In Hope in the City, everything begins with Hope — our 17-year-old protagonist searching for answers after her parents’ disappearance. When we started designing her, we wanted her visual identity to reflect who she is at the start of the story: someone still untouched by the cynicism of the world she’s about to uncover. Many of the people she meets along the way have been shaped — and in some cases scarred — by the city’s secrets. By contrast, Hope needed to stand out as a figure of sincerity and determination, visually distinct from the characters hardened by their environment.
Where the city’s architecture and environments are built on sharp and often harsh angular motifs, Hope’s design leans softer and simpler. Her lines are cleaner and more open, reflecting her innocence and clarity as she faces a world far more complicated than she is prepared for. These early concept sketches from our art team show how we explored triangular shapes in her design language while keeping her distinct from the city around her. It’s a glimpse into how we tried to balance visual symbolism with character, and how Hope’s journey is mirrored in her design. We’re excited to finally share these behind-the-scenes looks with you—and we can’t wait for you to experience Hope’s story in full. Join our Discord for an early peek at the closed alpha or stay tuned for future demos we’ll be releasing!