Neverness to Everness Gameplay — A Player’s Deep Dive into the Urban Supernatural RPG

If you’re looking for a fresh game that mixes city vibes, supernatural powers, and full-on urban chaos — then Neverness to Everness (NTE) might just be the breath of fresh air your gaming library needs. I’ve been following it for a while now, and as someone who loves action RPGs with a twist, I’m hyped to walk you through what makes NTE stand out (and what you should watch out for) — from combat to city exploration, from Espers to anomalies.

Introduction

In this article I’ll break down how the game works, what you can expect from its systems, and why I think NTE has serious potential. I’m writing this from a “player’s identity” — so it’s casual, a bit of my own hype, and hopefully super useful whether you’re waiting for release or debating pre-registration.

I. Introduction to Neverness to Everness Game

A. Game Overview: Urban Action RPG

Neverness to Everness is a free-to-play supernatural urban open-world action RPG that drops you right into a city called Hethereau — a metropolis where the everyday and the bizarre collide. We’re not talking small-town fantasy: this is a full-blown city filled with living NPCs, cars, shops, buildings, and — yes — wild supernatural anomalies.

You play as an “Anomaly Hunter” (or “Appraiser,” depending on the story framing), often linked with the antique shop Eibon Antique Shop, taking on anomaly-related commissions to solve mysteries, fight supernatural threats, or just survive the weird urban nights.

B. Developer: Hotta Studio

The game is developed by Hotta Studio and published by Perfect World Games. These are the folks behind other open-world or gacha-style games, and for NTE they’re going big — Unreal Engine 5, detailed cityscapes, realistic lighting and environments thanks to DLSS & ray tracing.

C. Global Release Status (Closed Beta Testing)

As of now: NTE has had closed beta tests (CBT), starting in China November 2024.
Platforms announced include PC, iOS, Android, and PlayStation 5 — though a full global release date hasn’t been pinned down just yet.

So if you’re reading this and thinking “should I pre-register?” — that’s a fair question. Just be aware it’s still early, but what’s there already looks really promising.

D. Unique Game Features

What makes NTE stand out (to me, at least) is how it blends multiple genres: open-world exploration, supernatural fantasy, urban living, and action RPG combat. You don’t just fight — you drive cars, roam the city, maybe own a home or customize a ride, interact with NPCs, take on anomaly-hunter jobs, and live a city life — but with weird, spooky, supernatural twists.

There are also “Esper Abilities” — powers that let you do supernatural stuff, from climbing buildings to fighting anomalies to triggering crazy skill combos.

E. Comparison to Similar Games (Why This Might Be For You)

If you’ve played games like Genshin Impact or Tower of Fantasy — you’ll see some familiar vibes. But NTE attempts to be more urban: city streets instead of fantasy landscapes; cars and city nightlife instead of elemental shrines; urban anomalies replacing typical monsters. Many in the community describe it as “GTA meets anime RPG with supernatural flair.”

For me, that means NTE might scratch both the “open-world exploration” itch and the “action RPG + superpower fantasy” itch. If you like both, this could be a rare sweet spot.

II. Combat System Overview

One of the biggest draws for me — and the part I’m most hyped about — is the combat system. It tries to give depth, style, and flexibility.

A. Real-Time Action Combat Foundation

• NTE plays in 3rd-person perspective, and you control characters in real time, moving them around, dodging, attacking, swapping, and chaining skills.

• You have a party (not just a single hero), meaning up to multiple characters can be used — each with their own skills, Esper powers, and roles.

• Basic attacks, skill-based abilities, and ultimate skills are part of the system. So you’ll have normal attacks for mobs or small threats, and stronger moves for big fights or special enemies.

• And yes — character switching mid-battle. This means you’re not locked into one hero; you can adapt on the fly depending on enemy type or situation.

That flexibility already makes combat feel dynamic. It isn’t just “spam skill A, defeat enemy.” You might dodge, switch to another character for a different skill or elemental type, chain combos — and that kind of fluidity is exciting.

