Existentialism meets Zork in surreal, modern text adventure “[I] doesn’t exist”

Today, powerhouse indie horror publisher DreadXP and developer LUAL Games launch their foray into gamified self-conceptualization with [I] doesn't exist — a modern text adventure exploring control, isolation, and mental health themes. 

Taking cues from cherished works like The Beginner's Guide, Stories Untold, Buddy Simulator, and Zork, [I] doesn't exist pays homage to the roots of narrative-driven #gaming while elevating the text adventure genre. By incorporating conversational text recognition, captivating and surreal pixel art, and unconventional, intrapersonal themes, [I] doesn't exist prompts players to introspect what it really means to be "human."

In the game, players awake in an unfamiliar forest with illogical scenery and oddities like friendly, talking mushrooms. As they command their in-game avatar and contemplate the solution to puzzles (and the meaning of their existence) to escape the seemingly innocuous forest, the façade begins to show its cracks to reveal something... darker.

Utilizing a mix of 2D and 3D perspective through optical illusion, [I] doesn't exist leads players through a trippy, dreamlike experience crafted to reflect the title's surreal tale. The game's trance-like visuals and text-based narrative design, supported by modern "Natural Language Processing" technology — which allows players to creatively answer in-game prompts without sticking to a set of specific terms, makes for an eerily intuitive gameplay experience that's accessible to newbies and text-adventure veterans alike. 

Further information in the press release to download