Welcome!


Hi! I’m Mariia, London based designer and game developer, specialising in technical design, prototyping and creating inspiring user experiences for mobile, PC and console platforms.



Some of my projects include:
 

Sleep Swimmer


Role:  Technical Designer / UX  designer


About

Sleep Swimmer is an upcoming 2D narrative adventure game where you play as Aria, an anxious girl who escapes her overstimulating world by visiting an underwater town full of salamander people in her dreams. Swim around and collect sounds, mix them on your DJ set, and make salamander friends!






Involvement

  • Iteratively designed, developed and implemented UI elements.    

  • Closely collaborated with programming, art and sound design departments to create new and improve existing gameplay systems and engine tools to streamline the development process.

  • Implemented gameplay content including level designs, puzzles and quests.




Cafe Echoes

 

Role: Game Designer / Technical Designer / Programmer


About

Cafe Echoes is a narrative 2-player game set in a cafe where two estranged sisters, Zoe and Mia, reunite for the first time in years. Their catch-up takes them back to when they were younger, finally processing the events that led to their division.




Involvement

  • Led a team of collaborators from other disciplines to design and develop a narrative two-player local coop game.

  • Developing and implementing gameplay systems and mechanics.

  • Working with Unity’s new input system.




Office Trap

   



Role: Game Designer / Technical Designer / Programmer/ 2D Artist


About


A point-and-click branching narrative mystery game about a newly promoted office worker Max who is trying to figure out who is after his position in the office.

Involvement

  • Designed, programmed and implemented gameplay systems dialogue, investigation manager, quest system and in-game navigation.

  • Showcased the game at the Gamebridge 2023 event.




Shadows Of Them



Role: Game Designer/ Narrative Designer/ 3D and 2D Artist


About

Shadows of Them is a first-person psychological horror game where the player must navigate a series of
challenges, guiding a mother through her grief after the loss of her family.
The game takes place inside an underground train station where the character is stuck in a seemingly endless loop as she struggles to cope with her grief.

Involvement

  • Responsible for narrative design, development of puzzle 3D assets and 2D art.

  • Develop: Brighton finalist at the Indie Showcase competition and was rewarded an honourable mention.








Breaking Point

 

Role: Game Designer / Technical Designer / Programmer


About

A dark choice-based point-and-click branching narrative mystery game. As the protagonist, you embark on a journey to a remote, picturesque town, renting a house to escape personal problems. However, your peaceful retreat takes a sinister turn when you begin uncovering unsettling secrets hidden within the house's walls.


Involvement

  • Worked closely with collaborators at the film school (screenwriter, sound designer, composer).

  • Implemented character animations and created cutscenes using Unity's timeline.

  • Audio system implementation, including voice actor direction.

  • Developed a point-and-click navigation system using Navmesh.


Ballad of the Mind 

   

Role: Game Designer / Technical Designer / Programmer/ 2D Artist



About

2.5D music-based mobile puzzle game that invites players to confront their fears alongside a high school student struggling with social anxiety and stage fright. As the protagonist, you must navigate a musical journey of self-discovery.
Involvement

  • Responsible for the design of the core game mechanics, programming and unity implementation of a  2.5D music-based mobile game that utilizes a gyroscope for navigation within the game.

  • Designed characters, game UI and 2D assets.




Driod in a Void

 



Role: Game Designer / Level Designer / Programmer/



About

Droid in a Void is a 3D platformer puzzle game where you play as a small lost robot. In this journey, you must navigate a series of platforms and explore various rooms to find your robot's way home.

Involvement

  • Designed core mechanics.

  • Programmed and implemented gameplay in Unity 3D.

  • Created level designs of various difficulty.

© 2024 Mariia Kharitonova