Intention

Transform Plinko from a simple, repetitive gameplay loop into a more engaging and varied experience.

Design Choices

I designed and programmed game boards with a variety of shapes, along with pegs featuring unique behaviors. For example, some pegs make the ball bounce, while others flash. These mechanics are intended to surprise the player and encourage different ways of interacting with the ball.

The diversity of board layouts also reinforces the game's narrative beyond written dialogue. For instance, during a scene focused on the choice of whether or not to use a potion, the board takes the shape of a potion bottle.

Intention

Preserve the randomness that supports the game's narrative while giving the player a tool to avoid relying entirely on chance, allowing them to take an active role in the gameplay.

Design Choices

The player can place tokens on the board at any time, even after launching the ball. They can also earn additional tokens depending on which slot the ball lands in. This mechanic allows them to influence the ball's trajectory while introducing an element of timing and real-time decision-making.

Intention

Turn Plinko, a game often seen as simple and repetitive, into a mechanic that actively drives the narrative.

Design Choices

Every outcome leads to different consequences and scenes. The protagonist's fate depends directly on the player's performance, creating a constant connection between gameplay and storytelling. Branching paths encourage replayability for players who want to uncover every outcome and discover the game's hidden secrets.

Plinko perfectly reflects the themes explored by the game. The protagonist takes part in a deadly game in the hope of winning enough money to escape poverty. The game's central themes are fatalism, alienation, and the loss of control.