The Start of Homecoming - The Ideation

With the beginning of each new year appears new memories to appear. To cherish or to forget them is one's own will to take. And so here marks a new memory for the year in the form of Homecoming's development, a indie mystery horror project I am developing on Unreal Engine 5. One that tells internal conflicts, searching buried memories, and the unravelling of a troubled man's story.

The soul in question is Lai, a graduate whom have left his hometown to further his studies elsewhere. Lai had to return back to his hometown of Kuala Tenang to settle matters with his estranged family. But exactly why? Lai couldn't remember. He found himself awoken after a car accident and in his hometown, familiar yet dreadful at the same time. Lai can't remember much but he is determined to figure out why.

The primary objectives of players is to search for clues to restore Lai's memories and unravel his story for answers. This is done through exploring the different parts of Kuala Tenang, places of Lai's experiences and memories. From his family home where he had many arguements to the school his future goals are formed. In these locations they will find Clues that fill in Lai's fragmented story, Items like Charms that dispel Entities or solves puzzles that stops the players from progressing further. Players will know they are temporarily safe when they encounter a Tea Table. A simple table with a cup of hot tea, serving as a checkpoint for players, and calming respite for Lai.

Unfortunately for Lai he is not alone in his distorted hometown. Entities are what players need to avoid when moving through the town to find clues. These entities are the local legends Lai heard about since young or simply manifestations of Lai's fears. As the representatives of fear they block the players from progressing further or seek to consume them. The players will have to deal with them by avoiding them or the using an item like Charms to dispel them. To be caught by the Entities is a quick end for Lai and the players.

The idea of Homecoming has it's inspiration from Silent Hill and Detention for their perspective on internal flaws and aspect of exploration. For this project the focus is on reflection of one's past actions and the will to confront them. It is an idea of what if one is forced to confront their internal conflicts when trapped in it. A purgatory-like plane where the inner thoughts and feelings of the person is manifested here. Homecoming aims to be like a puzzle board for players to piece together the whole picture.

With that next immediate step is the start of early coding on Unreal Engine 5 to put the game design to work and development will be tracked on this site. To top off the start of Homecoming's development, here below are some concept art I had done on the project. A showcase more on the game concept than art direction.