The archipelago promise
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The Archipelago Promise
A first-person survival adventure where players explore a mysterious archipelago while uncovering the story of a missing researcher.
Responsible for designing and developing the Cave Island experience, including gameplay flow, player progression, environmental storytelling, resource placement, signposting systems, and level documentation.
Project Overview
The Archipelago Promise is a survival adventure where players explore interconnected islands while gathering resources and uncovering narrative clues. I was responsible for the design and implementation of Cave Island, a progression-focused level that introduced exploration challenges, environmental storytelling, and resource-based gameplay.
My responsabilities
Core Responsibilities
Level Design
Designed Cave Island from concept to implementation Created player progression routes Designed exploration challenges Developed environmental storytelling moments
Documentation
Produced level design documentation Created progression maps and flow diagrams Communicated requirements with team members
Gameplay Design
Resource placement Discovery moments Navigation systems Player guidance
Design Goals
Exploration & Discovery
Encourage curiosity and reward investigation.
Narrative
Story delivered through environmental clues and player discovery.
Gauges
Resources and survival systems create meaningful decision-making.
Leashing
Guide players without obvious restrictions.
Desgn pillar
Discovery
Reward curiosity with unique vistas and hidden lore fragments.
Narrative
Storytelling through environment rather than long cinematic pauses.
Gauges
Visible physical signs of health, temperature, and exhaustion.
Leashing
Soft boundaries created by terrain and climate constraints.
Game Progression
DISCOVER
TRANSVERSE
OVERCOME
RECOVER
HEAL
REPEAT
FREE SOUL
Signposting system
To help players navigate between islands, I designed a bird-based visual guidance system that subtly pointed players toward key destinations without relying on intrusive UI markers.
Navigation Through Environmental Cues
Show:
Bird VFX screenshot.
Then explain:
Why
Players were becoming disoriented while sailing.
Solution
Bird VFX naturally drew attention toward important locations.
Result
Improved readability while maintaining immersion.
Iterative Refinement
Initial Proposal (v1.2)
Problem: The cave had to be long enough to build up the narrative of finding the brother
Final Implementation (v2.0)
Solution: Intensive the emotion through environmental storytelling while communicating to the player they are getting closer to discovering the truth
Cave iterations videos
Cave iterations
Positive reactions from users in steam
The game was also publicly played and streamed, providing additional feedback regarding navigation and progression.
What worked
- ●Conducted internal playtests
- ●Collected feedback from peers
- ●Observed navigation issues
- ●Iterated on progression bottlenecks
- ●Refined level readability
Outcome
The final implementation combined exploration, narrative discovery, environmental storytelling, and resource management into a cohesive gameplay experience.
What I Learned Designing for player readability Balancing exploration and guidance Creating effective environmental storytelling Communicating design intent through documentation Iterating based on player feedback