The Loop

The Loop was my dissertation project, created independently over a five-month period. The project involved research, design, development, testing, and writing the final dissertation. The playable game was developed in Unreal Engine 5.0.3 over approximately two to three months.

The aim of the project was to explore the question: “How do small changes in the atmosphere of a horror game affect the player?” I have always been interested in horror games, especially those that create tension through atmosphere rather than relying only on jump scares. I find this type of horror more unsettling and effective, which made it a topic I was excited to explore in more depth.

The concept I developed was a looping horror experience where the player repeatedly walks through the same environment, with small changes occurring each time. As the player progresses, the atmosphere gradually becomes more disturbing, creating a stronger sense of fear, tension, and unease.

I created the project independently, including the game design, level design, Blueprint systems, atmosphere design, and implementation. Due to the limited timeframe, I used external models and textures, allowing me to focus more on the horror design, atmosphere, and player experience.

I began by researching what makes horror game atmospheres effective, using this research to inform the design of the environment and the changes that would happen throughout the loop. I then brainstormed ideas for how small visual, audio, and environmental changes could affect the player’s sense of tension.

After the research and planning stage, I greyboxed several level ideas to find the right room and hallway layout. This was important because the player would be moving through the same space multiple times, so the environment needed to feel readable while still allowing changes to become noticeable and unsettling over time.

Once the level structure was complete, I implemented the main Blueprint systems and atmospheric effects in Unreal Engine 5. These included the looping structure, environmental changes, lighting adjustments, audio triggers, and other horror elements designed to make each loop feel slightly different from the last.

Overall, this project helped me develop a stronger understanding of how atmosphere can influence the player’s emotions and expectations. It also improved my ability to connect research with practical game design decisions and create a focused experience around a clear design question.

UE5 - Blueprints, Level design and UI Design.

Audacity - Sound

Maya - Modelling (Made a few models)

Word - Documentation