Stay in the Light, Avoid the Darkness

The Luminous Trail is a 3D first-person horror-like puzzle game developed using Unity. Players must navigate through a series of dark rooms and hallways, relying solely on limited light sources to progress. The objective is to reach the exit of the aparment without stepping into shadows, as doing so will result in death. The game offers an immersive atmosphere and challenges players with its unique light-based gameplay.

Plot

The Luminous Trail follows the journey of the protagonist Lumin who is trapped in a mysterious, pitch-dark house. To overcome his fears and find his way out, he must learn to rely on the limited light sources as a guide. The game serves as a metaphor for confronting personal demons and finding hope in times of darkness.

As players progress through the house, they unravel the story of a person struggling with their inner turmoil. The Lumin must navigate through the darkness, avoiding the monsters that lurk within, and harness the power of light to solve puzzles. The light symbolizes hope, safety, and the path toward self-discovery.

As players advance through the game, they develop a stronger connection with the Lumin’s journey and the importance of facing fears. The ultimate goal is to escape the house and find solace in the light.

Future Developments

This prototype focuses on the core mechanic of staying underneath light sources to survive. Secondary mechanics can be added to highten the experience. For example adding controllable light sources, such as flashlights and lamps, to temporarily illuminate dark areas. These devices are essential for expoloration and puzzle-solving, but they come with the limitation that they have a limited lifespan and will eventually break or run out of power. Additionally, puzzle-solving can be incorporated in the game by requiring players to obtain keys to open certain doors and progress to different floors.

This prototype was a project for TMU's RTA 867 Game Engines course.