Hi! Naarel here!

2023 is slowly coming to an end. I achieved quite a lot in 2023 – my first ranked jam, first time my games were played on streams (at least to my knowledge... big shoutout to Don of Visual Novelty and to OonaTempest heh), first fully kinetic novel, first monetary support from people... gods! There have been so many people to help, so many people to be helped by, so many things I learned and so many... so much... gestures vaguely EVERYTHING.

This year was practically defined by me experimenting with things and getting to know other people. Compared to the previous year, I got far more... social with fellow devs. I made many wonderful friends who were there for me through this whole year; people who kept me going, kept inspiring me, kept making me feel like it's all worth it. It'd be far too long to list everyone, but you can see the names in the credits of my games. Also, if you think this passage is about you, it most likely is. 

What will 2024 bring for my game making? I'm not quite sure. I don't know what my life will look like – it's a bit of a weird, shifting thing. Perhaps I'll have less time for deving? I can't tell. What I know is that I want to continue making my silly little games and expanding Oneironverse. 

But there's one problem with Oneironverse: I can't really progress with the main storyline. See, I have plans. Big plans. Sometime in the future, I want to create My Big Game – Oneiron, the story of dealing with the current crisis of Ivehorn's nightmare plague, with routes and romance/friendship options and such. Every game I make brings me closer to refining what I want in Oneiron, every game brings me closer to making it all a reality. The problem is: I don't feel ready to tackle The Big Game yet. I still have a lot to learn. To everyone who got hooked on the main storyline and wants to see it progress: it probably won't really happen this year. Furthermore, I'd like to try and branch out into non-Oneironverse games. Does that mean there won't be any Oneironverse games coming in 2024? Of course not! I just want to steer my attention towards AUs and side stories. 

I do have a list of ideas I'd like to explore in 2024. Naturally, I most likely won't do everything from this list and the contents may vary, but I thought I'll share the ideas (with their codenames, as titles come later) so you can maybe tell me what you'd love to see.

2024 game ideas with their Codenames™

Expectation

Considering each other soulmates, asexual Juniper and aromantic Rowan form a partnership that's often misunderstood. They live their best life, renting the same apartment and sharing all of their ups and downs. One night, Juniper sees Rowan outside – the problem is, she's sure he's back at home, right where she left him. The odd sightings continue, leaving Juniper unsure as to what's real and what's not... and making her face questions she didn't want to think about before.

[non-Oneironverse; an attempt at psychological horror-y style; exploration of inner struggles, especially pertaining to identity; exploring the ways self-doubt can warp one's perception of the world and relationships]

Dreamteam

In the sleepy town of Ivehorn, three friends meet for a movie night. As the night slowly passes, Blythe, Eva and Lirion begin to reminisce on the time they spent together, both in the Waking World, and the elusive Realm of Dreams. 

[Oneironverse AU where nothing ever goes wrong; very fluffy, very soft; canon-compliant lol]

Game

Lirion is a prominent guest on the Sugar and Spice Concord server, which makes them cross paths with another user, Daniel, who's a rather mysterious figure. As they play a co-op game one night, Daniel finally decides to do what he never did before: open up before his new friend

[Oneironverse side story; introduction of Daniel, as he's the only one who wasn't introduced yet from the main cast; exploration of internet relationships and anxieties/joys coming from them]

Astrology

Earnestine stares at the night sky while cuddling up with her lovers... and since one of them is a god of stars himself, why not ask about the stars above?

[Oneironverse side story; really short; I just want to make it because I want to have some Earnestine content, I love my girl, sue me; very fluffy, even if with somewhat unsettling undertones]

Awakening

May's attempts at bringing her wayward sister back to her church were noticed by none other than Prophetess Anah, the leader of Silvercross Society. And so, May gets invited for a talk, which should feel like an honor, but... why doesn't it feel this way?

[Oneironverse side story; further exploration of all that religious guilt and pain; further exploration of the internal conflict of belief and love for your family; presenting things from May perspective to kinda un-bitch her image lol]

Dreamless

It's normal for Pharmakon to rarely take away the gift of dreaming from people... but they've never had anyone beg them to do it to them.

[Oneironverse side story; exploration of Pharmakon and some lore; rather short; most likely angsty]

Everwinter

Aelleia disappeared underwater in a flood that was brought by the divine wrath. Two survivors, Skia and Skoto, wander around the snow-covered Continent, trying to find a new place to call home – but what place can accept those who murdered god?

[Oneironverse side story; focusing on the lore, exploring the consequences of the unimaginable; historical lol]

So, yeah! Let me know which things sound the coolest to you. I know what my priority list is like, but it all might shift, not to mention that I certainly won't do everything on this list. Maybe I'll abandon some ideas completely or move them to the next year? Who knows. Maybe I'll even have new ideas altogether.

Either way. Thank you for your support and for taking time to engage with my work this year. It means far more than you can imagine. Every comment, every rating, every review and live reaction, it's making me smile. Thank you once more. See you in Ivehorn (and beyond) in 2024.

Yours, Naarel