OpenAI 2026 hackathon

Esperanza Game

Esperanza is a solo developed ARPG. Grow and level infinitely as the demon swarm grows around you. Fight your way through the story to reach the ultimate end.

Solo project by Semyon Karaman · 0 likes · 0 comments

Archive position — measured, not model output

0 likes on Devpost

2,264 of the 7,856 archived projects have more likes, and 5,592 share exactly 0 — so this project's #3,970 place in the like-ranked listing is a tie-break inside that group, not a ranking.

Projects (log scale)

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Likes on Devpost. ▲ marks this project's group.

Show the figures
LikesProjectsShare of archive
05,59271.2%
11,75822.4%
22853.6%
3–41321.7%
5–9751.0%
10+140.2%
Devpost like counts for all 7,856 archived projects, captured when this archive was built.

Executive Summary

**The company appears to be a solo-developed ARPG project named Esperanza Game, submitted as part of the OpenAI 2026 hackathon.** The description states it is an action RPG with infinite leveling, set in a demon-swarm environment. It was built using Unity and C#, with development history spanning from iPad-based Lua prototyping to current Unity 6.5. There is no evidence of revenue, customers, or traction beyond the author’s own account.

What changed

The project evolved from a prototype on iPad (Lua) to a full Unity implementation, with improvements in content delivery and animation workflows.

The single most important open question

Is there any indication that Esperanza Game has moved beyond the prototype stage into a playable or distributable product, or whether it remains an experimental or educational effort?

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What The Product Actually Is

The description states:

  • Esperanza Game is an ARPG (Action Role Playing Game).
  • It involves fighting monsters and leveling up.
  • It is solo-developed by Semyon Karaman.
  • Built with Unity 6.5, C#, and Visual Studio Code.

Inference The product is a video game in development, likely for PC or mobile platforms, based on the tools and genre described.

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Positioning & Claim Evolution

The description states:

  • Tagline: “Esperanza is a solo developed ARPG. Grow and level infinitely as the demon swarm grows around you. Fight your way through the story to reach the ultimate end.”
  • Inspiration sources: Diablo, Dragonball Z, Tekken.

Inference The positioning appears to be a fan-made or indie-style action RPG with a focus on progression, combat, and narrative. It is not described as a commercial product but rather an experimental or educational effort.

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Target Customer & ICP

The description states:

  • No explicit customer base or target audience is defined.
  • The game is solo-developed by one person (Semyon Karaman).
  • It was submitted to a hackathon, suggesting it may be intended for demonstration or learning purposes.

Not evidenced No information on who the end-user or customer would be, nor whether there’s an identified ICP beyond the developer's own use.

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Business Model & Pricing Evidence

The description states:

  • No business model is described.
  • No pricing strategy or monetization plan is mentioned.
  • The project was submitted to a hackathon and not described as a commercial product.

Inference There is no evidence of any revenue-generating mechanism, pricing, or monetization strategy.

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Technical & Delivery Signals

The description states:

  • Built with Unity 6.5, C#, Visual Studio Code.
  • Started with Lua on iPad, then migrated to Unity 5 and now 6.5.
  • Used Addressables and content packing strategies.
  • Character outfits and animations were implemented.

Inference The project shows technical evolution and some familiarity with game development tools and workflows. However, no evidence of delivery or distribution is provided.

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Traction & Maturity Signals

The description states:

  • The game was built as a hackathon submission.
  • Accomplishments include getting the game working in build mode.
  • No mention of user feedback, sales, or public release.

Not evidenced No traction, adoption, or maturity beyond prototype stage is described.

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Competitive Context

The description states:

  • Inspired by Diablo, Dragonball Z, Tekken — all established franchises in action RPGs and fighting games.
  • No mention of competitors or market positioning beyond genre similarity.

Inference The project appears to be in the same genre as existing commercial products but is not described as competing with them or having a unique differentiator.

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Key Risks & Red Flags

The description states:

  • Solo development by one person.
  • Submitted to a hackathon — suggesting experimental or educational nature.
  • No evidence of revenue, customers, or distribution.
  • No mention of monetization or long-term viability.

Inference The project is likely in early development and not yet a commercial product. Risks include lack of resources for full development, unclear market fit, and no evidence of traction or scalability.

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Diligence Questions To Ask The Founders

  1. Is Esperanza Game intended to be a commercial product or an experimental project?
  2. What is the current state of gameplay, and has it been tested by others?
  3. Are there any plans for monetization or distribution beyond the hackathon submission?
  4. How does the solo development model affect long-term sustainability and feature delivery?
  5. Has the game been released publicly or made available to players outside of the hackathon?

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Investment/Partnership Verdict

The description states:

  • No evidence of revenue, customers, or traction.
  • The project is described as a solo-developed hackathon submission.
  • It is not presented as a commercial product or venture.

Not evidenced No basis for investment or partnership consideration exists in the self-reported description. The project appears to be an experimental or educational effort with no demonstrated commercial viability or market readiness.

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Source

Submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon on Devpost. Project home on DevPost.

The analysis above was generated by a language model from the project's own one-line description. It is not independent research and contains no verified traction, revenue or customer data.