Wikipedia

Arknights

(Redirected from Hypergryph)

Arknights[a] is a free-to-play tactical RPG/tower defense mobile game developed by Hypergryph. It was released in China on 1 May 2019, in other countries on 16 January 2020, and in Taiwan on 29 June 2020.[1] Arknights is available on Android and iOS platforms and features gacha game mechanics.

Arknights
App icon showing one of the game's protagonists, Amiya
Created byHypergryph
Video game
Developer
  • Hypergryph
  • Studio Montagne
Publisher
GenreTactical role-playing, tower defense
EngineUnity
Platform
Released
  • CHN: 1 May 2019
  • JP/KR: 15 January 2020
  • WW: 16 January 2020
  • TW: 29 June 2020
icon Anime and manga portal
Arknights
Traditional Chinese明日方舟
Simplified Chinese明日方舟
Literal meaningArk of Tomorrow
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMíngrì Fāngzhōu

A spin-off game, Arknights: Endfield, was announced for Microsoft Windows and mobile devices in March 2022.[2] An anime adaptation of Arknights has been airing since 2022.[3][4]

Gameplay

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One of the levels of Arknights. In this level, enemies proceed from right to left, and to stop them the player has deployed (from the top) a ranged operator, a melee operator and a healer on the left side of the screen. At the bottom, the remaining deployable operators are displayed.

The core gameplay is that of a tower defense game, with a number of characters ("operators") as towers. Melee operators can be placed on ground tiles and ranged operators on elevated tiles. Melee operators physically block enemies from advancing, and ranged operators deal ranged damage, heal or otherwise support melee operators. Players must place operators on the correct tiles to prevent the enemy from infiltrating the player's base. Once in place, an operator's skills can be activated after a time for special effects, or they can be withdrawn for redeployment after a delay.

Because there is often a limited number of viable solutions, especially at high difficulties, Arknights has also been described as a puzzle game.[5] The gameplay normally does not require quick reaction times (the game is pauseable, and time slows down while commands are issued), but rather on-the-spot tactical analysis and foresight.[6]

As the player progresses through the game, they unlock more stages, operators and resources, and are also introduced to new types of enemies and gameplay mechanics. Levels that have been cleared with a three-star rating can be auto-completed without player input, as the game records the player's actions and replicates them.

The game also has a base-building aspect, which allows players to construct facilities and assign operators to them. This allows players to increase their resources in the manner of an incremental game.[7] It features the usual array of free-to-play, gacha game mechanics, such as daily login rewards and randomized character acquisition through virtual currency which can be obtained by playing the game, through limited-time events, or optional in-app purchases using real currency. Because of the limited resources available (even if real money is spent), another layer of challenge lies in "internalizing multiple complex economic systems"[6] and in prioritizing the right operators to recruit and develop in order to build a capable roster. Arknights players have created a number of internet resources and tools to assist in this effort.[6]

Seasonal gameplay events introduce more complex but optional difficulties and handicaps, such as the game's semi-quarterly Contingency Contract. Players are awarded with resources and medals exclusive to these events. A roguelike game mode, "Integrated Strategies", was added in 2022.[8]

Plot

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The game is set in the dystopian, apocalyptic future setting of the planet Terra, where people exhibit kemonomimi features – characteristics of animals or mythological races. Natural disasters leave behind a valuable mineral, Originium, which infects people with a progressive disease, Oripathy, but can also enhance the ability to use "Arts" (magic). Because Oripathy is highly infectious and invariably fatal, the infected are shunned and persecuted. In response, some of them form the Reunion movement, a militant group waging war on the despotic governments of Terra.

The player takes the role of the masked and amnesiac "Doctor", who commands a team of "operators" of Rhodes Island, a pharmaceutical, medical, and self-defense organization. As Oripathy spreads, Rhodes Island searches for a cure while defending itself against Reunion and several of the governments of Terra.[7]

Music and voice acting

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Arknights has an eclectic soundtrack drawing on a range of Western and Asian musical genres. Hypergryph has partnered with musical groups across the world to release Arknights-related songs and music videos. These include Steve Aoki ("Last of Me"), Yellow Claw ("End Like This"),[9] Starset ("Infected"),[10] and Low Roar ("Feels", later re-released as "Fade Away").[11] Contributing composers include Go Shiina,[12] Kevin Penkin[13] and Adam Gubman.[14]

The Arknights-related song "Renegade" written by Jason Walsh and performed by Substantial and X.ARI was nominated for "Best Original Song – Video Game" at the 2020 Hollywood Music in Media Awards.[15]

The game's characters are voiced in Japanese. Standard Chinese, regional Sinitic language, Korean, and English voice acting is being incrementally added.[16][17] Individual characters are also voiced in other languages such as Italian, German and Russian, to reflect their origin from the analogous region of the game's world.[18][19]

