Burning Gnome

Burning Gnome is a surreal, open-world survival RPG set in a shimmering desert where the laws of physics, magic, and sanity melt under a burning sun. Inspired by the real-world chaos and beauty of the Burning Man festival, it reimagines the event as a post-apocalyptic myth where tribes of gnomes gather once a year to resurrect their civilization through art, ritual, and fire. At the center of the endless sands rises The Burning Gnome, a colossal effigy that burns at the end of each cycle.

Gameplay: Survival is as social as it is mystical. The desert demands water, shade, and cooperation. But beneath the mirages lie hidden truths—temporal rifts, sentient sculptures, and tents that open into impossible interior realms. Step into a humble canvas shelter and find yourself in a cathedral of light or a labyrinth of mirrors. Players can join or found Tribes, each embodying an aspect of gnome culture—Artificers, Pyromancers, Dreamweavers, and Nomads—each with their own rituals and technologies. Tribes build Art Installations that channel elemental forces, turning survival camps into magical outposts that attract allies or awaken ancient entities buried in the dust. Magic here is not learned from books but built: sculpted into structures, woven into sound, and burned into offerings. Every spell consumes part of the desert’s limited resources—and every creation risks summoning something that remembers the first fire. At dusk, storms of glass sweep across the horizon. At night, the stars rearrange themselves into constellations that whisper quests to those who listen. The world changes as the festival unfolds—what begins as a gathering becomes a spiritual test, where players must decide whether to preserve the flame, extinguish it, or become it.