A world where human consciousness is harvested, processed, and consumed is at the centre of PRIMA MATERIA, a newly announced dark visual novel from Radi Art, the developer behind Synergia. Published by Top Hat Studios, the surreal narrative experience is coming to PC via Steam in 2027.
Set in the Concrete Sea, an endless grey wasteland beneath an unchanging sun, PRIMA MATERIA takes place in a world ruled by Angels who treat human consciousness as a valuable resource. Harvested minds are processed over centuries into a luminous orange substance known as Prima Materia, which can then be refined and consumed.
Players follow Mana, a Mind Digger who makes a living extracting unwanted parts of other people’s psyches, including their guilt, fears, and memories. Her carefully maintained existence takes an unexpected turn when she accepts a job involving Girin, the rebellious daughter of an ancient Angel. In exchange for repairing her, Mana is promised an effectively unlimited supply of Prima Materia.
However, Girin proves considerably more complicated than the assignment initially suggests. Something hidden deep within her consciousness recognizes Mana and appears determined to prevent her from reaching the girl’s innermost thoughts. As Mana investigates further, what began as a straightforward transaction develops into something considerably more personal, forcing her to confront memories of the person she was before reducing her existence to little more than appetite and survival.
PRIMA MATERIA explores themes of consciousness, alchemy, identity, and self-reflection through an unsettling science-fiction setting that combines psychological horror with surreal imagery. Its narrative will be presented as a linear experience without branching paths or player choices, making it a kinetic visual novel rather than one built around multiple endings.
The experience is expected to contain approximately 39,000 words, translating to around two to three hours of reading. It will also feature 50 unique CG illustrations and backgrounds presented at native 4K resolution, alongside an original soundtrack designed to complement its philosophical themes and disturbing atmosphere.
With its unusual approach to consciousness and a setting built around the exploitation of the human mind, PRIMA MATERIA looks to offer a distinctly different kind of visual novel when it arrives on PC next year.