Hi everyone!

I’m excited to share some updates on the game design for Afterlife, the project I’ve been pouring my heart into. Right now, I’m deep in the development of a scalable puzzle system, and I wanted to take a moment to talk about why this is such a crucial part of the game’s design—and how it ties into one of the game’s core mechanics: transmitting light through pyramids.

The Vision Behind the Puzzle System

One of my core goals with Afterlife is to create a cohesive and engaging puzzle experience that evolves alongside the player. Instead of introducing disjointed puzzle mechanics that feel tacked on, I’m focusing on building a single, robust system that can be expanded and adapted throughout the game. This approach ensures that players can dive deeper into the mechanics as they progress, mastering them in new and unexpected ways.

Think of it like this: rather than having a dozen different puzzle systems that only appear once or twice, I want to create a foundational mechanic that can be explored from multiple angles. This not only makes the puzzles feel more meaningful but also allows for a smoother learning curve and a greater sense of progression.

The Role of Light and Pyramids

Very early alpha footage

At the heart of Afterlife’s puzzles is the idea of transmitting light through pyramids. The player’s main objective is to manipulate light sources, mirrors, and other elements to ensure that the light reaches and activates these mysterious structures.

But here’s the twist: the pyramids are not the cause of the puzzles—they are the consequence. The real challenge lies in designing the puzzles so that the pyramids feel like a natural outcome of the player’s actions, rather than the starting point. This creates a satisfying core loop where players feel like they’re uncovering the mysteries of the world, rather than just solving arbitrary challenges.

For example, early puzzles might involve simple light redirection, but as the game progresses, players will encounter more complex mechanics, such as refracting light through prisms, timing-based challenges, or even puzzles that require manipulating the environment itself. Each solved puzzle brings the player closer to understanding the deeper mysteries of Afterlife.

The Shift in Aesthetic Vision

As Afterlife continues to evolve, one of the most exciting aspects of development has been defining its art direction. Early on, I knew I wanted the game to feel like a surreal, dreamlike experience, where every visual element contributes to the atmosphere and narrative. But recently, I’ve been refining this vision to create a more cohesive and intentional aesthetic.

The goal is to make Afterlife not just a game, but a piece of interactive art. To achieve this, I’ve been exploring a direction that blends minimalism with organic, flowing shapes and a soft, ethereal color palette. Imagine a world where light and shadow play a central role, where every surface feels alive, and where the environment itself tells a story.

Actual alpha version footage

Drawing Inspiration from "The Witness"

A huge inspiration for this approach is The Witness, a masterpiece in puzzle design. What makes The Witness so brilliant is how it takes a single core mechanic—the line-drawing puzzle—and explores it in countless ways. By the end of the game, you’re solving puzzles that feel completely different from the ones at the start, yet they all stem from the same basic idea.

I’m aiming for something similar with Afterlife. The puzzles will start simple, introducing players to the core mechanics, but as the game progresses, they’ll become more complex and layered. The goal is to keep players engaged by constantly presenting them with new challenges that feel fresh but still connected to the foundation they’ve already learned.

Why Scalability Matters

A scalable puzzle system isn’t just about variety—it’s about depth. By building on a single, well-designed mechanic, I can create puzzles that feel intuitive yet challenging, rewarding players for their creativity and problem-solving skills. It also allows me to weave the puzzles more seamlessly into the narrative and world of Afterlife, making them feel like a natural part of the experience rather than isolated obstacles.

Bringing the World to Life Through Movement

One of the most exciting aspects of Afterlife is how the player interacts with the world. Beyond the puzzles and exploration, I wanted to create dynamic mechanics that make the world feel alive and full of possibilities. This is where the flying machines and other Da Vinci-inspired inventions come into play.

These mechanics are designed not just as tools for traversal, but as experiences that immerse the player in the surreal, dreamlike world of Afterlife. Imagine soaring through the skies on a machine that feels like it was pulled straight from Da Vinci’s sketches, or using a complex contraption to unlock hidden areas of the world. These moments are meant to be both functional and magical, blending gameplay with artistry.

What’s Next?

Right now, I’m in the prototyping phase, experimenting with different ways to expand the core puzzle mechanic. It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding process, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

I’ll be sharing more updates as development progresses, including some sneak peeks at the puzzles themselves. If you’re as excited about this as I am, let me know in the comments! And if you have any thoughts or suggestions on puzzle design, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks for following along on this journey. Stay tuned for more updates on Afterlife!