Anomaly Division
Shelter 14
A first-person VR anomaly detection experience. Serve as a temporal investigator for the Global Anomaly Division and identify what doesn't belong before timeline incoherence overwhelms you.
The Premise
The year is 2047. A catastrophic temporal event, known as The Fracture, has been traced backward through time. The Global Anomaly Division (G.A.D) has identified nexus points where reality has become unstable.
Shelter 14 is one such nexus. Something happened here that contributed to The Fracture. Your job: enter timeline threads, identify what doesn't belong, and report your findings.
Unlike simple detection games, you must identify the specific category of each anomaly using your wrist-mounted Temporal Analysis Device (T.A.D.).
🔄 Core Loop
- 1Enter a timeline thread through the airlock
- 2Explore the shelter rooms for 3-5 minutes
- 3Log detected anomaly types using your T.A.D.
- 4Optionally fix certain anomalies to reduce incoherence
- 5Exit through the door to submit findings
- 6Receive feedback; incoherence adjusts accordingly
The Setting
Shelter 14
A near-future underground fallout shelter with Cold War bunker aesthetics mixed with near-future technology. The retrofuturism creates an atmosphere of unease and temporal displacement.
Shelter Rooms
- ▸Living Quarters - Personal spaces frozen in time
- ▸Medical Bay - Equipment that shouldn't exist yet
- ▸Storage Areas - Supplies with impossible labels
- ▸Control Room - Monitors showing wrong data
- ▸Common Spaces - Signs of inhabitants long gone
Anthology Series
Anomaly Division is designed as an anthology series. Each game features a new location, time period, and self-contained mystery while contributing to the larger Fracture narrative.
Shelter 14 establishes the core mechanics and world. Future installments will explore different eras and settings while maintaining mechanical consistency.
"Every location is a nexus point. Every timeline thread tells a story. Piece together the truth before The Fracture consumes everything."
Anomaly Classification
Master the anomaly classification system. Identifying the correct type of anomaly is essential - simply noticing something is wrong isn't enough.
Auditory
Wrong sounds, missing sounds, temporal audio loops, impossible acoustics
- •Radio playing wrong decade
- •Footsteps in empty rooms
- •Echoes that don't match
Electrical
Light anomalies, device malfunctions, power fluctuations, static interference
- •Lights flickering in patterns
- •Devices powered on/off incorrectly
- •Static showing wrong images
Entity
Beings that should not exist: shadows, doppelgangers, temporal echoes
- •Shadow in peripheral vision
- •Reflection showing someone behind you
- •Your own temporal echo
Item Anomalies
Objects missing, duplicated, altered, or displaced from their proper state
- •Missing fire extinguisher
- •Two identical clocks
- •Poster text changed
- •Ceiling fan on floor
Structural
Architecture changes: wrong doors, walls, windows, room geometry
- •Door where wall should be
- •Window showing impossible view
- •Room layout mirrored
Temporal
Time-specific anomalies: wrong times, anachronistic objects, decay states
- •Clocks showing wrong times
- •Technology from wrong era
- •Newspaper with future date
Equipment
Shelter-specific anomalies detected by Geiger counter and other tools
- •Geiger counter spiking in clean zone
- •Radiation burns in sealed areas
Environmental
Sudden fog, mist, dust, dampness appearing or disappearing unexpectedly
- •Puddles in dry areas
- •Smoke with no source
- •Sudden temperature shifts
Semiotic
Signage text changes, numbers incrementing incorrectly, misplaced symbols
- •Signs changing language
- •Numbers counting wrong
- •Symbols where they shouldn't be
Physics
Objects floating, jittering, or sliding. Gravity inconsistencies, unnatural movement
- •Objects subtly floating
- •Doors swinging unnaturally
- •Items reacting without touch
Difficulty Scaling
Anomalies range from obvious to extremely subtle. Difficulty ramps as you progress through the investigation.
Obvious
Immediately noticeable, impossible to miss
"Entity walking toward you"
Moderate
Visible with normal observation
"Poster text changed"
Subtle
Requires careful inspection
"Object rotated slightly"
Hidden
Requires tools or specific actions
"Radiation anomaly"
Progression Scaling
- →Anomalies become more subtle over time
- →More anomaly types appear per loop (up to 4)
- →Dangerous entity anomalies become more frequent
- →New tools become necessary for hidden anomalies
Your Equipment
⌚ T.A.D.
