Nocturnal

Single-Player Horror

Single-player horror game where the player solves puzzles to escape a haunted mansion.

Project Overview

Nocturnal is a horror game where players must solve puzzles to escape a haunted mansion. The game uses psychological techniques to enhance the eeriness of the environment.

For instance, the player’s biological responses influence future scare-sequences as the game progresses. This, along with other techniques, help make the game as immersive as possible for the player.

High Concept

Escape the haunted mansion by solving puzzles and finding quest items.

Game Genre

Single-player horror game with light puzzle-solving elements.

Target Audience

A scary game for people that don’t mind a jump scare or two.

Plot

You arrive at the front gates of a creepy, haunted mansion. There have been reports of supernatural events taking place there. It’s your job to investigate what’s going on. As you enter the front door of the house, you turn around and notice that there is no longer a way out. You will have to look around for a way out… watch out though: you don’t know what might be hiding in this hell-hole.

Game Objectives

Short Term

Evade enemies, explore the mansion for clues.

Mid Term

Find keys to advance through different areas. Solve multiple puzzles to be rewarded with keys and items to aid you.

Long Term

Escape the mansion, break the cycle

Key Features

1

Dynamic horror system that reads player inputs during sections of the game to determine if they’re scared or not. Gives a unique playthrough for all players.

2

The dynamic horror system measures player sound and input and adds/takes away scares based on how players perform when confronted by enemies.

3

Some aspects of puzzle solving are completely optional, yet completing these give information and items to aid the player.

4

Puzzles that do need to be solved have multiple ways of solving, each answer providing a different route to progress the game.

5

Psychological horror that utilises techniques to give the sense of a threat without ever seeing one.

6

Hidden collectables dotted across the map that give hints on puzzle solving and potentially new ways to progress the story.

Gameplay Mechanics

Gameplay revolves around the horror system. Everything from how a player twitches their mouse to the scream they produce when seeing an entity will be recorded by the system. When this system is combined with mystery, ambiguity and claustrophobia, it leads to a completely unique experience. Additional mechanics such as puzzles and exploration help to relieve the pressure off the system and give more variety in how players want to approach certain elements.

Dynamic Horror System

An important part of what makes Nocturnal stand out. When a player is presented with an entity that is to elicit a scare, the device tracks what the player inputs. This includes mouse movement, speech and keyboard inputs. Should 2 of these 3 triggers activate, the system will increase the level at which these entities spawn in the game. Should a player not be scared, the system will decrease the amount of which that particular enemy will spawn. With the wide variety of entities in the game, from spiders to orcs, players will find their nightmares coming to life more and more frequently.

Puzzle Solving

Puzzles will be sprinkled throughout the game to improve pacing and increase variety. These will range from riddle solving to the players own creativity. Rewards for solving include progressing the main storyline to finding items to aid in progression.

Locations

Courtyard

The spawn location for the player. It serves as an introduction to the atmosphere and controls of the game

First Floor

The main part of the game. Multiple rooms are on both floors for the player to explore and find a way to advance further. Corridors are kept small to keep to the claustrophobic nature of the game. This includes tight corners.

The Attic

Once the player finds the key to open the elevator doors, they can progress to the attic. This section includes much tighter spaces and frequent scares depending on how the player has performed.

Characters

The Player

The silent protagonist for the game. The player controls themselves as they move through the mansion looking for a way to escape.

Comparative Games

Amnesia: The Dark Descent also explores the themes of psychology and psychological horror, but differs as Nocturnal will measure inputs and adapt the game based on how the player plays.