On The Record: Dan & Varia

"Stories aren’t just told. They’re lived, remembered, and reshaped."

Welcome back to On The Record

Our behind-the-scenes series exploring the minds, methods, and inspirations of the Hopetown team. Hopetown is a narrative-first RPG without combat — where words carry weight, and the world bends around your perception. Wishlist Hopetown now on Steam.

This time, we’re joined by writers Dan and Varia, who’ve been helping shape the tangled narrative threads of Hopetown. From inspirations drawn from books, games, and real-world influences, to what it means to write for a “psychological RPG driven by story, depth, and danger,” they share how narrative forms the backbone of the town.

In our conversation, they talk about:

✏️ How they became involved in the project

✏️ The inspirations shaping Hopetown’s world and dialogue

✏️ What “a psychological RPG driven by story, depth, and danger” means to them

✏️ The feelings they hope players take away

And of course, they take on a round of quick-fire questions — from NPC archetypes to their strangest Google searches.

Closing Note

Every detail in Hopetown — from a fragment of dialogue to the way memory twists — is shaped by the writers who breathe life into its world. Dan and Varia’s work helps ensure the town feels alive: imperfect, layered, and impossible to forget.

The Next Lead

Our next On the Record will bring another corner of Hopetown’s development into focus, sharing new insights from across the team as the game continues to take shape. Keep an eye on our socials and the dev blog for the next instalment.

Join the Conversation

We’re building more than just a game with Hopetown — we’re building a community. Share your thoughts, theories, and favourite details from Dan & Varia’s interview on our Discord, where you can meet other players, chat with the devs, and get the latest updates.

Don’t forget: you can also wishlist Hopetown on Steam to follow along with development.

Until next time,

 — The Hopetown Team