Return to Nest

2D Platformer / Game Jam / Theme-Driven Design

Return to Nest is a 2D platformer where the player controls a bird trying to survive without burning out or freezing. Created for a game jam with the theme burnout, the project connects movement and survival mechanics with emotional and thematic meaning.

Overview

The game is built around careful movement, timing, and maintaining the right balance in order to survive the journey back to the nest.

My Role

I contributed to the design of the project as part of a game jam team, helping shape the gameplay idea, thematic direction, and player-facing experience.

Design Focus

My focus in Return to Nest was how mechanics could express the jam theme directly, making the player feel pressure and balance through play rather than explanation alone.

What I Learned

This project helped me understand better how to connect theme and mechanics, and how a simple gameplay concept can become more memorable when it carries emotional meaning.