Esoteric Ebb, made by the indie developer Christoffer Bodegård for PC, is a computer role-playing game (CRPG) set in an arcane-punk world where players take over the role of a cleric, a scholar of obscure phenomena, and a government lackey in pursuit of being the best, or the worst, cleric ever. 

Inspired by classic CRPG titles like Dungeons & Dragons, Esoteric Ebb delivers a rich, immersive experience with deep storytelling, tactical combat, and a vast, lore-filled world that rewards exploration and player choice. This nonlinear, isometric title features interactive fiction and point-and-click and turn-based mechanics. 

Become the best (or worst) cleric 

Esoteric Ebb follows the narrative of a cleric on a mission to deal with an explosion that takes place in the heart of the city of Norvik five days before the first-ever election. He explores the city and its metropolis and tunnels to uncover the mystery of what happened, encountering spoiled apples, several corpses, and a single reanimated corpse along the way. 

Step into the shoes of the said cleric and complete open-ended and low- and high-stakes quests and missions by rolling the dice to manpower dwarves in a wrestle or steal valuable items from other people or creatures in high-rise towers or dark tunnels. Utilize your reality-shaping ability to gain the upper hand or make wise narrative choices by controlling enemies’ feeble minds. 

Although violence is the last resort for many creatures in Norvik, do not forget to pay attention to your ability stat, just in case the need arises to utilize it for combat. As the game progresses, your choices shape your destiny of becoming the city’s savior, demise, or totalitarian. Expect to struggle with the game’s extreme difficulty, but each hard-earned win is worth the effort. 

Utilize tabletop mechanics to shape your adventure

Esoteric Ebb’s gameplay at its core is deeply inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Whenever you attempt a risky action, such as persuading someone, analyzing a dangerous situation, or making crucial decisions, the game rolls a 20-sided die (D20). If the resulting number of the roll meets the required threshold of the action, then you’ll get a positive outcome. If not, then the outcome takes a turn for the worse.

However, failing a roll doesn’t always mean game over. It just leads you to a different pathway to move forward with the story, often a harder route as opposed to succeeding the roll. Your character’s stat bonuses also play a key role in these outcomes. For instance, a Charisma-based check adds your Charisma level to the dice roll, significantly increasing your chances of success if the stat is high.

This system greatly enhances replayability. Rather than relying on fixed outcomes, the game constantly factors in your character’s build, allowing you to fully roleplay your chosen identity—whether as a smooth-talking adventurer or a keen observer who can quickly sense when something is off. Quests in the game are open-ended anyway, allowing multiple approaches that lead to varied outcomes, each capable of shaping the campaign in positive or negative ways.

Challenging arcane-punk experience 

Esoteric Ebb offers an unforgettable, challenging adventure set in a unique arcane-punk world. The game immerses players in a deep narrative, filled with tough decisions, intricate tactical combat, and an ever-expanding world. Whether navigating political intrigue or battling nightmarish creatures, every action you take shapes your destiny. With its extreme difficulty, expect to struggle, but each hard-earned victory makes the experience all the more rewarding.