Whether we’re talking about thebest RPGsor the best narrative games,Disco Elysiumis a masterpiece that belongs in both discussions.
Disco Elysium: 10 Best Moments, Ranked
Disco Elysium offers one of the best narrative experiences in gaming and, within it, some of the best moments in fiction.
ZA/UM’s creation is among the most transcendental indies in history, especially for its ability to tell stories that are as human as they are captivating.
With outstanding secondary characters, a memorable setting, and a series of messages that make you reflect on every last detail of your life, it’s a complex and dense game.
Therefore, we recognize its narrative excellence and delve deeper into Martinaise through thisranked list ofthe best side quests in Disco Elysium.
10Add Even More Beauty To The Wall
Leaving a Mark in Martinaise
One of the first impressions Disco Elysium’s city makes is that it leaves a mark on everyone who passes through its crumbling streets and alleys.
However, the ‘Add Even More Beauty To The Wall’ quest is the game’s opportunity for the detective to return the favor to Martinaise and be the one to leave his mark on the town.
Oddly enough, it wasn’t until my second playthrough that I could finish it. I had a hard time figuring out the items needed for the quest, and Cindy the Skull didn’t interest me that much as a character.
Yet,it’s a minor task that has more of an impact on the setting’s identity than it seems, as well as on the player’s sense of belonging to the area. Even if it’s just painting a message on an empty wall, writing “I LOVE YOU CUNO” is a memory I’ll probably never forget.
It’s simple but emotional, and I like it because only those who truly connect with Martinaise will put in the effort necessary to figure out how to accomplish it.
Show That You Have a Heart
Disco Elysiumis an RPG witha small but extremely condensed world, where every step you take involves running into a character, issue, or situation of interest.
So, when you travel to the coast and encounter the victim that kicks off the quest ‘Dead Body On The Boardwalk’, you’re simultaneously dealing with the harsh reality check of life in Martinaise and its apathy.
The task takes a lot of time, dealing with unpleasant revelations and hurt feelings―all for a meager reward.Being a good person inDisco Elysiumdoesn’t always pay off as it should,but that’s the point.
What I like most about the game’s approach to morality—the directness with which it questions you, the player. I’m a political scientist and economist, and yetDisco Elysiumshattered my ethical bearings on multiple occasions.
Is it just another side quest, or is the game’s way of making you engage with its critique of indifference to the pain of others?‘Dead Body On The Boardwalk’ is more than just delivering bad news; it’s testing your mettle in a destroyed world.
8The Jam Mystery
A Doubt From The Beginning
After you first leaveWhirling-in-Rags, one of the first sights you see is an insufferable traffic jam caused by a protest, which has left many drivers stranded.
Through the quest ‘The Jam Mystery’, you can learn more about these individuals, each more unique and eccentric than the last. Meanwhile, you unravel a mystery that gives you more insight into the reality that surrounds you.
Thus,the drivers reflect Revachol’s bigger picture. The Lorry Driver reveals the town’s problems with racism, while the Paledriver showcases the mental health consequences of substance abuse and the Pale phenomenon, one of the most enigmatic in the game.
With the added layer of collaborating with Joyce Messier, our wonderfully written class enemy,‘The Jam Mystery’impresses me with how it portrays the social strata in an act as mundane as a traffic jam.
Doing this side quest allows you to identify the city’s demographics, see the inhabitants’ issues, and meet the amazing Tommy Le Homme (among the best characters in the title), so it has everything it needs to be as great as it is sad.
7Sing Karaoke
Without Talent But With Soul
Disco Elysium’s stories aren’t happy ones, and they usually show the darkest facets of humanity. In the end, you’re investigating a murder in the context of a social, political, and economic crisis, so there’s not much room for joy.
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If it weren’t for the geopolitical, intergalactic, and civil conflicts in these locations, I would surely move.
However, that’s where the ‘Sing Karaoke’ task comes in, one of the few opportunities where we can witness a human, innocent, and pure act that is far from the world’s problems.
For a few minutes, the detective forgets the pursuit of his past and the difficulties of his present, channeling them through a song that, however, reflects on the pain of memory and nostalgia.
It’s a relief that even makes you ignore your role as the one controlling the detective. You just sit back, listen to the wonderfully horrifying tune, and appreciate the brief moment of peace from the impending storm that never ceases to surround you.
Plus,it’s one of the few times I’d rather the skill check fail, as it’s a more honest display of the detective. It sounds bad, no one enjoys it, and it’s cringeworthy, but it feels human and relatable.
It’s a very natural and spontaneous moment that feels out of the ordinary inDisco Elysium, even though it fits perfectly within it,as Garte’s hostel cafeteria also deserves a moment of amusement.
6Find Your Badge
The Aftermath of a Hangover
The identity dilemma our detective experiences is one of the key plot points ofDisco Elysium, which is why we spend the first third of the game trying to figure out what happened before the hangover.
A law enforcement officer without something to identify him as such is nothing, so ‘Find Your Badge’ presents both an opportunity to learn more about our protagonist and better place us in the game’s context.
Between the desperation of not knowing its exact location and the anxiety of being almost certain who is responsible for it,it’s a subtly tense mission that adequately showcases theDisco Elysiumexperience.
It’s also a turning point in our relationship withKim Kitsuragi(the best secondary character in video game history, if I may say so) and with the detective himself, who begins to accept and change the disaster he was at the game’s beginning.
‘Find Your Badge’ involves moving into a new area, reveals the truth behind the mystery of the motor carriage, and features a beautiful final scene…It’s wonderful because it feels real and human.
5Split A Kilo With Cuno
Morals Are Fictitious
AnyDisco Elysiumfan can recognizeCuno as one of the most memorable characters in the entire game, so anything involving him is hilarious.
However, the quest ‘Split A Kilo With Cuno’ is probably the most incredible of all since the title is literal, thus generating one of the most irreverent situations in the entire title.
Although it’s funny at first because of the subject’s unbelievable nature, it’s also a look at Cuno’s unfortunate background and the loss of childhood Martinaise imposes on its young people, unable to lead a normal life.
Still, I admit that I’ve never had the strength to split the kilo.I always end up confiscating it because I can’t afford to do things that would disappoint Kim, although strengthening the relationship with the red-haired boy might be worth the sacrifice.
In any case, I emphasize that it’s inherently superior because Cuno is implicated, butits presence on this list is due to the contrast between the situation’s seriousness and how funny and inconceivable it is.
4Find Your Gun
The Most Piercing Stress
Disco Elysiummakes you feel a constant sense of frustration because each discovery our detective makes is a reminder of his ineptitude.
This is evident on numerous occasions throughout the game, but it becomes especially marked in the mission ‘Find Your Gun’, in which we must find the firearm of our beloved but unskilled protagonist.
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When it comes to representing morality, these titles really make you hesitate and doubt your actions.
Given the presence of children and people with various mental illnesses in the vicinity,the tension felt by the possible consequences of this slip is experienced after each step we take.
Along with such feelings, the process is very explanatory of the system prevailing in Martinaise. The power abuse of the police forces and the decline of the mental health of its inhabitants are just a couple of the themes manifested during the task.
I would say it’s even frustrating because it vividly shows the detective is incompetent, but that’s how it should be. Running intoThe Pigsand witnessing the detective’s malpracticeput me on edge like no other moment in the game.
‘Find Your Gun’ is an unpleasing but iconic roller coaster of emotions that I dearly love because of how unnerving it feels, and because of how stressful it is to haveEvrart Clairecontrol us so easily.
3Investigate The Doomed Commercial Area
The Walls Tell Many Stories
As you may have noticed by now, Martinaise as a setting is one ofDisco Elysium’s narrative protagonists, with the environment telling as much of the story as the narrator himself.
One of the best examples of this is the mission ‘Investigate The Doomed Commercial Area’, during which the game shows the best version of its detective approach to gameplay.
With numerous secrets, multiple characters involved, references to other franchises, and a slow but permanent build-up,I felt deeply engaged with every little story it holds, especially the ones from theNovelty Dicemaker.
It’s also one of the few times the game is scary, as it uses the unknown to immerse you in uncertainty. I still remember with shame the shock I got when I saw the giant stuffed bear for the first time, andsensations like these are unique to The Doomed Commercial Area.
Besides, it suitsDisco Elysiumespecially well due to its relationship with fantastical features. The game does not pretend to be completely realistic, and this task illustrates it perfectly.
2Help The Ravers Start A Nightclub
Hardcore To The Mega!
Although I haven’t mentioned it yet,Disco Elysiumhas a soundtrack that can easily rank among the best, but you might not come to that realization until you do the ‘Help The Ravers Start A Nightclub’ side quest.
As the name suggests, you’ll have to help some young people build a nightclub in an abandoned church, which brings an indescribable series of events that are wonderful to experience.
This mission featuresshow-stealing supporting charactersand amazing musical composition, making it one ofDisco Elysium’shighest points.
Watching the detective dance with Kim and the ravers after the arguments, the unexpected encounters, and the long journey is magical,almost as much as Egg Head stealing the show with his one-liners.
It feels like a fever dream, which is saying something given the title’s nature, but I think that description explains better than anything how outstanding the quest is.
1Find The Insulindian Phasmid
The Magic of Elysium
Disco Elysiumis rough, unforgiving, and hurtful. ZA/UM doesn’t hesitate for a moment to use its video game to criticize everything wrong in the world,but also to praise everything good.
To do so, it usually uses material and realistic representations people can identify with, but the side quest ‘Find The Insulindian Phasmid’ is the turning point in which the work decides to formalize its separation from reality.
To be honest, I’ll be vague because I prefer to avoid spoiling this mission for those who haven’t played it. Yet, I think it’s the moment when you fall in love withDisco Elysiumand finally realize you are in the presence of something special.
All of its mystique is expressed through an optional story that, even if it’s fictional, feels human and hopeful.The game recognizes the harshness of its tale but gives space to believe there is still magic in the world.
I knew from the beginning thatDisco Elysiumwas going to become one of myfavorite games. Still, I would never have foreseen that ‘Find The Insulindian Phasmid’ would be the key that would show methere may never be another game like this.
Disco Elysium
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