The Hauntology of Communism in an Estonian Computer Role-playing Game

This chapter explores the game Disco Elysium through cultural critic Mark Fisher’s theoretical lenses of ‘hauntology’, ‘capitalist realism’ and ‘acid communism’. The game illustrates how the past persistently influence the present, challenging the hegemony of neoliberal capitalism. Drawing on Fisher's concept of ‘capitalist realism’, the analysis explores how the game critiques the pervasive belief that there is no alternative to capitalism. Through its narrative and mechanics, Disco Elysium portrays a city haunted by its revolutionary past, symbolizing the continuous intrusion of history into present day. This spectral presence serves as a metaphor for the latent revolutionary potentials that challenge the "end of history" thesis. In the final part of the chapter, I explore the framework of ‘acid communism’ to engage with these dormant and hopeful possibilities, advocating for a politics that transcends capitalist realism and envisions a different future