Reverse: 1999

Reverse: 1999
Created byBluepoch
Video game
Reverse: 1999
DeveloperBluepoch
PublisherBluepoch
GenreRole-playing, turn-based tactics
PlatformiOS
Android
Windows
HarmonyOS
Released
  • CN: May 31, 2023
  • WW: October 26, 2023
Original net animation
1999! Arcane Incident Department
Released August 2, 2026 – present
Episodes5
Reverse: 1999
Traditional Chinese重返未來：1999
Simplified Chinese重返未来：1999
Literal meaningReturn to the Future: 1999
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChóngfǎn Wèilái: Yījiǔjiǔjiǔ
Chinese version logo

Reverse: 1999[a] is a turn-based tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Bluepoch.[1] The game has been available in Mainland China since May 31, 2023[2] and was released globally on October 26, 2023.

Story

The game takes place in an alternate history where humans exist alongside Arcanists, a race of individuals with magical abilities.[3][4] On the last day of the year 1999, a mysterious phenomenon known as the "Storm" began to rewind time to eras across the 20th Century.[3][5] The story depicts the conflict between two factions: the St. Pavlov Foundation, an organization of (mostly) Humans and Arcanists dedicated to serving humanity and attempting to end the Storm, and Manus Vindictae, an Arcanist-supremacist group that acts as the story's antagonist faction.[3][6]

The protagonist is Vertin, an arcanist called the Timekeeper.[3] She is a member of the St. Pavlov Foundation and the only person known to be naturally immune to the Storm's effects. Vertin is tasked with investigating the Storm to discover ways of stopping it.[3]

Gameplay

A battle in Reverse: 1999 showcasing its turn-based combat system with card-based gameplay

Reverse: 1999 is a strategy role-playing video game with turn-based battles and combat designed around card-shuffling mechanics.[3][7] Players select up to four Arcanists that they own to take into battle with them. The Arcanists each have unique passive skills, two Incantation cards, and one Ultimate card that they can use in battle. In addition, players can equip and build each Arcanist with a "Psychube" for additional benefits or upgrade their "Resonance" to improve certain statistics.[8][9]

Once in battle, the player will start with a hand of 7–8 Incantation cards to choose from, and can play as many cards in a turn as there are active friendly Arcanists on the field. Once their turn is done and both sides have played their cards, the player gains extra cards at random from their Arcanists' combined deck. Each card ranges from one to three star-level, and players can upgrade incantations by merging the same cards together, increasing the damage they do, the amount of "Moxie" the respective Arcanist gains from their use, and sometimes unlocking extra effects.[10][11] When a character gains enough Moxie, they will automatically be granted an opportunity to unleash their Ultimate skill. This applies to enemy units as well.

Outside of combat, players have a chance to build their own "Wilderness," an island within Vertin's suitcase made up of hexagonal pieces taken from various sets. Here, players can gain a small amount of free base level-up resources, as well as customize the Wilderness to their liking, limited only by the sets that they have unlocked for placement and a certain maximum number of tiles.

Development

The game's first beta test began on January 7, 2022, and the second began on June 10, 2022.[12] On March 23, 2023, Reverse: 1999 was granted an ISBN, which means a permission for its official release in mainland China. The game started a third beta test on April 14[13] before officially released in China on May 31, 2023. The Official Global Reveal Trailer was released on July 21, 2023.[14] The global version beta test ran from August 4 to 13, 2023, and the game rolled out fully on October 26, 2023.[15]

Reception

Reverse: 1999 has received generally favorable reviews and has been praised for its voice acting, character design, and artstyle.[3][7][11][16] The game's story has been criticized for being awkward and complicated;[7] reviewing the game's beta, Pocket Tactics said "the way it presents its story is absolutely baffling".[11]

On October 17, 2023, Reverse: 1999 surpassed 1 million pre-registrations prior to its global release.[17][18]

In the first month after its global launch, Reverse: 1999 earned approximately $4.5 million USD in net revenue.[19] One year after its global launch, Reverse: 1999 had earned $98.7 million USD in gross mobile revenue.[20]

Accolades

Year Award Category Results References
2023 Weibo Game Awards Weibo Annual Outstanding New Game Won [21]
TapTap Annual Game Awards Professional Category Best Visual Award Won [21]
"The One in My Heart" Award (Character "Druvis III") Won
2024 GMA Global Music Awards Pop Music Bronze Award
(Winning Song: "Symbiosis")		 Won [22]
Bronze Award for Game Music
(Winning song: "Unexpected Storm")		 Won

Other media

Anime

On April 18, 2026, an anime series titled: "1999! Arcane Incident Department" was announced to be in production by the game's official social media accounts.[23] It was set to premiere on August 2.[24] Both episode 1 and 2 were released a day early on August 1, 2026 at 9:00 pm UTC.[25]

