HYPERxFANTASY — ONYXPRISM’s Experimental Narrative RPG in a Near-Singularity Dystopia

HYPERxFANTASY, from indie auteur ONYXPRISM, is an experimental narrative RPG that intentionally blurs the line between surreal horror and speculative sci-fi.

Set in a brutalist, post-apocalyptic landscape fractured by a supernatural Singularity, the game asks players to confront transhumanist themes and visceral, Lovecraftian dread while navigating nonlinear quests and conversations that shape the experience. The pitch is simple and striking: lost souls must be slain, mankind may ascend, and the player is dragged through a dreamlike trap laid by the program’s enigmatic creator, Surcutt-P.

Core gameplay & systems

Gameplay mixes directional swordplay with rhythm-based combat and exploratory traversal using a glider to cross the vast, open environments. Dialogue choices influence relationships and conflict resolution—form alliances with enigmatic companions like Enris, or antagonize figures such as the ARCH-EXECUTER and the strangely behaving TODD. The combat and movement systems are deliberately tactile and often unforgiving; rhythm elements add a pacing layer that turns each encounter into a short, intense performance rather than a standard hack-and-slash.

Narrative, tone & worldbuilding

The writing leans into fragmented, poetic passages and repeated incantations that create a hallucinatory narrative voice. Frequent shifts between abstract emotional vignettes and tense thriller sequences produce a constant unease and a strong sense of nostalgia for a lost, synthetic past. Themes of transhumanism, forbidden knowledge, and the insignificance of the individual beneath a rising Singularity are explored with stark, sometimes grotesque imagery—expect vivid descriptions (severed fingers, bleeding veins, ritualistic endings) and scenes meant to unsettle rather than explain.

Characters & cast impressions

Enris serves as a volatile companion whose ambiguous motives keep encounters emotionally charged. The ARCH-EXECUTER functions as an authority figure and mission anchor—her presence pressures the player to follow orders or face consequences. Minor threads (Todd, Yui, the Dreamer/You) reinforce the game’s paranoid undercurrent: everyone has secrets, and the narrative often refuses to make moral clarity available. This cast supports the game’s aim: to be emotionally disorienting and thematically dense.

Visual & audio identity

Expect brutalist architecture, rusted concrete, long sightlines, and a palette that shifts from cold industrial grays to sudden crimson and deep blues. The audio design supports the surrealism with dissonant cues, distant cries, and rhythmic pulses that sync with combat. Together, visuals and sound drive the game’s atmospherics more than conventional plot beats—this is an experience that prioritizes mood over exposition.

Content advisory

HYPERxFANTASY contains strong, potentially disturbing imagery and themes (violence, body horror, existential dread). It is explicitly intended to unsettle. Play with awareness of these elements—this is not a comfort playthrough.

Impressions & review — strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

Ambitious tone: The game nails a dreamlike, near-singularity mood few indie RPGs attempt, creating a memorable emotional imprint.

Unique mechanical blend: Glider traversal + rhythm-based directional combat yields moments of striking, cinematic gameplay.

Narrative texture: Fragmented, poetic writing and ritualistic sequences provide a distinct voice and strong replay curiosity.

Worldbuilding through atmosphere: Visuals and audio consistently reinforce the dystopian, transhuman themes.

Weaknesses

Narrative opacity: The story’s deliberate vagueness may frustrate players who prefer clear motivations, linear storytelling, or explicit lore.

Accessibility: Rhythm combat and sparse guidance can feel punishing; the experience rewards persistence and interpretation more than straightforward progression.

Graphic content: Intense imagery may be off-putting to a portion of the audience.

Final impressions & who should play it

HYPERxFANTASY is a provocative, narrowly targeted title: it will resonate strongly with players who enjoy experimental storytelling, atmospheric worldbuilding, and games that prioritize sensation and theme over tidy answers. Fans of Lovecraftian horror, transhumanist speculation, and indie narrative experiments will find much to savor. Those seeking clear plot beats, light tone, or a conventional RPG progression may find it opaque or distressing.