favorite RPG of 2026 put an impossible challenge in the second room to teach you not to save scum: 'I am your…
Esoteric Ebb's designer, Christoffer Bodegård, discusses the game's approach to failure and save scumming, aiming to provide a well-paced experience without punishing players. The game incorporates mechanics like rerolls and offers alternative paths to overcome challenges, encouraging players to trust the game's narrative direction.
Games Inbox: Did you know GTA 6 was made in the UK?
This article discusses the UK's role in game development, highlighting that Grand Theft Auto 6 is being made in Scotland by Rockstar Games. It also touches on reader opinions regarding Nintendo's lack of Star Fox announcements, the potential for a Starwing remake, and the perceived decline of UK-based game developers. Other topics include the leak status of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the technical capabilities of the PS5 Pro, and the development of games like Pragmata and Fallout: New Vegas.
I never want to play a Cleric in D&D, but 2026's best RPG stars one for a simple reason: 'I'm sorry…
Developer Christoffer Bodegård explains why the Cleric class is the protagonist of his upcoming RPG, Esoteric Ebb. He highlights the class's versatility, ability to do a little bit of everything, and its narrative potential due to its connection with a god. Bodegård also touches on the thematic relevance of religion and masculinity in the game's design.
Nordic Game 26 Masterclass Friday: Speakers Revealed!
Nordic Game Spring 2026 will feature a dedicated Masterclass Friday program for students and indie developers, curated by Mighty Diamonds. The event, held from May 26-29 in Malmö, will offer full-day workshops and expert sessions focused on Design, Art, Business, and Narrative. Speakers include Christoffer Bodegård, Chris Brettman, Danny Perez, Will Blood, Lauren Stone, Patrick Rose, Johan Lundqvist, and André Persson, covering topics from interactive writing and level design to character creation and investor relations.
ESOTERIC Ebb and All Will Fall
This article provides previews for two games: Esoteric Ebb and All Will Fall. Esoteric Ebb is an RPG praised for its writing and worldbuilding, drawing comparisons to Disco Elysium. All Will Fall is a survival crafting game set on a collapsing ocean rig, noted for its unique physics but currently suffering from bugs in its Early Access launch.