Candle Castle

Design Concept:

This is a stealth exploration game with lantern lighting as the core mechanic. Players must manage limited candle resources wisely in a dark castle, using light to avoid or attract enemies while gathering clues to uncover the castle's dark history. The game emphasizes strategic resource management and environmental interaction, creating a unique stealth experience with the light-and-shadow mechanics. It encourages players to make choices between exploration and survival.

Development Process:

First, we established three main gameplay pillars: the lighting system (candle resource management), stealth mechanics (using lanterns to avoid enemies), and collection elements (puzzle narrative). Next, a detailed game flowchart was created to balance exploration and narrative pacing, ensuring a smooth player experience without losing direction. During development, we conducted gameplay validation tests to confirm that the lighting effects supported the core mechanics. We simplified the health and candle systems into a single 'light' resource, streamlining the mechanics. Ultimately, we optimized player experience and strengthened the resource management loop. Level design incorporates progressive difficulty, with clear goals and puzzles, maintaining tension while avoiding excessive frustration.