Text from a review of Esoteric Ebb on The Punished Backlog with a screenshot of the gameplay in question (a flirty horned barkeep) with the following text: Esoteric Ebb, for the most part, contains many deftly realized comments around gender. However, that’s also why one throwaway line in the game’s epilogue frustrated me. A female NPC, who the game has acknowledged several times to be somewhat frivolous, reflects in an optional bit of conversation, “The only thing holding women back are women themselves. If we didn’t fight each other so much, we’d already be living in a matriarchy!”
I blinked several times and paused. In what was otherwise a beautiful and touching epilogue, I felt deeply discontent with this one casual, optional conversation. I do not think that is why there is not a matriarchy in the world of Esoteric Ebb or broadly around the world (and it would be a completely separate piece or game or thesis to argue why that is), and in fact, I don’t necessarily even know if that’s what Bodegård thinks. But I can’t tell.
Text from a review of Esoteric Ebb on The Punished Backlog, continued from the previous screenshot: What I do know is that I think there is harm in a line like that, however small. Another line, seen above, claims that groups of women are always prone to petty backstabbing. This showcases an extremely reductive view of female relationships, female identity, and female power dynamics in a world — both in-game and IRL — in which women are part of centuries-old systemic disempowerment. It is especially striking in a game that is otherwise filled with nuance and space for male relationships. Perhaps in isolation, this line wouldn’t be so bad, but for almost every other political or societal comment in the game, the protagonist has voices in their head questioning or pushing back, leaving this as a strangely unchallenged statement.
I was disappointed that Esoteric Ebb can be, on one hand, so rich and thoughtful for the male identity, only to undercut female identity in such a casual passing. I raise this point not to say that the game isn’t worth playing because of this one moment, but because I think its creators can do better.
ESOTERIC EBB is rich with identity analysis. However, there's one frustrating line in the game's epilogue with a highly reductive view of female relationships. The game does so much so well re: gender that I hate to see it falter in its final moments. @chrisbodegard.bsky.social @rawfury.bsky.social
