The Cube

I wanted the "Cube" to feel like a meaningful companion an item given to you at the start that gradually reveals its importance as you progress, helping to tell the game's story without using any dialogue.

• Teaching through interaction: Designed the puzzle to subtly introduce a core mechanic early on using the cube as a tool without relying on tutorials, allowing players to learn through action and deduction.

In this section, I wanted to convey the theme of trust encouraging the player to let go of the cube and have faith that it would help open the path forward. 

• Communicating theme through mechanics: Designed the section around the concept of trust, encouraging players to release the cube and believe it would assist in opening the path forward. This created an emotional interaction tied to both gameplay and theme.

• Non-verbal design challenge: Learned to convey intent and mechanics without dialogue or text, relying on camera angles, level geometry, and object behavior to guide player intuition and reinforce understanding.

In this room, I wanted to convey the idea that no matter which path the player takes, both lead to the same outcome. 

• Rewarding curiosity: Through playtesting, learned how critical it was to keep both paths visually balanced. If one side was too different, players assumed they missed something important, breaking the flow. By rewarding exploration without disrupting the player's sense of direction, the design reinforced the joy of discovery and puzzle-solving.

• Parallel design and balance: Ensured both sides were nearly identical to avoid confusion and unnecessary frustration. This balance helped maintain the illusion of choice while guiding the player through the intended progression.