IANOS (Twine Game)

IANOS is a visually-rich, choice-based narrative game in which the player assumes control of Janus, a university student who—through a series of optimistic hallucinations—imagines having the power to manipulate time, save lives, and avert disasters. However, these visions become progressively less glamorous, less successful, and less rewarding as the scenarios become darker and more complex. The game’s title, as well as the name of the protagonist—from the Roman god of beginnings, endings, transitions, and time—pays homage to consequences, both intended and unintended, that lead to success or failure. The game serves as an attempt to enter conversations about heroism, determinism, and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, dissociation, substance abuse. The game was produced with 4 other students for a Media Arts and Design class, “Critical Videogame Studies,” at the University of Chicago in December 2019. My position was co-writer and co-programmer.

A Windows version is available to download at: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zeso-w7eBF-xsx4iWm5oxzRtCyaQJAps?usp=sharing

Here is a brief trailer for the 20-minute game: