Thought Spiral

Visual Novel / Branching Narrative / Game Jam

Thought Spiral is a narrative-focused visual novel built around branching choices, atmosphere, and emotional tension. Created for a game jam with the theme “death is not escape,” the project explores how player decisions shape the story and its outcomes.

Overview

This project focuses on interactive storytelling. The protagonist, Mira, has lost her sister Lily and is devastated by grief. She visits her grave one last time before making a decision she cannot take back. Suddenly, a mysterious fog rises in the graveyard and the atmosphere shifts. When Mira opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the world of the dead. There, she encounters souls burdened with regret and unresolved pain. Through dialogue choices, the player guides Mira’s character arc and decides whether she accepts her grief or continues to resist it. The game ultimately leads to two different endings depending on the player’s choices. The project was developed as a visual novel during a game jam.

My Role

I worked on the game as narrative designer part of a jam team project, contributing to the design direction, narrative structure, and the way choices shaped player experience.

Design Focus

My focus in Thought Spiral was choice design, emotional pacing, story framing, and creating beloved characters in short time.

What I Learned

This project helped me improve my understanding of branching narrative design, player agency, and how writing character arcs can enhance player engagement.