Doki-Doki Heartbeat Countdown
[ DESCRIPTION )
Narrative-based browser game exploring toxic relationships through horror and interactive storytelling.
[ CHALLENGE & DESIGN RATIONALE )
This browser-based horror game explores the complexities of emotional abuse, letting players step into the role of a friend observing a loved one’s toxic relationship. Through branching dialogues and genre-shifting mini-games, the experience reveals how hard it can be to recognize manipulation and emotional harm.
I led the visual and interface design for the entire game—excluding one pixel-style mini-game—and co-developed the narrative framework with the team. The game was co-developed with our engineering partners, who built the system using JavaScript and the P5.js framework. My designs focused on emotional pacing and clarity, evolving from romantic tones to disturbing shifts that supported the story and deepened player immersion.