Developer shows how Esoteric Ebb transformed after signing with a publisher

Kristoffer Bodegård, a solo developer from Sweden, shared a side-by-side comparison of inventory screenshots from his CRPG Esoteric Ebb – one from 2023, when he was working alone, and the current version made with the support of Raw Fury.

The difference is obvious at a glance.

The early version features sparse, almost schematic artwork: a knight in a grey metal helmet against a flat background, with a minimalist interface that feels a bit overwhelming.

The new screenshot is a much richer scene – a goblin companion, a detailed environment, and a character wearing a wooden bucket on their head. Bodegård noted that he still handles all the UI and programming himself; the publisher brought professional art resources to the table without taking creative control away from him.

Esoteric Ebb describes itself as a "disco-like" – a term Bodegård claims he coined to describe games in the spirit of Disco Elysium.

Set in Esoteric Ebb's post-magical fantasy city of Norwick, the story begins five days before the city's first-ever election. An explosion at a tea shop sends the Cleric – an official tasked with handling strange affairs – to investigate a conspiracy nobody wants uncovered. Mechanically, the game leans on a D&D-style system where each character attribute has its own voice that chimes into dialogue, and failing a roll is often more interesting than succeeding.

The community's reaction was warm, though not without notes. One user pointed out a potentially confusing color scheme in the UI: a +2 Strength bonus on the bucket's item card is highlighted in red, while red on the stats panel indicates a penalty.

Another player, who appears to have already tried the demo, singled out the description of a plain wooden bucket in the inventory:

A classic tool, demonstrating human ingenuity. Carries water well. And liquids in general.

A few people admitted they actually prefer the earlier, rougher art style – raw, but not without its charm.

Esoteric Ebb is coming to PC in Q1 2026, with a Steam page already live – and a demo available there too.