Reception

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Cosplay of Arknights characters

Pocket Gamer highlighted the game's extensive lore and high production values.[20] Julia Lee of Polygon said that the gacha system is better than in Nintendo's Dragalia Lost, and wrote that "Arknights is the only gacha game I recommend to people" because of its art design, lack of purchase pressure and competition, and limited grind,[5] and Sisi Jiang of Kotaku noted that Arknights is rare among gacha games in that its easily obtainable characters are better in some circumstances than the game's rare, high-powered operators.[21]

The game was nominated for Google Play "Users' Choice Game" at the Best of 2020 awards and for "Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game" at the 2020 Dragon Awards.[22] It won an award as one of the Best Innovative Games of 2020.[23]

Anime

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Main article: Arknights (TV series)

Yostar Pictures' anime adaptation of Arknights has been airing since 2022.[3][4] The third season began airing in July 2025.[24]

Notes

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  1. ^ Chinese: 明日方舟; pinyin: Míngrì Fāngzhōu; lit. 'Ark of Tomorrow'

References

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  1. ^ Lada, Jenni (24 January 2020). "The Doctor Is in as Arknights Is Available Outside Japan". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Hypergryph Announces Arknights: Endfield for PC and Mobile". Game Rant. 2022-03-18. Archived from the original on 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  3. ^ a b "Arknights Anime Shows Off New Trailer Ahead of October 28 Premiere". Crunchyroll News. 2022-09-24. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  4. ^ a b "[ AFA 2022 ] Arknights at AFA 2022: A Glimpse into the Anime and the Challenge of Adapting a Mobile Game to the Screen". GamerBraves. 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Julia (2020-10-30). "Arknights is the only gacha game I recommend to people". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  6. ^ a b c Jiang, Sisi (2022-02-21). "These So-Called 'Casual' Gamers Are Actually Hardcore Strategists". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  7. ^ a b Jensen, Brock (29 January 2020). "Arknights Review - Gacha Tower Defense Done Right". Noisy Pixel. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  8. ^ Jiang, Sisi (2022-07-19). "Arknights' New Roguelike Mode Makes Its Gimmicky Characters Worth Playing Again". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  9. ^ Yopko, Nick (28 December 2020). "Arknights Celebrates One-Year Anniversary With New Track by Steve Aoki, Yellow Claw, and RUNN". Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Archived from the original on 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  10. ^ Childers, Chad (2021-04-26). "Starset Release 'Infected' to Mark 'Arknights' Video Game Anniversary". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  11. ^ "塞壬唱片 - A WORLD FAMILIARLY UNKNOWN". monster-siren.hypergryph.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  12. ^ Shiina, Go [@cnago] (2020-10-27). — アークナイツ — 大陸版メインストーリー8章 PV PV一曲目作編曲担当させていただきました。 日本サービスはのちほどですが、 是非、遊んでみて下さいー！ (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-02 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Penkin, Kevin [@kevinpenkin] (2021-12-21). "I wrote music for Arknights!!! Beyond honoured to work with the irreplaceable @SarahAlainn on the song "Heal the World". Feel free to check below" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-10-02 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @ArknightsStaff (2022-08-10). #アークナイツ 2.5周年を記念し、この曲をお送りします。 ぜひお聞きください。 「And Yet It Wanes」 作曲：Adam Gubman (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-02 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Willman, Chris (2021-01-15). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Announces 2021 Nominees; Kenny Loggins Set for Lifetime Honor". Variety. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  16. ^ "Arknights Global releases English, Korean dub previews". GamerBraves. 2022-06-24. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  17. ^ 《明日方舟》2022新春前瞻特辑视频. Bilibili (in Chinese). 2022-01-15. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  18. ^ 《明日方舟》2022「感谢庆典」前瞻特别节目（附字幕）. Bilibili (in Chinese). 2023-11-22. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  19. ^ 《明日方舟》2023「感谢庆典」前瞻特别节目（附字幕）. Bilibili (in Chinese). 2023-11-22. Archived from the original on 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  20. ^ Gregson-Wood, Stephen. "Arknights is a tower defense game for iOS and Android that puts a huge emphasis on its lore, you can pre-register now". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  21. ^ Jiang, Sisi (27 September 2021). "Arknights Low Rarity Characters Are Better Than High Rarity Ones". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  22. ^ Liptak, Andrew (2020-09-06). "Announcing the 2020 Dragon Awards Winners". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  23. ^ Faisal, Muhammad (1 December 2020). "Game Arknights Memenangkan Penghargaan dari Google Play Best of 2020!" [Arknights Game Wins Award from Google Play Best of 2020!]. Nawala Karsa (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Arknights Anime Shows Off New Trailer Ahead of October 28 Premiere". Crunchyroll News. 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
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