Disco Elysium Second Playthrough Tips

Disco Elysium has some of the richest storytelling and writing that a video game can have.

The game leans strongly towards the realm of interactive storytelling, and it features an intricate network of smaller stories that help create a cohesive whole. Additionally, it offers a somewhat obscure exploration of political and philosophical themes.

After wrapping up the game and unraveling the enigma of the murder in Martinaise, it might seem like there’s no more to explore in Disco Elysium. However, a single playthrough only scratches the surface of its discoveries. Despite its compact map, there’s still much to uncover.

Even though some scenes in Disco Elysium may not be as impactful during subsequent playthroughs, we strongly advise giving the game another shot or two for an even richer experience.

Here, we’ll discuss various methods to help you reignite the enchantment of discovering the quirky nature of Disco Elysium once more.

Warning: Story spoilers ahead!

10. Lean Into The Absurdism

Make The Most Unhinged Choices

One distinctive feature that stands out in Disco Elysium is the unique blend of dialogue, which effortlessly transitions from heavy and emotionally intense to utterly silly and outrageous.

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A notable characteristic of Disco Elysium lies in its dialogue, which seamlessly switches from deep and heart-wrenching to laugh-out-loud absurd.

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Disco Elysium is known for its dialogue that can go from profoundly serious to ridiculously funny in an instant.

On your initial gameplay, many players tend to approach Disco Elysium in a serious manner. However, why not explore the game’s absurdity by intentionally making the wildest choices during one playthrough? This could lead to some delightful laughter!

It’s quite possible that you’ve come across video collections showcasing surprising instances from the game “Disco Elysium” that leave streamers taken aback.

Disco Elysium offers a multitude of surprising and humorous scenes, such as expressing desire towards Klaasje in an unconventional manner or employing dramatic gestures like threatening suicide to assert dominance.

9. Embrace The Roleplay

Who Are You, Really?

In certain role-playing games, you assume the role of a protagonist who has a mostly undeveloped personality and history, allowing you to more easily immerse yourself in the story. As a protagonist, Harry DuBois straddles the line between being largely undefined and well-rounded.

Instead of molding Harry DuBois into whatever type of cop you prefer, why not use the insights from your initial gameplay and play as if you were portraying his real-life character instead?

Additionally, you could step into Harry’s shoes and imagine yourself as part of his adventure. Ponder over the abilities you believe you would possess if you found yourself within the game’s world. Contemplate how you would respond if you were faced with Harry’s circumstances.

8. Save-Scumming

Bend Reality To Your Will

Save-scumming refers to repeatedly loading an earlier saved game in order to achieve a specific result. This practice is often viewed negatively within the role-playing game (RPG) community, who argue that it undermines the authenticity of the gaming experience and is comparable to cheating.

Regardless of the circumstances, it has less significance during repeated playthroughs. If you find yourself questioning how things could have been improved or if you’re not in the mood to grind for EXP to redo a failed white check, you can simply keep reloading your save by using the save-scumming method.

If you had been successful in that attempt, perhaps the outcome might have been more favorable for you. By employing save-scumming techniques, you can carefully craft a particular storyline for yourself, and there’s no harm in doing so.

7. Set A Challenge

What Are You, Chicken?

Why not spice things up by making the game of Disco Elysium more challenging for yourself instead?

Changing up your approach to the game by setting specific objectives or limitations may help you discover aspects of it that you might not have noticed during a regular play session.

How about considering this scenario: If you played through the entire game without making a single purchase, or managed to find every piece of clothing, or solved the mystery within a specific timeframe?

Through establishing objectives and puzzles, you can equally assess your familiarity with the game’s concepts and your ability to think creatively, thereby crafting a unique narrative.

6. Achievement Hunting

100% Hardcore

This is for the achievement hunters among you.

In the game Disco Elysium, there are a grand total of 45 accomplishments that you can earn, and it seems like successfully completing them all might require multiple playthroughs.

It seems sensible if you’re aiming for achievements that you might consider devoting your subsequent playthrough specifically for unearthing those rewards.

A good strategy would be to focus on tasks with clear and simple explanations that you can quickly complete, which are likely your most manageable achievements.

5. Be The Best Or Worst Harry

‘I Can Be Your Angle Or Yuor Devil’

In Disco Elysium, unlike many other role-playing games, there isn’t a traditional moral or honor system. However, Harry’s choices and actions throughout the game significantly shape the story’s ending.

Prior to the narrative of the game, Harry experienced a destructive phase triggered by a mental breakdown, during which he distressed the residents of Martinaise with his confused state of mind due to drug abuse. This incident led to a form of retrograde amnesia that essentially erased past memories from his consciousness.

Why not experiment with drastic changes in your next playthrough, as you hold the ability to shape Harry’s destiny? Regardless of your initial outcome, it could be intriguing to explore the opposite spectrum this time around.

In Disco Elysium, the Copatype mechanic helps you shape Harry’s persona by influencing how other characters perceive him and how your inner dialogues describe yourself. Additionally, it provides unique thoughts that populate your Thought Cabinet.

