Play as Amka, a curious and friendly child from the far-north tribes. Try to stay warm as you explore and find a way out of the mysterious ancestral crystal caves.

Genre: Puzzle, Adventure
Engine: Dreams
Platform: Playstation

Link: https://indreams.me/dream/mWcygMZoxos

Role(s) and responsibilities:
Game Design

Designed the game's mechanics and systems (movement, progression, dangers and puzzles.)

Level Design

Designed the gameplay space and level;

Game Art

3d Object Prefabs for the Environment;
Character Design and modeling.

Documentation and Research.

Play Testing

Amka- Stay Warm (In development)

Game Design:

Considering that the game is set on a icy cold environment, and the goal being surviving this dangerous climate, I started by coming up with this System Dynamic over the elements in game.

The main obstacle is a "Sheer Cold" Mechanic (inspired by Genshin Impact), which stars to deplete if the player is away from any active heat source. Once it runs out the player dies and is sent to the closet checkpoint.

So as listed the available Heat Sources are lamps, torches, fireplaces (and light beams).

Torches are transportable but will be put out after some time if not replenished by other Fire sources. Checkpoints are also created if a campfire is lit.

This being said, there are running waters and dripping ceilings that will put out any of the Fire sources as the player passes by.

With this system in mind, the player should be aware of their distance towards the next Heat Source, as they progress through the levels, even when encountering Puzzles.

Level Design:

The Level Progression is mostly linear.

It starts off by introducing the Sheer Cold

Mechanic, and teaching the player that

being close to Fire will keep them safe.

Then it forces them to adventure further

with reasonable safety to the next heat

source.

Then finally it teaches the player that if

their torch is put off they are no longer

safe.

After this, the Puzzles are introduced,