Rue Valley is a 2025 role-playing video game developed by Serbia-based[1] Emotion Spark Studio and published by Owlcat Games. It follows Eugene Harrow, who is stuck in a 47 minute time loop in the desert town Rue Valley. It was releaased on 11 November 2025 on PC via Steam, as well as on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.[2] The game received mixed reviews from critics.
| Rue Valley | |
|---|---|
 Cover | |
| Developer | Emotion Spark Studio |
| Publisher | Owlcat Games |
| Platforms | |
| Release | 11 November 2025 |
| Genre | Role-playing |
| Mode | Single-player |
Synopsis
editGameplay
edit
The player starts the game by assigning the protagonist's personality points across three different spectrums: decisional, social, and emotional, making Eugene impulsive, short-tempered or anxious that allows or locks dialogue options.[3] Inspiration points can be acquired to activate "intentions", which serve as quests, and as Harrow's mental health he can also acquire willpower, which serve as permanent inspiration points that can be reused after an intention is completed.[4]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 70/100[5] |
| OpenCritic | 39% recommend[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| PC Gamer (US) | 62/100[4] |
The PC version of Rue Valley received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 39% of critics.[6]
A review in Console Creatures praised the game's writing, time loop mechanics and graphics, although it noted performance issues on Steam Deck.[3] Maddi Chilton in PC Gamer notes the similarities between Rue Valley and Disco Elysium and describes as an "extremely effective metaphor" the time loop as manifestation of depression and surreal happenings as literalization of mental state, but felt that the game failed in its execution and felt that the loop mechanic was sometimes tedious.[4] Rue Valley has been described as a spiritual successor of Disco Elysium.[4][7][8][9]
References
edit- ↑ "Emotion Spark Studio". Emotion Spark Studio. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
- ↑ Franklin II, Anthony (2025-08-21). "Rue Valley Is an Isometric Narrative RPG That Might Crush Me Emotionally". Vice. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 3 "Rue Valley Review — Time Loops And Therapy". Console Creatures. 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Time loop RPG Rue Valley borrows the trappings of Disco Elysium, but doesn't know what to do with them". PC Gamer. 2025-11-12. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 "Rue Valley PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- 1 2 "Rue Valley". OpenCritic. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- ↑ Caldwell, Brendan (2024-11-14). "Rue Valley is sending the nattering inner voices of Disco Elysium to therapy". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Rue Valley Review: Time-Loop Adventure Isn't Quite Disco Elysium". GAMINGbible. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Disco Elysium-Inspired Narrative RPG 'Rue Valley' Gains A Switch Release". Nintendo Life. 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2026-05-07.