Snowy Springs
Snowy Springs is an emotionally-driven, atmospheric game about managing mental health in the face of overwhelming responsibilities. As art director and co-developer, I was responsible for shaping the game’s visual style and bringing the world to life. Drawing inspiration from the snow-covered landscapes of Roki, the low-poly aesthetics of Space Backyard, and the character ambiguity of Journey, I aimed to create an experience that feels both serene and heavy with emotional meaning.
My role involved 3D character creation, 3D environments art, level design, Unity implementation, and UI design.
I started by blocking out the environment in Unity, then refined it in Maya to create snowy levels that matched the game's clean, soft style. The character, designed, modeled, and rigged by me, was purposefully ambiguous to represent how the themes of anxiety in Snowy Springs are universal. I focused on lightness and fluid movement to reflect the emotional weight carried by the character as they navigate the world.
Snowy Springs was born from the idea of exploring mental health struggles through gameplay, and at its core, it serves as a twist on the cozy quest genre like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. However, instead of focusing on completing tasks mindlessly, Snowy Springs delves into the emotional strain of taking on too much without prioritizing self-care. The game tackles themes of anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm, with the goal of reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness.
The themes of mental health were deeply personal to both myself and my co-developer, Harvey, as we drew from our own experiences and consulted with the UK charity, Gaming The Mind. Their guidance was invaluable in helping us create a game that not only depicted mental health struggles but also promoted positive self-care practices.
We integrated this theme into every aspect of the gameplay—tasks are designed to encourage players to pause, reflect, and take care of themselves, highlighting the importance of empathy and self-awareness.
The game mechanics, narrative, and world design all serve the purpose of promoting mental health awareness, self-regulation, and the idea of radical empathy. With its combination of calming gameplay and emotionally charged themes, Snowy Springs seeks to remind players of the importance of taking care of their own mental well-being, even as they carry out tasks for others.