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Me? Department Head?!"
August 1, 2026 (2026-08-01)
Marcus is kidnapped by Medicine Pocket and taken deep into the bowels of the Laplace Scientific Computing Center, past several different Arcanists. Upon their arrival in a conference room, Lucy informs Marcus that she has been invited to become the head of the LSCC's new Arcane Incident Department.
2"Eccentricity Investigation!"
August 1, 2026 (2026-08-01)
Marcus first task from Lucy is to take a special crystal ball and convince others to touch it to record their behavioral logic data. After accidentally knocking down Medicine Pocket, Marcus runs away from them while the crystal ball takes its own journey through the LSCC, inadvertently helping Marcus complete her job.
3"yretsyM ssalgruoH ehT"
August 8, 2026 (2026-08-08)
Marcus, Vertin, and Sonnetto are attempting to contain an arcane hourglass, but the hourglass is able to change the laws of physics around itself, making it difficult to contain, even with the team's arcane skills.
4"A Resignation Letter to Lucy, Lucy, and...Lucy?!"
August 15, 2026 (2026-08-15)
Marcus attempts to hand in her resignation letter to Lucy, only to find several robotic clones of her throughout the LSCC going haywire. After accidentally setting off a chain of explosions, Marcus learns from the real Lucy why she was chosen for her current role.
5"HEY! YOU! TURN IT! OFF!!"
August 22, 2026 (2026-08-22)
Regulus opens a box containing a platinum record, only to find that the record itself has become a sentient Awakened object and tore through the bottom of the box. The record leads her on a chase through the LSCC as she tries to recover both the record and the valuables it stole.

Notes

  1. ↑ Chinese: 重返未来：1999; pinyin: Chóngfǎn Wèilái: Yījiǔjiǔjiǔ; lit. 'Return to the Future: 1999'

References

  1. ↑ 浔阳 (January 10, 2022). 《重返未来：1999》首测开启，它能否搅动二次元手游格局？. GameRes游资网. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. ↑ 《重返未来：1999》官方网站-深蓝互动. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shigeta, Yuichi (October 26, 2023). "Taimu toraberu RPG 'Ribāsu: 1999' wa sekai kyōkō nado riaru to karameta settei ga miryoku gen bājon sai shūshō made yaru to ikkini hamaru!" タイムトラベルRPG『リバース：1999』は世界恐慌などリアルと絡めた設定が魅力 現バージョン最終章までやると一気にハマる！ [The time-travel RPG 'Reverse: 1999' captivates players with its setting that depicts real-world events like the great depression; once you play the final chapter of the current version, you'll be hooked!]. IGN (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ Torres, Josh (October 20, 2023). "Reverse: 1999 interview – crafting a mind-bending time traveling tale with eye-catching character designs". RPG Site. Archived from the original on November 9, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ Xunyang (January 10, 2022). "'Chóngfǎn Wèilái: 1999' shǒucè kāiqǐ, tā néngfǒu jiǎodòng èrcìyuán shǒuyóu géjú?" 《重返未来：1999》首测开启，它能否搅动二次元手游格局？ [Reverse: 1999 begins first beta test: can it shake up the ACG mobile game space?]. GameRes (in Chinese). Archived from the original on February 3, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ Schpasm (August 11, 2023). "Reverse 1999 CBT preview – time not lost on this promising RPG". QooApp. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Dellosa, Catherine (October 26, 2023). "Reverse: 1999 review – 'fantastic combat system and unique premise (the writing fails to stick the landing, though)'". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ Acharya, Nidesh (January 5, 2024). "Is Reverse:1999 Worth Playing in 2024?". sportskeeda.
  9. ↑ Sora (October 29, 2023). "Character Development & Elements • Reverse: 1999". dot.gg. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Introduction to the game | Reverse: 1999 | Prydwen Institute". www.prydwen.gg. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Johnson, Ben (August 15, 2023). "Reverse: 1999 is absolutely baffling". Pocket Tactics. Archived from the original on October 7, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ 《重返未来1999》即将开启二测. view.inews.qq.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  13. ↑ 《重返未来：1999》三测PV 招募开启 中配实装！. Bilibili. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ Official Reveal Trailer | Reverse: 1999. July 20, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Reverse: 1999 | Off to the Next Era". re1999.bluepoch.com (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ GameLook (May 25, 2022). "Yùyuē yònghù dá 150 wàn, 'chóng fǎn wèilái:1999' dàodǐ shì kuǎn zěnyàng de èr cìyuán?" 预约用户达150万，《重返未来:1999》到底是款怎样的二次元？ [With 1.5 million pre-registrations, what kind of anime-style game is Reverse: 1999?]. GameLook (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ Qoo, Mr (October 17, 2023). "Reverse: 1999 reaches 1M pre-registrations, introducing engineering wunderkind X and his debut trailer". Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ Kiwami, Soul (October 17, 2023). "Reverse: 1999 Surpasses One Million Pre-Registrations". Final Weapon. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ Astle, Aaron (November 27, 2023). "Bluepoch's debut time travel game Reverse: 1999 reaches $15 million". www.pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ Astle, Aaron (October 29, 2024). "Reverse: 1999 celebrates first anniversary in the West with $100m on the horizon". www.pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  21. 1 2 2023微博游戏大赏圆满落幕，原神、蛋仔派对等获评年度卓越热游 (in Chinese). January 13, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Reverse: 1999 wins two awards in the Global Music Awards 2024". GamingonPhone. March 31, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Reverse: 1999's First Ever Animated Series "1999! Arcane Incident Department" Now in Production!". X. April 18, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Reverse: 1999 | Collab Version Coming Jul.23rd (@Reverse1999_GL) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  25. ↑ "1999! Arcane Incident Department Animation is NOW LIVE!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved August 7, 2026.
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