While the creative behind the excellent Disco Elysium has since split into multiple studios, the game remains a modern classic in the eyes of virtually everyone who played it. Offering some of the best dialogue and storytelling in the entire video game industry, Disco Elysium managed to become a household name without flashy battles. Its exploration of politics and mental illness through its fantastic writing, not to mention its clever “voices as skills” concept, have made it the gold standard for narrative-focused games. And for fans of isometric RPGs looking for another game to immerse themselves in, then the upcoming Steam title Craving to be in the sticks may be ideal.
Craving to be in the sticks Functions at a glance
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EXPERIENCE a bleak world reflected in a deliberately familiar art style, political commentary and more.
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LEARN the stories of everyday people as you consume their blood.
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PLAY various emotional mini-games to learn more about the people important to the main character Ilo.
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WORK odd jobs and spend your earnings on things like feeding stray cats.
A teenage vampire addicted to blood in a world that traded it for energy. See the absolute worst of what people do to each other in every drop… A narrative adventure about a rather short eternity.
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Sucks to be in the sticks balances teenage angst with an important message
Craving to be in the sticks is a game about a 19-year-old named Ilo, who experiences big changes in his life when he becomes a vampire. Every time they drink someone's blood, whether it's a childhood friend, their mother, or a random everyday civilian, they will experience the victims dreams or darkest thoughts. Instead of just playing out in a back-and-forth dialogue exchange or the usual walking sim gameplay, these character-specific stories will be delivered via mini-games, with one of the examples shown involving painting.
Although there will be plenty of heart-to-heart talks in this one Disco Elysium-like game, these moments are balanced by the daily activities one might expect a depressed 19-year-old to perform. For example, players will be able to work some odd jobs, and with their earnings they can do things like feed stray cats in the neighborhood. This reflects well on Ilo as a person, and contrasts with the bloodlust they are likely to display due to their condition. Perhaps taking care of strays will even affect some of the game's interactions and plot beats, though it's unclear if that's optional or not.
While Craving to be in the sticks missing Disco Elysiums internal voices, instead of leaning on the minigames as its unique feature, it goes along with it Disco Elysiums footsteps when it comes to its intent. Instead of just telling an emotionally affecting story, What sucks to be in the sticks has both a political message and a focus on representation. For the former, metaphor and realism will blend to show how autonomy is punished, empathy suppressed and resistance erased. Players will also witness activist protests and power struggles behind closed doors. In terms of representation, expect to see migrants, minorities and queer people in key roles throughout the game's history.
Craving to be in the sticks is one of many games that offer a Steam demo, so players can see if they are interested in the game before purchasing it.
Don't expect any battles in this game, as the Steam page includes one trigger warning which highlights concepts the game will explore, such as (non-graphic) child abuse, (slightly graphic) self-harm, and (implied/non-graphic) sexual abuse. With such serious subject matter, it's fitting that the game's art style is deliberately designed to capture “the gloom and beauty of a dying city.” It will presumably feature “the full spectrum of (non)human life”, with pain and fear in some scenes contrasted with comedy, joy and love in others. Craving to be in the sticks will task its characters with dealing with their grief, laughing at the absurdity of life and finding hope in a depressing world – a powerful message considering what so many people have to go through every day.
