Before The Train Leaves
An interactive story about goodbyes, choices, and what lingers after
On a station between departure and hesitation, players uncover memories and decide what to hold onto before everything moves on
Boundaries That Shaped the Game
This is my first solo game, created in Figma over few days. With no prior engine experience, I pushed the limits of the tool I knew to explore narrative design and emotional choice-making. The project became both an experiment in game design fundamentals and a personal story about how small interactions can carry deep meaning.
Game Design
Narrative Design
Visuals
Character Design
Inspiration
Where the Journey Began
I drew inspiration from Dear Devere, a visual narrative game told entirely through letters. I was fascinated by how simple interactions could carry such emotional weight, and I wanted to explore that same intimacy using visuals and choices to let a story unfold quietly, yet powerfully.
Dear Devere
Steam
Mechanics
Conversations, fragments, and time
Players make small choices in dialogue, gather scattered memories, and feel the weight of an inevitable departure.
01
Dialogue choices → shape the tone of goodbye, not the outcome
02
Atmospheric time → departure is felt, not forced by a timer
03
Linear journey, emotional branches → the train leaves, but the meaning shifts with choices.
Character Design
People, Not Just Play Pieces
Details
You
The characters are intentionally abstract. Named You and Them, they invite players to project their own relationships into the story. The departing figure is shown as a silhouette, open to interpretation, while the shifting color of the gem reflects the evolving emotions between them.
Them
A spark of mutual feelings, fragile yet present.
A deeper bond, love in any form it chooses to take.
Emptiness between them, where nothing remains.
Environment Design
Not just a backdrop, but a silent storyteller
Minimalist environments supported the story without distraction, keeping emotions and choices in focus.
Inspired by Toem
It’s all packed. Feels... heavier than I thought
Them
This is it, I guess
Them
Narrative Design
Story That Linger After Silence
Every choice shaped silence more than dialogue. By keeping what’s unsaid at the heart of the story, I aimed to make players pause, reflect, and feel the tension of farewell.
It’s all packed. Feels... heavier than I thought
Blueprint - players flow through the game
Reflections & Learnings
Looking Back, Moving Forward
I learned the value of creating first and refining later. Mixing visuals, sound, and interactions showed me how different elements come together to form a complete experience. Collaboration expanded the project beyond my own skills, and I realized that limitations can actually spark creativity.
ProtoType
Testing the Story in Motion
Collaborated with a friend to bring the game to life using Cursor. Over a few days, we added music, interactions, and polish. Transforming the concept into a playable experience.
Credits
Coding: Vaibhav Singh
Music: Aryan Singh (a.k.a. Circle Tone)
PlaYTESTING
Learning from Players
Players often moved faster than intended, missing subtle narrative cues and feeling unsure about what to do next. Some sought a richer storyline to stay emotionally engaged, while others wanted clearer feedback after each decision. These insights highlighted pacing and feedback as key areas for improvement. I made minor UI refinements for clarity but chose to retain the original structure to preserve the game’s raw experimental nature.