Rockpool

Contributors

Mikaela – Provided branding and marketing direction, created the style guide, and designed the map scene, menus, and cover page. Her work gave the project a strong identity, visually tied the narrative together, and guided design decisions across the team. Iffah – Produced key character animations (Finn, Hans, Octavius) and environmental assets including coral, barnacles, and sun/moon cycles. She also created cutscenes for Finn, Hans, and the game’s intro and ending sequences, while offering valuable technical guidance for smooth integration into Unity. Dani – Delivered a large volume of character and environmental animations, including Captain Claw and Pearl with their cutscenes, as well as UI icons and compass assets. Her contribution to the key progression mechanic (the compass) was seamlessly crafted, and her overall design input greatly influenced the game’s aesthetic. Liam – Composed and implemented a full audio landscape, from playful UI clicks to layered ambient soundscapes that shifted with the time of day. He also directed and integrated voice acting, ensuring each character’s personality was supported by sound. His work elevated the emotional depth and atmosphere of the game, making the world feel cohesive and alive. Sangeeta – Led programming, narrative design, and integration, ensuring mechanics, art, and audio came together cohesively. Coordinated assets, implemented feedback, and maintained the project’s overall vision.

Submission Date

17-8-2025

Resource Type

Software (all forms)

File Format

The playable build of Rockpool is hosted externally via itch.io for accessibility and file size management: https://yourgame.itch.io/rockpool

Format Note

Built in Unity

Abstract

Rockpool is a 2.5D, family-friendly narrative game set in an Australian rockpool. Players care for a small community of hermit crabs who carry their homes on their backs, helping them recover and reconnect after a storm. Through gentle exploration and drag-and-drop interactions—feeding preferences, swapping homes, and collecting treasures—players respond to each crab’s personality and emotional cues. The design encourages conversations about resilience, emotional regulation, and belonging, with minimal text and clear audio/visual feedback so children (5–12) can play independently or alongside a parent or older sibling. Developed in Unity by a small multidisciplinary team, the project combines bespoke character animation, ambient sound design, and a lightweight UI. A community “chuffed compass” reflects overall wellbeing and guides player decisions without heavy instruction. The aim is a calm, replayable experience that feels like a picture book you can play, offering a comforting shared play space for young families. The submission includes a playable build and supporting documentation (GDD, itch page, target market research, instagram marketing page and inital pitch)

Note

Genre: 2.5D Cozy Narrative Game (Family-friendly, Educational)

Playable Build: Rockpool on itch.io
(Playable in browser; recommended Chrome/Edge for WebGL)

Additional Files Submitted: Game Design Document (PDF), Target Research (PDF), Inital Pitch (PDF), Unity Build (ZIP).

Acknowledgements: Created as part of SAE Major Project. Special thanks to all contributors — Mikaela (branding/style guide/UI), Iffah (animations/environment/UI), Dani (animations/environment/UI), Liam (audio engineer), and Sangeeta (programming/narrative/integration).

Audience

General (G) - suitable for everyone

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Lachmaiya, S., Becchio, M., Anarwala, I., Li, D., & Campbell, L. (2025). Rockpool: A 2.5D cozy narrative game [Bachelor's Major Project, SAE University College]. Creo.

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