Lust

Unlock desire. One room at a time.

PITCH:

Build available here

You wake up in an unfamiliar place. Around you, masked figures watch in silence. Trapped inside a house ruled by a Mistress, you must uncover each subject’s desires and satisfy them to escape. Every action is observed, evaluated, and can lead to failure.

ROLE & CONTEXT

Role: Game & Level Designer, Level, Lighting & 3D Artist
Platform: PC | Genre: 1rst person Puzzle Horror Game | Engine: Unreal Engine
Team: 6 | Duration: 5 months
Project Year: 2024

TOOLS

Clip Studio Paint, Unreal Engine, Maya, Archicad, Miro, Google docs & slides

GAME INSPIRATION

This project was inspired by Lust from Beyond and Resident Evil Village, particulary the Castle Dimitrescu. The level design emphasizes atmospheric tension, environmental storytelling and player vulnerability, using confined spaces, controlled pacing and puzzle-driven progression to create a constant feeling of unease and being observed.

MY MISSIONS

Design systemic puzzle logic based on the Pleasure/Pain gauge, replacing traditional gating systems
Structure room progression to teach, combine and test mechanics across increasing complexity
Build and iterate level layouts to support readability, player guidance and controlled pacing
Design lighting to reinforce player focus, highlight interactables and maintain tension
Lead playtests, identifying readability issues and refining feedback systems to reduce player confusion

RESEARCH PHASE

Researching themes of power dynamics, control and observation to inform gameplay and spatial design, translating them into environmental storytelling, puzzle mechanics and spatial constraints.

Sketching gameplay situations for each room to emphasize restriction, player vulnerability and player-driven interactions.

DESIGN INTENT & VISION

Authority Through Constraint

The player is placed in a position of control, where every interaction has consequences. Progression relies on precision and restraint rather than exploration alone. Incorrect or excessive actions can lead to failure, encouraging observation and deliberate decision-making.

The Panopticon Structure

The level follows a circular layout, reinforcing the idea of constant surveillance. The player is both observer and observed. Sightlines, NPC positioning and audio feedback from the Mistress maintain continuous pressure and influence player behavior.

CORE SYSTEM DESIGN

The Pleasure/Pain Gauge - Core Loop:

The central progression system evaluates player actions in real time. Instead of collecting keys, players must perform correct interactions to reach a required threshold.

Interaction Logic

Source → Connector → Trigger
Players identify elements, connect them, and activate outcomes. Complexity increases through chained systems and multi-step interactions

The Whip: Reach & Activation

Long-range activation tool used to trigger distant mechanisms

The Zippo: Thermal interactions

Enables state changes through fire and heat interactions

Battery and Clamps: The power loop

Modular power system encouraging players to build functional circuits

TOOLS & AFFORDANCE BREAKDOWN

To achieve this systemic depth, the gameplay relies on a clear set of tools with distinct affordances. Each object is designed to be intuitively understood, yet their power only unflods through their interdependencies.

LEVEL DESIGN OVERVIEW

The experience is structured across three contained rooms, each built around a puzzle combining environmental interaction and systemic dependencies.

Progression follows a clear pattern:
Learn → Combine → Master

Room 1: Introduction of core systems
Room 2: Interconnected systems and risk
Room 3: Multi-step puzzles requiring planning and precision

Pacing alternates between observation and execution, with tension driven by failure states and irreversible actions.

LEVEL BREAKDOWN

ROOM 1

Narrative Overview:

Upon entering, the player sees the submissive suspended and the Mistress's minion silently observing, awaiting any action thaht could alicit shared pleasure. The room is structured around the guest, making the player the focal point, free to explore, observe and act. Subtle cues guide the player toward fulfilling the guest's desires.

Intent:

Learn systems without pressure

Introduces all core tools (whip, battery, clamps, zippo)
Establishes link between action and consequence
Encourages experimentation

Key Actions:

Connect battery to NPC
Use whip to activate mechanisms
Light candles with Zippo

→ Full gauge unlocks exit

Environmental Cues

ROOM 2

Narrative Overview:

The player enters a room resembling a movie set. A submissive is locked in a cage, another tows the Mistress’s statue. Observation and experimentation remain crucial. Actions now influence multiple systems and NPCs.

Intent:

Anticipate and coordinate actions
Multiple systems interact simultaneously
Introduction of risk (machine overload, spatial constraints)

Key Actions:

Power machines via battery system
Control power levels to avoid failure
Combine whip, fire and mechanical systems

→ Requires full system understanding

Environmental Cues

ROOM 3

Narrative Overview:

The player faces a new submissive in a bathtub and must manipulate water, fire, and electricity to progress. Pipes and hidden mechanisms create multi-step puzzles. Failure or mismanagement can harm NPC or trigger game over.

Intent:

Multi-step puzzles combining all systems
Increased cognitive load and failure risk

Key Actions:

Route water through pipe system
Combine fire, fuel and environment
Activate hidden mechanisms via power network

→ Correct sequencing unlocks final progression

Environmental Cues

WHITE ROOM

Narrative Overview:

A hidden chamber reveals the Mistress’s control over the entire experience. The player witnesses their actions replayed and ultimately takes her place, completing the cycle.