DUNGEON CRAWLER
SOLO
3D
DARK FANTASY
⏱️ One week
👥 Solo dev
Errance is a solo first person retro dungeon crawler made in one week, set in a dark fantasy setting with open areas and a limited amount of saves to complete the game.
It features :
-3 areas to explore with bosses to fight, all linked by a hub.
-Multiple skills to unlock.
-Hidden equipement and secrets rewarding exploration.
⚙️RPG maker MV
🙋♂️ What I did :
-Program the game using rpg maker event-based system.
-The level design of all the areas.
-Combat, enemies, skill & items designs.
-Writing & narrative design.
🧩 What I've learned :
-Creating an interconnected world, with areas that can be tackled in any order.
-How to script RPG maker to twist its possibilities.
-How to make a video devlog.
Full devlog video (in French - automatic english subtitles available)
Game design :
Errance is a first person retro dungeon crawler with turn-based combat in which you play as a stranger stranded on the beach of a faraway kingdom. Upon arrival you are tasked with slaying 3 bosses to break free from the curse trapping you in this land.
Starting on the beach you reach (after a short tutorial) a hub giving you access to most of the main game areas where the bosses reside. The hub is also where you unlock skills (using shards looted on enemies) and save the game which requires lighting up the campfire with a torch. However you only have 3 torches (which mean 3 saves) to finish the game, forcing players to use them wisely.
Each area is unique with its own type of enemies and gimmicks, requiring players to adapt their strategies and use the right skills to progress. Most skills are casted with a resource called "Mind points", if it's too low player start suffering hallucination of eldrich creatures, you lose the game if either your mind or health hit 0.
Level design :
a. Design pillars
Interconnected world
Areas are connected with each other by a hub, and feature various shortcuts
1
Different strategies
Each area's enemies have different strengths and weaknesses the player must adapt to.
2
Feeling isolated
The world must feel gloomy; there is no friendly face. Here, you're all alone and the areas must reflect that.
3
Rewarding exploration
Each area (even the hub) features multiple hidden passages leading to interesting rewards, boosting the player stats in various ways.
4
b. Map overview
c. Area details