You have the power to assist Harry in his personal growth and self-realization, or potentially exacerbate his struggles with addictive behaviors and negative habits.

4. Explore Political Ideology

Are You A Communist, Fascist, Centrist, Or Liberal?

Whether you like it or not, Disco Elysium is an inherently political game.

In the not-so-subtle hints woven into its narrative, it’s clear that the game was penned by Robert Kurvitz – a self-proclaimed communist. What makes Disco Elysium truly thought-provoking is his nuanced commentary and critique, touching on every corner of the political spectrum.

One appealing aspect of Disco Elysium is its thought-provoking political commentary, which is skillfully demonstrated through each quadrant of the game’s compass. Surprisingly, this game, created by a communist, offers a sharp critique not only of communism but also of the other four political ideologies it presents.

In my initial gameplay, I tended more towards Moralism as it somewhat aligned with my personal perspective. However, in the second round, I shifted to embracing Mazovian Socio-Economics and started establishing a minute fraction of communism, reflecting what Kraz Masov might have envisioned.

Exploring a particular political viewpoint also opens up hidden narratives and lesser-known figures, which you may encounter depending on the ideology you support.

You can identify as a fascist, communist, ultraliberal, or moralist, but regardless of your choice, Harry seems to be struggling to find his personal identity and a sense of community. Assist him in defining his core beliefs.

3. Complete Missed Side Quests

There’s More Than Meets The Eye

Similarly, there are numerous hidden missions that players might overlook or rush through without noticing. Have you explored the basement in the Desolate Business District? Or perhaps there’s something interesting to discover near Cuno and Cunoesse? It’s also worth checking out a particular wall in that area.

Disco Elysium could pose a challenge for individuals with ADHD due to the fact that even minor activities are turned into quests. For instance, if you wish to sing karaoke, there’s an entire quest dedicated to it. Similarly, you could assist a group of teenagers in organizing a church rave, which is also an option within the game.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s likely that some optional missions slipped past you during your initial gameplay. Make sure to take a moment to revisit those unfinished tasks and complete them before the Mercenary Tribunal convenes.

Martinaise abounds with a multitude of characters, each with their unique tales – some grand, others modest. It offers an ample dose of laughter as well as somber narratives.

2. Try A Completely Different Build

Which Harry Are You?

At first, I thought that the way a character is built using min-maxxing in Disco Elysium didn’t make much of a difference. However, upon replaying the game, I came to understand that these builds shape your approach to problems and dialogue options significantly. Furthermore, they also influence the storyline, offering a unique narrative experience based on the choices you’ve made throughout the game.

During my initial game session, I opted for the pre-constructed Thinker character, which emphasized Intellect and featured Encyclopedia as its main skill. This setup was ideal for those eager to delve deeper into the world of Disco Elysium through the knowledgeable yet sarcastic Encyclopedia persona.

In that gaming session, I anticipated needing to converse with characters and unravel the mystery much like a real-life detective, so I invested skill points in areas such as Reasoning and Persuasion.

Although they provided some assistance, they didn’t significantly contribute to comprehending the inhabitants of Revachol. The Encyclopedia, on the other hand, was constantly offering comments, which grew tiresome after an initial hour.

Over time, I shifted my focus towards Psych instead of Intellect, making the character I created, similar to Harry, significantly more empathetic and compassionate.

During my second gameplay, I opted for a character build focusing on Physique. This made Harry appear more assertive and highlighted his background as a gym teacher by putting greater emphasis on his use of Physical Skills.

Even though I couldn’t engage in conversations or make decisions as effectively as before, I reached an exceptional level of physical fitness (though not truly), which allowed me to tackle most obstacles physically. For instance, I was able to deliver a powerful 360-degree roundhouse kick that knocked out Measurehead.

1. Choose Opposing Decisions

Life Is A Binary

Have you ever found yourself pondering about alternate outcomes during your gameplay of Disco Elysium? It’s quite natural, especially when you wonder how things could have gone differently if you had made a different decision. Perhaps you wanted to improve your performance on a subsequent playthrough or simply explore the various consequences of your choices.

Since you’re embarking on your second attempt, why not consider making some radically distinct decisions just to explore the outcomes? Opt for choices that are polar opposites of your previous actions; if you spared Klaaje during your first encounter, this time try capturing her and observe the new consequences.

If you’re aiming for a buddy-turned-antagonist role in your second playthrough, you could consider being as annoying or aggravating as possible towards Kim, despite the fact that he remains loyal to you no matter what.

Treating Kim harshly is something that only those with a strong constitution can tolerate.

The regret of acting cruelly towards a video game character is always an unpleasant feeling.

In the game “Disco Elysium,” numerous scenarios can unfold, ranging from heartrendingly tragic to absurdly comical. Your experience and the outcome for the character Harry are entirely determined by your choices throughout the game.

2025-04-02 21:40