“They said someone was murdered in the lake last night…”
REVELATION 23 is an interactive mystery experience built with React, blending investigative storytelling with a simulated chat interface. It follows the story of a local medival cult folling in the footsteps of the orgional Rosicrucianism cult, the player then has to help the police to find a hidden chatroom, but are you sure that your help is as honest as it seems. Players uncover the truth behind a medieval ritualistic murder by observing a corrupted message feed between cult members and investigators. The story unfolds in real time — with randomised, fast message delays, accurate timestamps, and a distinctive, unsettling aesthetic that evokes early-2000s chat logs, complete with mini challenges woven throughout.
- Dynamic Chat Simulation — Realistic typing sequences with randomised short delays to create an immersive sense of “live” messaging.
- Authentic Timestamps — Each line displays a realistic, incrementing timestamp throughout the conversation.
- Modular Sequence Control — Message sets are defined in JSON-like structures, easily editable for new scenes or branches.
- Atmospheric Storytelling — The narrative unfolds purely through dialogue and digital traces — no exposition, only discovery.
- Genre: Psychological Horror / Mystery
- Perspective: Observer — you are monitoring a live data feed or private group chat.
- Goal: Piece together the truth behind a cult’s final conversation before the murder night.
- Player Interaction: Primarily observation, with multiple small challenges to complete in order to locate and access the chat room.
| Technology | Purpose |
|---|---|
| React | Frontend framework |
| Tailwind CSS | Styling and responsive layout |
| Next.js | Full-stack framework for deployment and routing |
-
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/PipMY/hack-notts.git cd hack-notts -
Install dependencies
npm install
-
Run the development server
npm run dev
Visit http://localhost:3000 (or your configured port) to view the game.
-
Build for production
npm run build npm start
You can adjust pacing, visuals, and message styling from these files:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
src/components/ChatSequence.jsx |
Controls timing, message flow, and message content |
src/components/Message.jsx |
Handles typing animation and timestamps |
src/index.css |
Tailwind configuration, background texture, and scrollbar |
src/assets/ |
Contains background images and audio (if used) |
| Chapter | Description |
|---|---|
| Prologue – The Newspaper | You are sent a newspaper, a woman has been murdered in the university lake, a new cult is presumed guilty for teh act after the findings of a medival ritual taking place on the banks. |
| Chapter 1 – The Cult News | You gain access to the cult news letter and read about the findings, something is wrong with the page though, could this lead deeper? |
| Chapter 2 – The Challenges | You then find that someone is watching? Then you might have to shake them off your track. Complete the challenges to find the chat room. |
| Chapter 3 – The Chat Room | The background darkens; messages become corrupted. The truth begins to surface. Maybe YOU are not who you seem... |
| Ending – Disconnect | All users vanish from the chat. You’re prompted to “join” the final transmission. You are now a part of REVELATION 23. |
src/
├── assets/
│ ├── grunge-paper-background.jpg
│ └── ...
├── components/
│ ├── chatroom.jsx
│ ├── cultnewspaper.jsx
│ ├── loading.jsx
│ └── ...
├── App.jsx
├── index.css
└── main.jsx
- Branching dialogue / multiple endings
- Subtle ambient audio and typing sounds
- Mobile layout optimisation
- Session save / “resume from last chat” feature
Created by: Pip Martin-Yates, Jom Joby, and Emily Ball Writing & Concept: Pip Martin-Yates, Jom Joby, and Emily Ball Design: Pip Martin-Yates, Jom Joby, and Emily Ball Programming: Pip Martin-Yates, Jom Joby, and Emily Ball
Special Thanks: To the incredible organisers and volunteers of HackNotts 2025 — thank you for providing the time, space, and inspiration to make this project possible.
This work is a piece of fiction inspired by online folklore and investigative storytelling. It contains dark themes and psychological horror elements. Viewer discretion is advised.