What Are The Best Fan Theories About Onyx Tower?

one theory that sticks with me is the idea that the tower itself is a sentient entity. The way it shifts its architecture and reacts to characters' emotions feels too deliberate to be random. Some fans think it's testing them, pushing them to confront their deepest fears before granting access to its secrets. The recurring motif of mirrors in the tower also fuels speculation—maybe it’s a gateway to alternate realities where characters’ choices play out differently. The tower’s black stones absorbing light could symbolize it feeding off their struggles, which is why no one leaves unchanged.

Another wild but compelling theory is that the protagonist is already dead, and the tower is a purgatory-like space. The endless stairs, the eerie silence, and the way time distorts inside align with afterlife myths. The tower’s name, 'Onyx,' often linked to protection in folklore, might hint at it safeguarding souls until they’re ready to move on. It’s a bleak take, but the story’s ambiguity makes it plausible.

The 'Onyx Tower' theories are a rabbit hole I love diving into. One camp believes the tower is a metaphor for mental health struggles, with each floor representing a different psychological barrier. The higher you climb, the more fragmented reality becomes—echoing dissociation or depression. The tower’s lack of windows mirrors how isolation feels, and the occasional 'whispers' could be intrusive thoughts. It’s a poignant interpretation, especially given how characters like Liora seem to regress the deeper they go.

Then there’s the time-loop theory. Fans point to the recurring symbol of an hourglass in the tower’s murals and the way characters experience déjà vu. Some think the tower resets every 100 years, trapping a new group to repeat the same trials. This ties into the legend of the 'Crimson Scholar,' a figure mentioned in lore who supposedly escaped but left cryptic journals about 'breaking the cycle.' If true, it recontextualizes the ending—maybe the protagonist’s sacrifice wasn’t for nothing but a way to disrupt the loop.

Others argue the tower is a failed experiment by an ancient civilization, a prison for something far worse. The runes on the walls resemble alchemical symbols, and the tower’s foundation is said to pulse like a heartbeat. Could it be holding back a lovecraftian horror? The way the tower 'expands' when characters panic suggests it’s alive—or at least reactive. Either way, these theories make replaying the game or rereading the books even more thrilling.

the 'Onyx Tower' theories that fascinate me most revolve around its ties to creator mythology. The tower’s design mirrors inverted ziggurats from Mesopotamian lore, which were believed to connect heavens and earth. What if the tower is a remnant of a god’s attempt to reach mortals, abandoned because it drove humans mad? The 'voices' characters hear could be residual divine language. This aligns with the cultists’ obsession with 'ascension' in the story—they might be worshipping a dead deity.

Another angle is the tower as a collective subconscious. Characters encounter manifestations of each other’s memories inside, suggesting it’s a psychic space. The tower’s ever-changing layout reflects how memories distort over time. This theory explains why no two people experience it the same way. It’s less about physical climbing and more about confronting shared trauma. The final 'room' being empty except for a single mirror supports this—it forces you to face yourself, not some external truth.