Hello everyone! Let me introduce myself: I’m Dashton_game.
I’m writing this devlog to talk about a video game project I’ve had in mind for a long time, one I’ve only just actually started working on.
A bit about me: I’m basically just an average gamer. I don’t have much programming knowledge yet, and I have absolutely no skills when it comes to drawing or 3D modeling. I’d love to work in the video game industry as a Game & Narrative Designer, but I don’t really have a knack for the other aspects of development.
Because of this, there won’t be any 3D models or advanced visuals until I find a partner to work with. However, I’ll share the sketches and mood boards I’ve created so you can get a better idea of the concept!
My tastes and my vision for the genre
As for my tastes, I really love psychological horror games that feature deep lore and a solid story. It’s even better if the game touches on real-world themes!
On the other hand, I’m not a huge fan of constant jump scares or blood everywhere just for the sake of "it's horror, so it needs gore." While I enjoy horror in general, gratuitous, hollow horror isn't really my thing. I like other types of games too, but psychological horror remains my favorite genre.
Ironically enough, even though I love horror (and psychological horror in particular), I’m someone who gets scared very easily!
The project and its inspiration
The project I’m developing and want to share with you is an asymmetrical horror game. It draws inspiration from several titles, but heavily from Dead by Daylight, which was the very first game of this genre I ever played. My game largely retains the core mechanics of this genre (generators, exit gates, one hit to injure, two hits to down a player, etc.). These are simple yet incredibly effective mechanics that I love, and they form a solid foundation that I was determined to keep.
Please know that I have absolutely no ambition to "dethrone" Dead by Daylight. It is a game I still love, though I have unfortunately lost my spark for it over time. I simply want to share my own vision of the genre.
The project's unique selling point lies in its socially conscious nature. Each chapter tackles a significant issue, featuring deeply developed lore for both the survivor and their "Anomaly" (the name given to the "killers" in my game). These themes will vary widely; some will be rooted in real-world social issues, while others will explore more philosophical and symbolic questions.
To take the project a step further, I would like to include a short story mode for each chapter if possible. The goal is to let players step into the shoes of both the survivor and the Anomaly, experiencing and understanding their stories firsthand within the game rather than just reading about them in menus!
I also want to make it clear that I intend to be 100% transparent with you whenever I draw inspiration from something, even if the concept has been adapted or transformed.
A note on sensitive topics
Since the game deals with intense psychological, societal, and philosophical themes, a brief warning will appear at the top of every chapter presentation. This ensures you know exactly which topics are covered before reading the content. Please understand that my goal is never to incite hatred or stir up gratuitous controversy, but simply to explore these themes through storytelling and gameplay.
What’s Next
Moving forward, I plan to maintain a schedule of one or two posts per week.
The very next article will focus on the game's core lore! I’ll explain the fundamentals of the universe, the overall setting, and the connection between the survivors and the Anomalies.
A huge thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this and for joining me right at the start of this adventure. Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts or questions, I’d love to hear from you!
P.S. English isn't my native language (I'm French!), so please excuse any small grammar mistakes along the way!
See you soon!