tamtam23

Over the course of this semester, I have come to realize what kind of games I’m most drawn to playing and most proud of making. These games are rooted in storytelling, emotional depth, and identity exploration. What resonates with me most aren’t the flashy mechanics or high-stakes puzzles, but rather the quiet, complex decisions that reflect lived experiences. Through this game design class, I got to explore various game formats, from puzzle-based systems, branching narratives, to serious games, and with each, I uncovered more about the kind of designer I want to be.

As a designer, I want to keep making games that are branching, narrative-driven, and emotionally grounded. Games that place players in situations where there’s no perfect answer and mirror the trade-offs we face in real life. I’m especially interested in using interactive storytelling to unpack themes like cultural identity, guilt, and internal conflict, particularly the experiences of people whose stories often go unheard.

But I’ve also come to realize that not every meaningful game has to be heavy. I also find joy in making cozy games, like Spring ‘n’ Roll, my Vietnamese food cart game that was inspired by my heritage and indie games like Good Pizza, Great Pizza. This project let me celebrate culture in a way that’s playful, lighthearted, and comforting, as well as create games that reflect the genres I enjoy playing. These small, cute games are just as meaningful to me, and to the kinds of players I hope to reach.

When someone plays my games, I want them to feel a moment of empathy or recognition. Maybe they’ve had to translate paperwork for their parents. Maybe they’ve never tried Vietnamese food. Either way, I want them to leave with a better understanding of someone else's world, and other times, I just want them to smile and enjoy something warm too.

The principles that define my design approach are:

• Perspective-taking: Using games as a tool to step into someone else's shoes.
• Emotional nuance: Capturing the in-between moments of quiet guilt and unspoken love.
• Rooted storytelling: Designing from and for marginalized voices.
• Wholesome gameplay: Creating cozy, comforting spaces that invite joy and warmth.

These elements stand out to me because they reflect my own story, as a first-generation student, a child of immigrants, and someone learning to navigate multiple identities at once. In the future, I hope to keep making narrative and cozy games, whether in Twine, Godot, or whatever tools I learn next, that speak honestly about the weight we carry, the choices we make, and the quiet resilience and joy that define us.