GRIM is a tale told from the perspectives of twins separated by life and death. Players play as Chen killed by a bloodthirsty monster and now must use their new found powers of possession to solve puzzles and lead their sibling Jia through their house in which the monster is looking for their second victim.
What I Learned:
Developed narrative design skills by structuring a three-act branching story rooted in Taiwanese folklore, learning how to balance cultural authenticity with player agency through multiple narrative outcomes.
Gained experience designing interlocking systems by prototyping gameplay mechanics such as possession and AI-driven behaviors, creating a puzzle framework that encouraged experimentation and emergent solutions.
Improved environmental storytelling techniques by writing in-world journal entries that revealed backstory and embedded hints, supporting non-linear progression and deeper player engagement with the world.
Learned to communicate design vision early by building prototype levels and pre-production mechanics, helping the team align around the gameplay loop and work toward a focused vertical slice.
Strengthened interdisciplinary research and worldbuilding skills by collaborating with cultural experts and researching architecture, period detail, and mythology to create a setting grounded in the historical and supernatural themes of the source material.