My Dark Passenger

My Dark Passenger is a 2D, top-down thriller built in Unity that thrusts players into a dual narrative of horror and investigation. Combining hand-crafted sprite art with dynamic lighting and atmospheric sound design, the game creates an immersive world where every shadow and dialogue choice heightens tension. You alternate between two protagonists: a woman whose life is shattered by trauma and who evolves into a methodical serial killer, and the detective assigned to piece together her gruesome crimes. By weaving storytelling directly into gameplay, My Dark Passenger delivers a concise yet impactful experience that keeps players on edge from start to finish.

In the killer's chapters you must select and combine items in your inventory to execute precise murders, from setting traps to choosing the right moment for a stealth attack. In the detective's chapters you examine crime scenes, interview non-player characters and analyze evidence to form a case. A branching dialogue system adjusts responses based on prior actions, influencing how NPCs react and revealing new leads or obstacles. Quick-time events, environmental puzzles and a context-sensitive clue system ensure that each playthrough feels unique while maintaining narrative coherence.

On the technical side, the Unity C# codebase leverages a bespoke state-machine framework for character behaviors, modular AI routines for NPCs and a scalable inventory manager that tracks item states and usage history. Rohith's responsibilities included integrating dialogue trees, implementing collision detection for interactive elements and optimizing scene loading to maintain smooth performance. Cristian handled the complete art pipeline, producing hand-drawn environments and character sprites that reinforce the game's unsettling mood. Together they delivered a polished short game that marries compelling storytelling, engaging mechanics and striking art direction.