B. Break Meter and Stagger System

One mechanic that stood out in early reveals is a “Break / Stagger” system.

• Enemies have a Break Gauge: as you land hits or dodge effectively, you build up the meter. Once full — or once you trigger stagger — enemy defenses drop, making them vulnerable.

• During the staggered / broken state, you get a damage amplification window — meaning hits do more damage, followups or combos hit harder, and fights feel more cinematic and strategic.

• This encourages skillful play: mixing normal attacks, dodges, maybe parries or counters (if implemented), to build meter and open up burst windows — not just button-mash.

So if you like action games where timing and build-up matter, this system gives that satisfaction.

C. Parry and Dodge-Counter System

While exact details are still emerging, players who’ve followed the previews say NTE includes dodge / counter mechanics — meaning well-timed dodges trigger counterattacks, which help build momentum and open windows for combos.

This adds a layer of risk & reward: dodge too early or too late and you might get hit; nail it right and you get advantage. It makes combat feel more skill-based and responsive, not just stats and gear.

I love that because it rewards good reactions — something I think more modern action RPGs should do.

D. Combo and Chaining System

Because you have a party and switching characters mid-fight, you can chain abilities: start with one character’s basic attacks or broken-gauge buildup, then swap to another’s powerful skill, maybe finish with an ultimate — all while keeping momentum. That variety and fluid chaining makes fights feel alive, not repetitive.

From what I saw in gameplay demos and early beta footage, that chaining + switching + stagger + abilities mix gives combat a lot of “flow” — the kind that makes you want to get better, learn the muscle memory, practice dodge timing and coordination.

III. Esper Cycle and Synergy Mechanic

One of the more unique systems in NTE is the “Esper Cycle” — this gives the combat and exploration additional depth beyond just swinging swords or blasting powers.

A. Esper System Fundamentals

• In NTE, characters have “Espers”: special abilities / powers you can use. These are tied to supernatural phenomena and give each character individuality.

• When building your party, you can combine multiple Espers — the game seems to encourage variety, meaning you don’t just pick all same-type characters; mixing different Espers might yield better synergy.

B. Esper Abilities and Classification

Espers come with primary skills, passive effects, and special powers. Depending on character, your Esper might let you do gravity-defying moves (good for exploration), environmental manipulation, high-damage skills, or support/buff roles.

You’ll need to consider roles: damage dealer, support, crowd control, or traversal — because Espers influence not just combat but how you move and experience the city.

C. Esper Synergies and Triggers

Here’s where it gets interesting: NTE’s trailer and previews mention “Esper Cycle” synergy. When you combine Espers from different characters — maybe in a certain order or alignment — you trigger powerful reactions, opening up bigger attacks, buffs, or special effects.

So it’s not just “my Esper = my power,” but “my Esper + your Esper = something new.” That means team composition becomes strategic, not just about who’s strongest — but who works best together.

For players like me who like building teams, theory-crafting, and experimenting — this is a huge plus.

IV. Elemental System and Reactions

Though NTE’s world leans more urban + supernatural than elemental fantasy, there is still an element / attribute / reaction system tied to Espers and combat — adding depth to fights and strategy in boss fights or anomaly hunts.

A. Element Types Classification

From what dev info reveals: Espers / abilities have associated Element Types — this could include “Chaos,” “Flow,” “Void,” “Lakshana,” “Cosmos,” etc. (or their equivalent in lore) — giving a broad palette beyond just physical vs magical.

That means you could tailor your party for certain types of anomalies or enemies that are weak / strong against certain elements — making team building and exploration more dynamic.

B. Elemental Reaction Mechanics

When certain elements or Esper abilities “mix,” the game triggers elemental reactions — these can deal bonus damage, apply status effects, or open up special windows (like stagger, vulnerability, or buffs).

This encourages elemental variety: you don’t want a full party of the same element, especially if you’re tackling anomalies that have resistances.

C. Element Coverage Strategy

From a player standpoint, this means: build a balanced team, consider enemy types before entering fights, and experiment with different Esper combinations. For full exploration or anomaly hunting, having elemental coverage gives you flexibility — and more fun.

