Disco Elysium Hits Early Access, but Is That 8/10 Score Really Worth It?

Brain Jar Games’ Dead As Disco is now in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store, and IGN has already published its review, scoring it an 8. The key takeaway is clear: in its current state, this feels more like a “mini album” than a fully finished release.

For this kind of news, two details matter first: whether the game is actually available, and whether it already feels like a complete experience. Dead As Disco at least clears the first bar. It is live on both Steam and Epic, which makes it much easier for casual players to jump in than to sort through a pile of systems before deciding whether it is worth their time.

IGN’s framing is also easy to understand. This is not the kind of game arriving with “Game of the Year” expectations. The review suggests the foundation is already there, but the overall volume of content has not fully caught up yet. That comparison works: it sounds polished, looks stylish, and lands the right notes, but it still leaves a sense that the full meal has not arrived.

Based on the review so far, the game’s biggest strengths are its energetic stage presentation, inspired soundtrack curation, and overall atmosphere. Those are not minor wins. They are the reason a player can get pulled in quickly, before any deeper systems even enter the picture. For anyone who does not enjoy wrestling with complicated mechanics, atmosphere matters more than raw depth. If the game can hold your attention on style, rhythm, and mood alone, that already counts for a lot.

Replayability is the harder test. Casual players usually do not bounce off because something is difficult; they bounce off because repetition turns into routine. The first run feels fresh, and the second starts to feel like homework. If Dead As Disco really can use its music, movement, and stage direction to make each run feel like a different music video, then it has a real shot at keeping players locked in for one more run, and then another.

IGN is direct about the current limits, though: right now, it is closer to a mini album than a full LP. In plain terms, that means it is appealing and memorable, but the tracklist is still short and the overall package is still growing. For an Early Access game, that reads as fair rather than harsh. It is the kind of assessment that helps set expectations properly instead of overselling what is there today.

If you already like games with strong neon style, obvious rhythm, and visuals that make you want to click immediately, Dead As Disco is worth putting on your wishlist, or at least checking out through gameplay footage before deciding. If you care most about content completeness and want a more filling version of the experience in one go, waiting for future updates makes more sense. Early Access is rarely at its worst when a game is bad; it is at its most frustrating when the hook works and you run out of things to do too soon.

Overall, Dead As Disco feels like a game with the right direction and a very clear identity. IGN’s review argues that Brain Jar Games has already shown the potential for bigger success in the future, and that point comes through clearly. For commuters and casual players, this is not necessarily a drop-everything recommendation, but it is absolutely a game worth remembering by name.