DevLog #1: Anomalies

Welcome to the first deep dive into one of the most important aspects of Nightwatch at the Hopkins' Cliffside: the anomalies. These mysterious occurrences are at the heart of the game... actually the heart of the game. As you explore the eerie cliffside and its surrounding areas they can appear anywhere. Today, I’ll share a closer look at how anomalies work and how you’ll interact with them, gameplay-wise and I'll also share technical details of how everything works behind the scenes.

What Are Anomalies?

In the world of Nightwatch at the Hopkins' Cliffside, anomalies are reality-breaking events or objects that defy logic. They range from subtle disturbances to outright impossible phenomena. Picture a hollow pit in the ocean that seems to pull the sea itself downward or gravestones appearing inexplicably in front of a house. Some anomalies are luminous, like floating lights or glowing eyes in the forest, while others are rooted in nature, such as a tornado spiraling unnaturally or rain flowing upside-down.

To make sense of these, anomalies are categorized into four types:

Nature

Phenomena that disrupt natural laws, like floating rocks or icebergs appearing out of place.

Luminous

Anomalies involving light, such as glowing skies or hovering, eye-like orbs in the dark woods.

Monstrosities

Physical manifestations that evoke dread—like a circle of ominous totems or ominous, shadowy figures.

Reality

Events that outright break the fabric of existence, such as a wrecked cargo ship materializing on a cliffside or a mysterious pyramid appearing far out at sea.

An example of a few anomalies on the map.

How Anomalies Are Spawned

Once you’ve picked up the Tetrahedron (more on that in a moment) the night begins and the anomaly spawner kicks in. Here’s how it works:

Randomized Intervals: After the nightwatch begins, anomalies are spawned at random intervals, with cooldowns in between to maintain pacing and prevent overwhelming the player.

Data-Driven Design: Each anomaly is pulled from a data table of possibilities, which includes details like spawn locations, type, and the specific anomaly actor.

Dynamic Behavior: Anomalies aren’t always just static objects — they have their own programmed behaviors, randomization options (like changing their glowing colors or movement), and of course collision systems to ensure they’re detected properly.

For example, if a floating rock appears in the backyard, it will spin slowly. Meanwhile, a circling flock of ravens will let out occasional caws as they spiral ominously overhead.

The Tetrahedron: Your Key to Detection

The Tetrahedron is your most crucial tool during the nightwatch. It's a mysterious artifact, used to detect anomalies across the four categories by switching between modes, each tied to a symbol etched onto the artifact's surface. Here’s how it works behind the scenes:

Sphere Trace Detection: When the Tetrahedron is activated, it sends out a spherical trace—think of it like an invisible bubble that extends forward, scanning for anomalies.

Matching Types: If the current mode matches the anomaly’s type (e.g., Nature mode for rain flowing upward), the anomaly is detected, notifying its actor about it.

Restoration: Once an anomaly is informed about its detection, it reverses all effects and destroys itself. Once it is resolved, the spawner is notified to reduce the active anomaly count, ensuring the system keeps things balanced.

Here you can see how changing modes works in practice!

What Makes Anomalies Unique?

Each anomaly has a purpose: to create an unsettling, unpredictable environment that surprises and keeps you alert. No two anomalies are entirely unique, their dynamic randomization—like changing colors, spawn location, or subtle behaviors—ensures that they feel fresh and slightly different with every encounter. With dozens of distinct anomalies in the game, you won’t encounter all of them in a single playthrough and never in the same order, making every session unique.

I don't think it's often that you see ravens like this.

What’s Next?

That’s all for today’s look at the anomalies! In the next DevLog, I’ll dive into the design of the house and its surroundings — exploring how the layout, lighting, and atmosphere contribute to the tension and the flow of gameplay. Afterall it's the place you'll spend the most time in!

Don’t forget to wishlist Nightwatch at the Hopkins' Cliffside on Steam if you’re intrigued by the development of the game. Stay tuned for more updates!