Sundown

We make sense of the world through stories. Our memories are the stories we tell ourselves, serving as a roadmap for finding meaning as we move through life. But what if we couldn’t trust our memories? How would our stories, our very sense of self, change?

These are the driving questions of Sundown, an artful, narrative-based game that delves into the life of a driven and adventurous woman through the lens of her dementia. Players journey through landscapes of piecing together pieces of a life well-lived. And as they do, players are encouraged to question the line between truth and fiction – and whether distinguishing between the two truly matters, if meaning remains.

Sundown is about the human search for fulfilment. It is a story not just of self-discovery, but acceptance; an exploration of how we find meaning in ourselves, our lives, and our relationships. The game also explores the nature of identity through memory, asking what happens to us when our memories begin to fade. It invites us to consider what it means to make a difference in the world – and whether our impact on those we love, and the time we spend with them, might be the most meaningful legacy of all.

Sundown is an atmospheric world of mystery and intrigue; a game full of contradictions, not afraid to lean into difficult topics and uncomfortable feelings. Yet it’s also a game full of humour, excitement and fun. An experience that takes players on a wild journey through the many diverse moods and emotions of a life well-lived. It’s a game that will make you laugh, maybe cry, and ultimately think about the complexities of who we are and who we could be.

While Sundown takes players on a journey of empathy and understanding, its visuals will offer a unique and captivating aesthetic experience perfectly paired to the story being not just being told, but experienced. Worlds are sometimes incomplete, with substantial areas of negative space, capturing the ephemeral, shifting nature of the human mind as it battles with dementia. But far from detracting from the experience, this minimalist aesthetic will enhance the game’s beauty – while also requiring fewer production resources and less performant devices for play.

The mechanics of Sundown have been crafted with three main mechanics principles in mind: accessibility, mechanics as metaphor and immersion. These mechanics are short and easily accessible to everyone, with interactions that serve the narrative, and a story environment that immerses players in the game world. The game will also be released first on mobile, with the intention of making it accessible to a wider audience.