Robert Kurvitz, the game director and lead writer of Disco Elysium, recently expressed deep admiration for the original Fallout (1997), calling it a benchmark in post-apocalyptic worldbuilding. In a recent interview, Kurvitz praised Fallout’s ability to craft a bleak, immersive setting, stating that it makes many other post-apocalyptic games feel superficial in comparison.
Kurvitz, known for his intricate world-building and philosophical storytelling, has often cited influences from classic CRPGs, but this is one of his most direct acknowledgments of Fallout’s impact on game design.
Kurvitz on Fallout’s Unique Approach to the Post-Apocalypse
In his praise for Fallout, Kurvitz specifically highlighted how the game avoids the usual tropes of post-apocalyptic fiction:
“The first Fallout had a kind of sincerity to its world that is rare. It makes other post-apocalyptic worldbuilding seem like an amusement park. You weren’t playing in some exaggerated wasteland of mutant mayhem—you were stepping into a society that had crumbled but still had rules, ideologies, and a sense of history.”
Kurvitz pointed out that many modern post-apocalyptic settings—while visually impressive—often feel like theme parks, where destruction is used more as a backdrop for action rather than deep storytelling.
Key Aspects of Fallout’s World That Kurvitz Admires:
- Grounded Storytelling – The world isn’t just a wasteland; it’s a society rebuilding in fragments, struggling with its past and future.
- Survival as a Philosophy, Not Just a Mechanic – Every faction, from the Brotherhood of Steel to the New California Republic, has a believable reason for existing, rather than just being ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys.’
- Player-Driven Morality – Instead of forcing players into a heroic or chaotic role, Fallout presents morally ambiguous choices with lasting consequences—something Disco Elysium is also known for.
- Unique Sense of Humor – Kurvitz praised Fallout’s ability to balance dark themes with sharp, satirical writing, a quality that Disco Elysium also embodies.
How Fallout Influenced Disco Elysium
While Disco Elysium and Fallout belong to different subgenres of RPGs, there are clear parallels between their design philosophies. Both games:
Emphasize player-driven narratives, allowing choices to shape the world in complex ways.
Feature richly detailed settings, where political ideologies, cultural remnants, and past events influence every interaction.
Avoid traditional combat mechanics, instead focusing on dialogue, character choices, and consequences.
Kurvitz’s high regard for Fallout suggests that the game’s philosophical depth and worldbuilding approach played a key role in shaping the narrative design of Disco Elysium.
