Hapunan is a narrative horror game that focuses on the daily life and struggles of Niko, a small vendor who finds himself caught between personal survival and larger community issues. The story begins with a simple objective of obtaining a permit for his business but gradually develops into a more complex journey involving hidden truths and unusual encounters. The game uses exploration and dialogue to reveal events, allowing the player to shape the direction of the story through specific actions.
Gameplay And Systems
The structure of Hapunan is based on first-person exploration where the player can move around the environment, interact with characters, and collect items that advance the narrative. Movement is handled with WASD controls, while interactions are managed through mouse input. The gameplay alternates between searching for clues, solving small puzzles, and engaging in conversations with community members. Each activity contributes to the unfolding story, and the order in which tasks are completed can change how the plot develops.
Main Objectives And Choices
At the center of Hapunan is the balance between survival tasks and investigative work. The player must keep Niko’s livelihood going while also addressing the pressure of uncovering information about the local leadership. These dual responsibilities create a constant need to decide what to prioritize.
Typical objectives include:
· Selling goods to maintain financial stability
· Collecting permits and papers from the local office
· Investigating the actions of the Barangay Captain
· Entering restricted spaces to uncover hidden evidence
· Managing dialogue choices that affect how others treat Niko
Setting And Cultural Elements
The environment of Hapunan reflects aspects of Filipino village life, with narrow streets, modest houses, and community structures that form the backdrop of the story. Local culture is integrated into the mechanics through the work Niko does, the items he sells, and the figures he interacts with. The narrative introduces themes of governance, family obligations, and social order, which are gradually connected to darker layers of the plot. The mixture of routine and uncertainty makes the player pay close attention to every decision made along the way.
Hapunan concludes its experience by emphasizing the impact of choice. Different paths lead to different outcomes, and not all of them provide closure. The branching design encourages multiple playthroughs, as replaying can uncover events or consequences missed the first time. By combining everyday struggles with hidden dangers and decisions that matter, the game creates a form of interactive storytelling where the player’s actions directly determine the conclusion.
