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What makes a game feel mysterious? And how do we make a player feel like an active participant in solving the mystery? Let's dig in to some amazing games.
📼 Bonus Companion Video - https://www.patreon.com/posts/112875754
=== Before you watch ===
This video contains no major spoilers for the games discussed. When more detailed information is provided, a timestamp is shown on screen so you can skip ahead.
=== Sources ===
[1] The mystery box | TED
https://www.ted.com/talks/j_j_abrams_mystery_box
[2] Tunic: This Was Here the Whole Time | GDC Vault
https://gdcvault.com/play/1029384/-TUNIC-This-Was-Here
[3] Creature feature: The surreal pixel art and animation of Animal Well | Game Developer
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/art/creature-feature-the-surreal-pixel-ar…
[4] Rain World Is Like STALKER but a Platformer and You’re a Rodent | Vice
https://www.vice.com/en/article/rain-world-is-like-stalker-but-a-platfo…
[5] Road to the IGF: Starseed Pilgrim | Game Developer
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-em-starseed-pilgri…-
[6] Designing for a Sense of Mystery and Wonder | Runevision
https://blog.runevision.com/2021/02/designing-for-sense-of-mystery-and…
[7] Two Years After Elden Ring, Miyazaki Trusts the Players to Figure It All Out | IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-shadow-of-erdtree-director-hide…
[8] Master of Play | The New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/12/20/master-of-play
[9] Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds | GDC Vault
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaGu9tGCNbI
[10] Designing for Curiosity in Outer Wilds | Full Indie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGnce1Dp9BU
[11] Rediscovering the Mystery of Video Games | Noclip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2g_0QQRjYY
[12] The secrets of Animal Well, coming to PS5 | PlayStation Blog
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/02/10/the-secrets-of-animal-well-comi…
[13] Designing the Secrets of Animal Well (ft. Billy Basso) | Design Delve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiSesCWWy_M
[14] The Design Evolution of Tunic | Noclip Crew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5A7uoJAOvY
[15] The Witness Documentary | Noclip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdSdvIRkkDY
[16] Practically impossible: The quest to decipher Fez‘s cryptic final puzzle
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/04/why-it-took-almost-a-week-for-th…
=== Chapters ===
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - What Makes Something Mysterious?
02:24 - The Locked Door
05:05 - The Rules
08:33 - The Landscape
10:46 - The Enigma
13:25 - Questions and Answers
15:20 - Metroidbrainias
19:30 - Super Secret Secrets
21:39 - The Answer
23:55 - Invisible Questions
27:06 - Conclusion
28:07 - Credits
=== Games Shown ===
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 2017
Rain World | 2017
Elden Ring | 2022
Outer Wilds | 2019
Tunic | 2022
Animal Well | 2024
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | 2016
Boxes: Lost fragments | 2024
Hyper Light Drifter | 2016
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | 2017
Crow Country | 2024
Dark Souls | 2011
Super Metroid | 1994
Hollow Knight | 2017
Spelunky | 2012
Isles of Sea and Sky | 2024
Lorelei And The Laser Eyes | 2024
Horizon Forbidden West | 2022
Demon's Souls | 2020
Starseed Pilgrim | 2013
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 2018
Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 2023
The Legend of Zelda | 1986
Riven | 2024
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | 2024
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | 2011
The Talos Principle | 2014
The Talos Principle II | 2023
The Forgotten City | 2021
Her Story | 2015
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2015
Return of the Obra Dinn | 2018
Chants of Sennaar | 2023
Metroid Dread | 2021
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | 1997
Epigraph | 2024
Fez | 2012
System Shock | 2023
La-Mulana | 2012
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD | 2013
The Witness | 2016
Super Mario Bros. | 1985
=== Credits ===
Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link)
LOST © ABC Studios
=== Subtitles ===
Contribute translated subtitles - https://gamemakerstoolkit.com/translation/