V. Open-World Exploration System

Combat is one thing — but NTE pairs it with a full open-world city to roam. That’s one of the biggest draws for me.

A. Hethereau City Overview

Hethereau isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living city. The game promises a detailed metropolis full of shops, NPCs, buildings, vehicles, shops — the works.

From night neon-lit streets to quirky anomalies popping up — the city aims to feel alive and unpredictable, not static.

B. Movement and Traversal Options

You’re not limited to walking or running: early previews show climbing, wall-running or gravity-defying movement via some Espers, parkour-style traversal, and full vertical exploration — buildings, rooftops, narrow alleys, etc.

Vehicles are also part of the package: you’ll be able to drive and customize cars, cruising through the city or speeding down neon streets — adding a GTA-like vibe, minus the crime (well, maybe depending on your style)

This freedom of movement + open world + supernatural traversal is a big reason I’m excited: exploring a city that feels alive — with abilities that let you move beyond “just walk or fly.”

C. Seamless Exploration, Interactions & City Life

No loading-screen doors between city zones (at least, that’s the promise). Rooms, shops, buildings, interiors — all accessible. You can visit shops, take anomaly-hunter commissions, maybe even buy property or vehicles. It’s more than “quest hub” — it’s a living city simulation fused with supernatural RPG.

Want to chill after a mission? Maybe check out a night market, browse some eerie shops, interact with NPCs, or just cruise through city lights. NTE offers “urban life + anomaly hunts + RPG progression” — which is rare in open-world RPGs.

VI. Anomaly System and Investigation Gameplay

What really gives NTE its flavor is its core premise: you’re not just fighting monsters — you’re dealing with anomalies. Strange supernatural occurrences weaving into urban life.

A. Anomaly Mechanics & Investigation

As an Anomaly Hunter / Appraiser, you’ll get anomaly-related commissions from the public via Eibon Antique Shop or other sources. These commissions vary: weird supernatural phenomena, strange happenings, bizarre events — not always combat, sometimes investigation or containment.

That means NTE isn’t “fight-> loot-> repeat.” It also involves mystery, exploration, discovery — which adds variety.

B. Companions & Espers in Investigation

You won’t be alone: characters with various Esper powers can accompany you — some with combat value, some with exploration or investigative perks. Their powers help not just in fights, but in traversing the city or unlocking hidden paths.

That makes building a balanced team more than just about “who deals most damage” — you want synergy between combat, exploration, investigation, and anomaly handling.

C. Anomaly Encounters & Boss Fights

The beta info reveals there are boss-style anomalies — bigger threats with unique mechanics, meaning standard mobs won’t cut it. You’ll need strategy: breaking gauges, using Esper synergies, exploiting elemental or status weaknesses, and team coordination.

It gives NTE a danger curve: random city strolling can turn serious fast — so you feel like every anomaly matters, every commission could lead to something intense.

VII. Character System and Roster

While full roster details aren’t public yet, what we know is promising.

• Player plays as the Anomaly Hunter / Appraiser — the main protagonist.

• You’ll meet and recruit companions with Espers — each with their own unique powers, backstories, and roles (combat, support, exploration, investigation).

• Expect to build a party rather than just rely on one character, which gives flexibility and encourages experimentation with team composition, synergy, and balanced roles.

Given the blend of open world + anomalous threats + urban life, I expect the final roster to include a variety of playstyles: melee, ranged, support, exploration experts, anomaly-specialists, maybe even stealth or investigative types.

One of the devs’ promises is “stylized, anime-inspired character design,” which — even if reception is mixed — shows they aim for a wide appeal.

VIII. Story and Narrative Structure

From the previews and beta details, the narrative in NTE isn’t just “epic hero vs world evil.” Instead:

• The setting is Hethereau, a city where anomalies are everyday occurrences — sometimes bizarre, sometimes dangerous. The storyline revolves around being an “unlicensed anomaly hunter,” taking on odd jobs, uncovering mysteries, and gradually digging deeper into why anomalies exist.