Temporal Analysis Device
Your wrist-mounted computer serves as the primary interface. All UI is diegetic - no floating HUD elements. T.A.D. is also your AI companion with a lighthearted personality that contrasts with the game's tense atmosphere.
- ✓Anomaly Log - Tap category icons to toggle detection
- ✓Incoherence Meter - Track timeline stability
- ✓Loop Counter - Monitor investigation progress
- ✓Tool Selector - Access detection equipment
- ✓Hint System - Get clues about missed anomalies
- ✓Progression - Track total anomalies found across all games
Detection Tools
Geiger Counter
Measures radiation levels in the environment. Essential for detecting radiation anomalies in unexpected areas.
Audio Analyzer
Visualizes ambient sound frequencies. Reveals subtle audio anomalies and frequency shifts invisible to the naked ear.
EMF Meter
Detects electromagnetic field disturbances. Useful for identifying entity presence and electrical anomalies.
For replayability, each new game starts you with a random tool. Master them all to become an expert investigator.
T.A.D. Personality
Your AI companion comes with unlockable voice personalities. Complete the game to access additional voices.
Standard
Professional and informative
Casual
Friendly and conversational
Seductive
🔒 LockedSmooth and mysterious
Heavy Metal
🔒 LockedDelivered with guitar riffs
Timeline Incoherence
A forgiving failure system that maintains tension without instant punishment. Learn from mistakes while preventing brute-force solutions.
Missed Anomaly
Each anomaly can be missed up to three times before triggering timeline reset
False Positive
Logging an anomaly type that isn't present increases incoherence
Timeline Reset
When incoherence maxes out, you return to room one with a fresh start
Three-Strike System
After three misses, a timeline reset occurs. This allows you to learn from mistakes without instant punishment, while preventing indefinite brute-forcing.
On reset, T.A.D. provides hints about missed anomalies: "I thought that poster in the hallway looked funny."
VR Design
Physics-Based Interaction
Full arm and hand presence with realistic object interaction. Grab, pull, and manipulate objects naturally.
Natural Interactions
Door handles, drawers, and switches use physics-based interaction. No button prompts - just reach and interact.
Haptic Feedback
Feel interactions and anomaly proximity through controller haptics. Your hands tell you when something is wrong.
Diegetic UI
All interface elements exist within the game world. Raise your wrist to view T.A.D. - no floating menus.
Locomotion Options
Smooth Movement
Joystick-based continuous movement
Teleport
Point-and-click instant movement with fade
Room-Scale
Physical walking within play space
Snap/Smooth Turn
Configurable rotation preferences
Comfort & Accessibility
Seated Play
Full support with height calibration
Vignette Option
Reduce motion sickness during smooth locomotion
No Forced Camera
No camera movements or shake effects
Reality Warp Toggle
Disable reality-warping anomalies in options
Colorblind Modes
Accessible visual options for all players
Adjustable Height
Play standing or sitting comfortably
Technical Targets
📱 Quest Standalone
- Framerate72/90 Hz stable
- ResolutionNative device
- Load Time< 15 seconds
- App Size< 2 GB
🖥️ PCVR
- Framerate90/120 Hz
- ResolutionPer-device optimal
- Load Time< 10 seconds
- App Size< 4 GB
Genre Influences
Inspired by the best in the genre, with unique twists that set Anomaly Division apart.
Game
Exit 8
Influence
Loop structure, anomaly detection core
Our Twist
Typed detection, no binary forward/back
Game
I'm on Observation Duty
Influence
Anomaly categories, camera-based detection
Our Twist
First-person VR, physical presence
Game
Phasmophobia
Influence
Tool-based detection, evidence gathering
Our Twist
Solo focus, anomaly logging vs ghost ID
Game
SCP: Containment Breach
Influence
Anomaly theming, facility setting
Our Twist
Investigation focus, not survival horror
Coming to VR
Anomaly Division: Shelter 14 is in development for Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, and PCVR via Steam/Quest Link.