Pause aims to capture an exploratory spirit in its players, bringing a world into existence as you let yourself be lead along by your curiosity.
The game tosses you into its striking world, leaving you to your own curiosity. Where do you want to go next? It can seem hard to tell where to go, exactly, but as you put one foot in front of the other, the place starts to take on a variety of shapes. It all depends on where you start walking to. You’re constantly rewarded for your desire to see what’s coming next, with stirring vistas awaiting in almost every direction.
There’s a mystery at work as you meander through these spaces, as they don’t really exist until you’ve set foot in them. There’s a nothingness that fades away as you walk toward it, the world filling in with wonders as you walk. As such, it doesn’t feel like it’s purposely leading you somewhere, instead fully allowing your own desire to wander take the reins. It seems like a small difference in not giving the player landmarks to follow until they’ve started walking close enough to see them, but in doing so, it really fosters this kind of meandering spirit. It feels like we’re rewarded for going anywhere we like rather than choosing to head for a destination.
Through this nuance, Pause looks to instill a desire to wander in the player. It isn’t a pile of places you can explore to complete a game, but rather an experience in curiosity. It’s something that unfolds as you walk, making something akin to wandering through an unknown neighborhood or woods.
Pause is currently in development, but in the meantime, you can follow its creation on itch.io.
About The Author
