Ghost Roommate

A narrative game about the ghosts of memory and emotional suppression.

DATE

2025

CONTEXT

Created in the Winter 2025 DMA 127: Interactive Animation, taught by Jenna Caravello

MEDIUM

Unity2d

PEOPLE

Kae Gao  :  Game Design, Concept, Visuals, and Programming

Ghost Roommate is a narrative game set in a school dorm that is open to interpretation depending on the perspective and emotional state the player has in the moment. The story is lighthearted and slightly surreal—a sleepwalking journey through familiar spaces with a small twist regarding the protagonist’s true identity—that explores themes of suppressed emotion and the complexity of human connection.

A “ghost” figure wanders during the main characters sleep, representing the repressed aspects of her subconscious—impulses she cannot express, unresolved feelings, and unspoken mistrust toward others. By allowing these hidden parts to surface through interactive play, the game gives form to what is often unacknowledged or deemed unacceptable. Ultimately, the piece seeks to make the invisible visible. In doing so, it invites reflection on the disconnection that can result from emotional suppression—and offers the possibility of reconnection, both with oneself and with others.