Ananta (video game)

Ananta (Chinese: 无限大; pinyin: Wúxiàndà, meaning "Infinity"; formerly known as Project Mugen) is a free-to-play open-world role-playing game in development. It is being created by Naked Rain, a studio based in Hangzhou that operates under Hangzhou NetEase Thunderfire Technology Co., Ltd, and will be published by NetEase Games. The title was first revealed as Project Mugen during Gamescom on August 24, 2023.

Players move through the game's world by swimming, running, riding bikes or cars, climbing walls, performing parkour, and using ropes or appendages to grapple and swing between skyscrapers—mechanics similar to those in Marvel's Spider-Man and the Prototype series. This traversal is fast and does not consume stamina. Certain characters have their own unique movement styles; for instance, the character Taffy can turn her mallet into a bike. Quests and challenges allow players to recover lost memories and unlock abilities that advance each character's story, eventually leading to battles against a villain.

Combat and exploration take place in a city where players control one character at a time, but during major battles and boss fights they can switch between a team of four. Each character has distinct stats and abilities that may complement their teammates. The whole team can also equip an extra buff or a major ability, such as crowd control or telekinesis.

The game is set in a mystical urban open world where cities are filled with pedestrians and enemies. The first city, Nova Inception Urbs, has an East Asian urban design, while the second, Lingyun City, draws inspiration from Shanghai and Hangzhou. Later cities will be influenced by European and American styles. Players can travel between cities and interact with the environment—picking up cats, playing mini-games, and using objects in combat.

Players take on the role of a top supernatural investigator called an Infinite Trigger, who looks into anomalies and paranormal events. The main characters and some non-player characters are Espers, people with supernatural powers. Each Esper has a unique story in which they fight a force called Chaos that threatens humanity. At the start, players choose a male or female protagonist, referred to as "Captain," and can give them a custom name, outfit, and car. The character's physical build and role in the story remain mostly the same, with only minor dialogue diff