You've probably heard and seen this term floating around somewhere on the internet, or seen many different kinds of books and comics set in this universe. Well, this is a basic info guide for those who's interest has been pique by this niche subgenre!
The omegaverse is an alternate universe trope that was created in (like most amazing tropes) in the fanfiction community. In this universe people are commonly categorised under three designations; Alpha, Beta or Omega. Alphas and Omegas are usually considered the minority because these designations are rare, while Betas are considered the majority.
Contrary to popular belief the omegaverse is NOT monster/PNR romance. Though some folks seem to think probably because we use similar terms to werewolf or shifter stories (alphas, omegas, heats, marking etc.) and so people sometimes (incorrectly) categorises omegaverse under monster/PNR romance, which it typically isn't.
Again, for those who aren't sure, the omegaverse is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE (meaning an alternate reality from ours) where all these terms and themes are regular and mundane phenomenon. They're not considered fantastical or otherworldly, neither does having the basics that makes an omegaverse story automatically y fantastical or otherworldly.
However, your omegaverse story CAN be considered monster or PNR if you're story ALSO includes fantastical elements along with the basics of an omegaverse. Like monsters (gargoyles, ghouls, giants etc.), shifting, magic, time travel and so on. If your omegaverse story doesn't include any fantastical or otherworldly elements that it doesn't fall under monster or PNR romance.
Every author and reader has their own take when it comes to the omegaverse, which is perfectly fine, but all omegaverse books does (and should) include the basics of the omegaverse, which are the different designations (which are commonly alphas, betas and omegas, though some authors include the delta, gamma and sigma designations in their omegaverse stories as well), an estrus cycle, commonly known as a heat (commonly for omegas) or rut (commonly for alphas), nesting (commonly for omegas) or denning (commonly for alphas), knots and locks (alpha males and females respectively), slick (omegas, whether male or female) and glands (which commonly only alphas and omegas have, though some omegaverse stories will have betas having glands as well, even if "less active" than an alpha or omega's gland).
Again, just because an omegaverse story will have the above mentioned terms and themes doesn't automatically make the omegaverse story a monster/PNR romance UNLESS your omegaverse story ALSO includes fantastical and otherworldly elements. Omegaverse does not equal shifter romance and vice versa. Shifter romance was a genre way before the omegaverse was thought up and it's still it's own genre way after the omegaverse world was created, even if they do have their similarities when it comes to the terms.
Some omegaverse stories will include mpreg (note, that mpreg is its own subgenre outside the omegaverse and a story having mpreg in it doesn't automatically make it an omegaverse story unless otherwise indicated) or girlpeens (again girlpeens or futas are their own subgenre outside of the omegaverse) or both. Some omegaverse stories will include scent matches or fated mates based on each other's pheromones.
Some omegaverse stories will have packs that also have their own rules on how they're formed and how they work. Some omegaverse stories will include auras (something that usually only alphas and omegas can see and manipulate. It all really depends how the author has fit the theme into their stories).
Some omegaverse stories will include heat/scent suppressants or blockers. Some omegaverse stories will include heat boosters or inducers. Some omegaverse stories will have gland removals or faux glands. Some omegaverse stories will have diseases and illnesses based around the harm or weakening of a gland (like pheromone imbalance, where either an omega/alpha are usually allergic to other designations' scents and so on).
Some omegaverse stories will have omegas (and alphas in some cases) having to wear collars to protect their glands. Some omegaverse stories will include acadmeies or institutes aimed at the education and discipline of alphas and omegas. Some omegaverse stories will include omegas living in compounds or communities until they're off age or married/mated off.
Again, every author and reader will have their own take on the omegaverse. Some will just have the basics of the omegaverse. Some will create their own subuniverses based on the omegaverse universe that has their own terms and rules when it comes to their universe.
As long as your omegaverse story follows the basics rules and guidelines of the omegaverse you can do whatever your heart desires with it.
Below I'll have a list of omegaverse books, comics and guides I've personally read (and enjoyed (mostly)) and recommend you guys checking out (if you'd like):
1. The Unofficial Omegaverse Field Guide by A. Ramsey
2. The Port Haven Omegaverse by Amy Nova and Lilith K. Duat
3. The Bond Dissolution Omegaveree by Eliana Lee
4. Switch Heater by K.L. Moore
5. Lola and the millionaires duology by Kathryn Moon
6. The Love in knot valley series by Briton Frost
7. Claim & Don't tell by Rory Miles
8. In stockings by Hannah Haze (though all her omegaverse books is worth checking out)
9. The rockstar's omega by Hannah Haze (again all Hannah's omegaverse books is worth checking out)
10. Gigi and the Gym rats by Mona Black
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