• The tone seems lighter than typical dark-fantasy games: some comedic elements, weird city life phenomena, strange but often amusing anomalies — giving it both serious and quirky flavor.

• Side quests, anomaly commissions, companion interactions, city living, and investigation paths — these will likely matter as much as major plot arcs. It feels like they want to simulate “living in a strange supernatural city,” not just “save the world.”

As someone who loves stories with weird urban fantasy + slice-of-life + action, that’s right in my sweet spot.

IX. Progression System and Development Expectations

A. Leveling, Gear & Resource Progression

Because NTE is free-to-play (with expected monetization, likely gacha or similar), progression will be key. Expect:

• Character leveling, ability upgrades, perhaps gear/loot, as you do missions and anomaly commissions.

• Resource management: maybe materials to improve abilities, unlock Esper powers, or gear up — especially if anomaly bosses scale.

Given the open-world + RPG structure, I expect “early game → mid game → late game” progression, where your early exploration and commissions help you build resources for tougher anomalies and late-game content.

B. Economy & Monetization (Likely Gacha/Recruitment & Optional Purchases)

While exact gacha mechanics aren’t revealed fully, since NTE comes from a studio with prior gacha experience, I’d assume there will be some form of banner / recruit / loot-box / chance-based system to get high-tier characters, Espers, or special equipment.

That means: smart resource use, pacing pulls or upgrades — don’t burn all resources early, think long-term if you plan to stay.

C. Player Base and Community Expectations

Because of its ambitious mix (open world + superpowers + city + RPG systems), NTE will likely attract players from many niches: fans of open world, gacha players, action RPG lovers, urban fantasy fans, etc.

That means a diverse community and — hopefully — enough content and support to keep things fresh long-term.

As one Reddit user put it:

“Neverness to Everness looks incredible: city instead of fantasy wilds, customizable cars, real city life with reactive NPCs — not just static towns. I want to play NOW.”

That hype is real, and I get it.

X. My Take: Strengths, Potential Issues & What I’m Watching

  What I’m Excited About

• Freedom & Flexibility: City + open world + vertical traversal + cars + anomalies + supernatural powers — NTE gives the kind of sandbox I’m always craving.

• Combat Depth + Skill Ceiling: The mix of action combat, dodge/counter, Break/Stagger, Esper synergy, combos — for players who enjoy mastering mechanics, NTE could shine.

• Urban-Supernatural Flavor: Not a fantasy forest or medieval world — this is modern city + supernatural + weirdness. That sets a unique tone that’s different from many other gacha/open-world RPGs.

• Replay Value & Variety: Main story + side quests + anomaly commissions + city life + exploration + character variety — there’s room for different playstyles.

  What I’m Cautious About

• Polish & Performance (Especially on Mobile): With Unreal Engine 5, ray tracing, dense city + cars + NPCs + anomalies — there’s a risk of heavy performance requirements, especially on lower-end devices.

• Balance & Gacha Trap: If the game leans too heavily on gacha or pay-to-win for top-tier Esper/characters, it might frustrate free-to-play or casual players.

• Depth vs. Breadth: Sometimes when a game tries to do everything (open world + city + supernatural + gacha + story + action), some parts feel shallow. I hope NTE avoids that trap.

• Global Release / Localization / Server Access: Since CBT was limited and release details are still murky, there’s uncertainty about global availability, server regions, language support, etc.

XI. Conclusion & Final Thoughts

So — is Neverness to Everness worth hype? From what I've seen so far: absolutely yes.

If you love open-world games but also crave action, superpowers, and a city that feels alive and weird — NTE seems to be building that world. It promises not just combat, but living — with anomalies, mysteries, exploration, choices, and human (and not-so-human) stories.

For me personally, I’m excited to see how Espers, party building, and anomaly investigations play out long-term. I’ll be watching updates closely, pre-registering (if possible), and maybe prepping some hype playlists.

If you want — once more info or global beta hits, I can draft a starter guide for NTE: what to aim for, how to build a balanced party, early-game tips, and how to not burn through resources too fast.