A puzzle game under the theme of "Duality"
Global Game Jam 2022
Gameplay
White Dot: Player token, can move straight to anywhere unblocked.
Black Dot: Shadow token, moves after the player centro-symmetrically. Eats the player if the shadow and the player are in the same row or column unblocked after a move.
Empty space: Walls that block.
Circle: Trap that can freeze the shadow for a number of turns. The number of concentric circles indicates turns left.
Win Condition: The player steps on the shadow when the shadow is caught in a trap.
Game Design, Puzzle Design and thoughts
We started the design with a primary rule of centrosymmetric movement. Then develop other rules to make it a playable game.
The puzzle was designed in a board game manner. Using coloured pieces of paper as the grid, walls and tokens. We played with them all evening, raising puzzles and challenging each other. Good puzzles were assessed to get a difficulty rating and then added to the game from easiest to hardest.
We wonder about the potential of utilising AI in generating and verification of those puzzles. Or some mathematical approach to determine solvable/unsolvable puzzles.