Games like WordHack Anthology: 2014-2019

"Elegy for a Dead World" is a game that allows players to write their own stories as they explore mysterious, abandoned planets. Players journey through hand-painted landscapes, using written prompts to inspire their narratives. The game provides a unique platform for creative expression, blending elements of adventure and writing in a visually striking setting.

In "Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos," you play as a mediator tasked with resolving conflicts in complex, often chaotic societies. Though the game boasts a richly developed world, the gameplay primarily revolves around visual novel-style dialogue choices. The narrative tackles themes of social justice and societal inequality, but its impact is limited due to the game's simplistic mechanics.

"Essays on Empathy" is a narrative-driven game that explores the theme of empathy through a series of interactive vignettes. Players will confront ethical dilemmas and make choices that challenge their perspectives on complex social issues. The game encourages self-reflection and introspection, making it a thought-provoking and immersive experience. However, please note that the game contains mature themes and may not be suitable for all players.

Kentucky Route Zero is a magical realist adventure exploring a secret highway beneath Kentucky, where strange yet familiar characters navigate surreal landscapes. The story follows an aging delivery driver and other quirky inhabitants as they confront mystery, loss, and the grip of a hidden power company. Its atmospheric visuals and haunting soundtrack create a dreamlike journey through twilight and shadow.

The Witch's Way is an interactive story adventure that is a collaborative endeavor with Prof. Doris C. Rusch at the Department of Game Design at Uppsala University in Gotland, Sweden, and Prof. Andrew M. Phelps at the HITLabNZ at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ and the AU Game Center at American University in Washington, D.C., USA. In addition to standing on its own as a game expe…

Introduction This Night and Then is a game about people, their relationships and the changes of time. This game at its core is about endings.  We all universally will face an ending at some point in our life. I was partly inspired to write this game from my time in theatre.  The patchwork families made from shared experience built in the span of a production are some of my favorite memories.  We …

"Kentucky Route Zero" is a single-player Point and Click Thriller game that features an intriguing magical realist story set in Kentucky's secret highway. The game is visually striking with experimental electronic art and cinematic visuals, accompanied by a haunting electronic score and bluegrass standards. With charming and humorous characters, the game tells a wholesome story but can be quite grinding at times.

"Bot Colony" is a unique game set in August 2021, where you are recruited by Nakagawa Corp. to investigate strange behavior in robots at their private island, Agrihan. Utilizing AI-based conversation as the main game mechanic, you'll speak in English with robots to advance in the game and uncover what happened. The genre-defining title combines adventure, simulation, RPG, and puzzles into a language-based gameplay set in an eerie South Pacific environment.

A Greeblin’s Journey is a solo journaling game about a traveling creature called a Greeblin. They have become unsettled from their home and are now traveling for the first time in a world they have never explored. The road is strange and not nearly as kind as their bed, but they had to do something. They had to go somewhere. This project is a digital-only (for now) zine! The game uses 2 six-side…

"Mazetools Mutant" is a music production game featuring 7 customizable cubes with different settings. The game includes a loop-machine, 7 instruments with sequenced note input, envelopes, filters, and effects, as well as 4 synths, 2 drum sequencers, and a sampler. The snapshot principle allows for easy saving and playback of loops, and the interactive cube-cell navigation and snapshot cloud enable a variety of musical perspectives and customization.