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Crime and Wanted System
April 19, 2026 at 03:36 PM
Link cleanup after slug rename (2026-04-19)
The crime and wanted system in Neverness to Everness governs the consequences of illegal activities within Hethereau. Players who commit crimes such as attacking passers-by, stealing vehicles, damaging property, or driving dangerously draw the attention of law enforcement. The system adds a layer of open-world freedom and consequences to the supernatural urban setting, drawing clear inspiration from the Grand Theft Auto series while adding its own twists through prison mini-games and breakout mechanics.
Several actions raise the player's wanted level. The system tracks cumulative criminal behavior, so a string of offenses escalates the response faster than a single incident.
Crime | Description |
|---|---|
Attacking civilians | Striking or slashing NPCs on the street with melee weapons or abilities. NPCs cannot be killed; they will dodge or flee when attacked. |
Running over pedestrians | Hitting NPCs with a vehicle while driving recklessly through pedestrian areas. |
Vehicle theft | Forcibly requisitioning a vehicle from an NPC. Players can also flash their badge for a peaceful requisition, but if the NPC refuses and the player takes the vehicle by force, it counts as theft. |
Stealing from shops | Taking items from shops without paying triggers an immediate wanted response. |
Property damage | Destroying public or private property, including street furniture, storefronts, and other objects. |
Vehicle destruction | Blowing up or severely damaging vehicles in the city. |
Dangerous driving | Speeding through pedestrian areas and causing repeated collisions. |
Notably, NPCs in Hethereau cannot be killed. They always dodge, flee, or simply recover from attacks. This keeps the tone lighter than more realistic crime sandboxes while still letting players cause plenty of chaos.
The wanted system uses a star-based rating that escalates based on the severity and frequency of criminal acts. Each star level brings a more aggressive law enforcement response.
The star-based system functions similarly to the wanted levels in Grand Theft Auto, providing a familiar framework for players. At one star, law enforcement treats the situation casually with a single patrol car giving chase. By two stars, multiple units converge and actively try to box in the player's vehicle. At three stars, the response shifts dramatically: police open fire, and aerial drones deploy overhead to drop bombs on the player's position. Each escalation makes escape noticeably harder, turning a casual police pursuit into an intense action sequence. The progression incentivizes players to think carefully about whether committing additional crimes during a chase is worth the compounding heat.
Level | Response | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
1 Star | Local police begin a low-priority pursuit. A single patrol car may follow the player. | Easy to evade by driving away or ducking into an alley. |
2 Stars | Additional police units join the chase. Cop cars will actively ram and box in the player's vehicle. | Requires more deliberate evasion, such as switching vehicles or using side streets. |
3 Stars | Serious enforcement forces deploy. Police open fire and aerial drones appear overhead, targeting the player with bombs. | Very difficult to escape. Players need to break line of sight and hide. |
Wanted levels decay over time if the player avoids committing further crimes. Staying out of sight and driving calmly for a stretch will gradually reduce the star count back to zero.
During an active pursuit, police vehicles will spawn nearby and give chase. At lower wanted levels, a single patrol car may tail the player and attempt to pull alongside. At higher levels, multiple units converge from different directions, and police will shoot at the player's vehicle.
At three stars, aerial drones join the pursuit. These drones hover above the player and drop targeted bombs, making it much harder to simply outrun ground units. The combination of ground vehicles and aerial drones forces players to think creatively about escape routes, using tunnels, bridges, and narrow alleys where drones have limited tracking ability.
Players can also use their character's combat abilities during chases, though fighting the police head-on at high wanted levels is extremely risky. The most reliable escape method is breaking line of sight and finding a hiding spot until the search radius expires.
Police chases become increasingly intense as the wanted level climbs. At lower levels, a single squad car on your tail is manageable with basic driving skills. At higher levels, the pursuit becomes a coordinated effort with multiple vehicles approaching from intersections ahead while drones track you from above. The escalation is designed to feel cinematic, rewarding skilled drivers who can weave through traffic and use the city's layout to their advantage while punishing reckless behavior with overwhelming force.
If law enforcement successfully defeats or corners the player, the character is arrested and sent to the detention center. Upon arrival, the player character changes into a prison robe and must spend several in-game days behind bars. The length of the sentence scales with the severity of the crimes committed before capture.
Players have two paths forward once detained: serve the sentence through prison activities, or attempt a breakout.
Once at the Detention Center, players are not simply left to wait out a timer. The facility is a fully interactive environment with its own daily schedule. Players can choose to pay a fine for immediate release, perform work assignments to reduce their sentence length, visit the dining room during meal times, or attempt a daring escape by stealing a spoon and digging a tunnel. The variety of options means that getting caught is not a dead end; it opens up a distinct slice of gameplay within the larger open-world experience.
The detention center is not just a time-out screen. It features a full set of interactive activities and mini-games that players can engage with while serving their sentence.
Activity | Description |
|---|---|
Wall cleaning | Scrub dirt and grime off prison walls in a cleaning mini-game reminiscent of PowerWash Simulator. Players aim a cleaning tool and scrub surfaces until they are spotless. |
Dining hall | Visit the prison dining room for meals at scheduled times. Part of the daily prison routine. |
Prisoner trading | Trade items with other inmates. Useful for acquiring tools or resources needed for escape planning. |
Medical visits | Visit the prison doctor. Can be part of the daily routine or used strategically during escape attempts. |
Debt repayment | Work off the financial penalty associated with crimes through assigned labor tasks. |
For players who prefer action over patience, the detention center offers a breakout path. The escape involves stealing a spoon from the dining hall and using it to dig a tunnel out of the facility. The digging process spans multiple in-game days and requires the player to avoid detection by guards during each attempt.
Getting caught mid-escape resets progress and may extend the sentence. Successful breakouts are rewarded with immediate freedom, though the player re-enters Hethereau with their wanted level cleared. The breakout sequence has been highlighted by the community as one of the more entertaining side activities in the game, adding a stealth-puzzle element to the open-world experience.
Players who want to skip the prison experience entirely can pay bail for immediate release. Bail costs a hefty sum of in-game currency, scaling with the severity of the original offense. While expensive, it is the fastest way to return to the open world. Players who choose bail still lose the money but avoid spending any time behind bars.
Wanted levels decay over time. If you accidentally trigger a low-level pursuit, simply drive calmly and stay out of sight to let it cool down.
The vehicle requisition badge flash is the safest way to take an NPC's car without triggering a wanted response. Only force-take vehicles if the NPC refuses your badge.
Prison breakout attempts are entertaining stealth puzzles, but bail is faster if you need to get back to a quest or event on a deadline.
Some City Commissions put the player on the law enforcement side, investigating crimes rather than committing them.
At three stars, watch the sky. Drone bombs deal heavy damage and can destroy your vehicle quickly. Head for covered areas like tunnels or parking garages.
Avoid committing crimes near quest NPCs or event locations. An accidental wanted level mid-quest can be very inconvenient.
