Concept

Game Identity

Kitsunebi translates roughly to fox fire and is described as a mysterious pale fire often seen in fields and mountains at night. It is said to light up places where there are no roads and make humans lose their way.

• Genre: Action Adventure
• Platform: PC
• Target audience: Adults with interest in Japanese culture and folklore
• Comparable games: Unknown

The Core Fantasy

The player should feel enshrouded in mystery, exploring a world that is not understood with rules that are not known. The character should move around swiftly and quietly, like a phantom.

The player experience is focused on the perspective of a supernatural spirit navigating through ancient Japan.

The Hook

This game stands out due to the unique mechanics and perspective that playing as a Kitsune spirit entails.

The story is powerful because it highlights many enticing components of storytelling, including themes such as inherited prejudice, betrayal, student-master relationship, and is rooted in Kitsune mythology.

The setting is perfect for this story since the aesthetic blends well with the mechanics of the game, with lanterns, ancient Japanese architecture, and the spirituality that coexisted with life in that era. The folklore is also grounded in the culture of the time.

Tone & Mood

Invokes emotions of wonder, magic, and curiousity. Throughout the investigation, suspense and danger should start to settle in.

Some reference points include SIFU, The Apothecary Diaries, Hollow Knight, Onmyoji, and Ghost of Tsushima.

What this game is not

Not action first. The point of the game is to explore and investigate. Combat should be a last resort.

Not a love story. The relationships in the game are meaningful but not romantic.

Not comic or lighthearted.

The Player Experience Arc

Towards the beginning of the game, the player should feel week, but excited for the potential power that they can acquire throughout the game. They should be curious about the story and excited to uncover the truth.

As the game progresses, the sense of mystery should increase, as well as the strength and power of the player. With each tail gained, new abilities and possibilities are unlocked, encouraging the player to continue gameplay.

By the end of the game, the player should feel acomplished and satisfied. With all powers unlocked, they are able to revisit old areas of the map and complete all side missions.

Core Loop Summary

In each area of the game, the player should use their abilities to discover clues, investigate by asking people questions, uncover truth, and complete a series of trials to unlock the next area.

Scope Statement

The game is separated into different areas, with each area being big enough to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour investigating. The goal is to make 5 areas, plus a start point and final arena.

As a solo developer, the amount of detail in each area will depend on the degree of collaboration and support from you!

For this project to be successful, the game should be an enjoyable experience with 7-10 hours of main story gameplay, an impactful story that changes the players perspective, and the game should be polished and imersive.