If you’ve been finding it hard to wait for Grand Theft Auto 6, well, it’s been a painfully long wait for most of us. But what if we told you there’s something on Steam that can simulate that experience—with major Genshin Impact vibes—and it’s absolutely free to play?
Whether you’re obsessed with open-world RPGs or not, Hotta Studio’s NTE: Neverness to Everness is a supernatural adventure you simply don’t want to miss. As you step into Hethereau’s “sprawling and vibrant metropolis,” it won’t take long to notice a blend of GTA’s urban exploration and crime simulation with Genshin’s visuals. And it’s not just available on Steam, so if you don’t own a PC, don’t be disheartened: You can play it on PlayStation and mobile platforms (Android and iOS) too.
While the game is free to download and play on all these platforms, it does contain microtransactions, which is expected since it runs on a gacha system. That said, you don’t have to spend real money to progress and have fun—it doesn’t follow a pay-to-win model. Moreover, it’s a single-player game, so you can take your time with it.
Needless to say, NTE: Neverness to Everness has managed to gain plenty of positive traction since its recent release on Steam. For context, you play as an “unlicensed Anomaly Hunter” who arrives in Hethereau, equipped with powers beyond the ordinary. You’ll technically be playing solo, but there’s a whole roster of energetic companions you can team up with throughout your adventures. The Genshin influence is evident in the character design, story, and overall visuals, while the biggest GTA similarity is likely to stand out in the vehicles and open-road exploration.
There’s a lot of engaging and challenging combat too. Think in the lines of flashy abilities with fast-paced action that requires good timing and character synergy. But it’s not always serious and competitive. Beyond recruiting a team that will help you through objectives, you can also romance the characters. From taking a stroll together to inviting them back to your place, there’s a lot you can do to build adorable relationships in the game. Plus, you get to unlock different side stories for the characters you develop deeper connections with.
In case you’re wondering about the verdict, NTE: Neverness to Everness seems to be winning over most of its player base so far. Most agree that the game delivers on its promise to mix anime-style RPG elements with a modern open world. Hethereau is easily the biggest talking point, with players praising all the exploratory opportunities that let them drive around its streets and stumble across exciting activities beyond the main story. The graphics, music, and character designs have also received a lot of praise, with several reviews noting how generous the game feels for a free-to-play title.
You may, however, notice some performance hiccups, especially on Steam and console. Most players have been able to work around these issues by optimizing their graphics settings, but if you have a potato PC or are trying to run the game on a Mac, you may be out of luck. In that case, you can try out the mobile version.
As far as the optimization gaps are concerned, we can expect the developers to address these issues soon. After all, the game was released on Steam just today.
- Brand
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Valve
- Original Release Date
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September 12, 2003