Dysthymia is a narrative focus 2D puzzle-platformer that tackles mental health through the eyes of a child, developed by Mission Control Studios.
Role: Creative Director & Main Developer -- Team Size: 2 -- Status: Demo, released in 2020
Duties: Game Design and Prototyping, C# Development, Unity2D Asset Management, Level Design and Creation, Game Design Documentation, Team Management
It offers a look at creative repression through an environmental narrative inspired by personal experiences and the exploration of innovative mechanics and controls. The latter seeking to find the balance between environment, narrative, fun, and challenge. The player is put in the shoes of a child who lives in an environment of constant academic pressure on behalf of his parents, who exert creative repression since it "distracts" them from the objectives they have set for them. Due to stress, the protagonist develops a series of psychological conditions such as introversion, depression, fear of loneliness, and darkness, better known as Persistent Depression Disorder or Dysthymia. This leads them to see reality in another way in search of an escape, which is strongly represented by their imagination and the creation of an imaginary friend.
Players will see the world through the child's imagination and help him go through different situations present within his homes, controlling his movement and interaction with his imaginary friend who acts as his protector or guardian.
On this page:
Praise For Dysthymia | Gameplay
Available to play at Itch.io
PRAISE FOR DYSTHYMIA
Best Design Undergraduate Thesis
Featured at the best design undergraduate thesis expo "Volaran" at the Universidad de Los Andes. Link
"The whole package is so nice"
- Vimlark
Featured in Vimlarks Giving feedback & Talking Design Twitch channel where the professional game developer playtests Indie games and shares design principles to the developer community. Link
Player Comments
"As a person diagnosed with dysthymic disorder, I find this so accurate. I love the protagonist's drawings, it's similar to my coping mechanism. I felt goosebumps erupt in my body when I saw those eyes in the living room that were staring at the framed certificate, I stopped in front of it, it had no light so my character immediately died [...] What I find amusing is the fact that I was as persistent as beating this game as my disorder"
- France, itch.io user
