Sea of Chaos
Project Overview
Client
Personal
My Role
System & UX/UI Designer
Timeline
April 2023 - May 2023
A single-player, print-and-play card game entirely created by me. My goal with this project was to design a fun and engaging solo experience that players can enjoy and replay multiple times.
Story
My goal with this card game was to create an enjoyable single-player experience that’s fun to replay. Inspired by the excitement of rolling dice in Snakes and Ladders, I wanted to recreate that same thrill through random card flipping. Each game generates a new pattern, making players feel eager and excited with every card they reveal.
How To Play
Download PDF
Print out the PDF
Cut into a card shape
Play!
Problem & Solution
Problem:
Most of the cards in the game only have a one-time effect and are not very exciting:
One of the cards, called Leviathan, simply says "It's Leviathan game over!" in its description. Unfortunately, due to the random nature of the game, one of my friends who had bad luck ended up drawing Leviathan on their first try.
Solution:
I rewrote most of the card effects since most of them are too strong, and I wanted to eliminate one-hit effects from most cards. In the updated version of the game, there will be an element of luck involved. For example, when the player meets with Leviathan, the player will need to roll a dice for themselves and Leviathan. The player must score higher than Leviathan. If they don't, the game will be over.
Before
After
Problem:
Many players tend to ignore the Shopkeepers:
The player only pays attention to them if they happen to be on the path that the player has chosen to take. It seems that there are no compelling reasons for players to spend their time interacting with the Shopkeeper. However, my aim is to enhance the importance of the shopkeepers in the game and make their role more integral to the gameplay.
Solution:
I changed all the game rules and decided that there would be two decks in the game: The Black Decks, which would be used in the first round, and The Red Decks, which would be used in the second round (once the player had reached the island). The primary objective of The Black Decks is to maximize the player's enjoyment of earning money, while on the return journey (Red Decks), the player must strive to survive with their earned funds. With this idea, the Shopkeeper system can be incorporated into the game rather than just being a decoration or a pathway. With this version, the Shopkeeper is a go-to card if the player almost runs out of health. In order to encourage players to take a left or right path instead of going straight, I placed a Shopkeeper at a fixed location on each side of the map. After completing this third draft, I can sense a hint of excitement in every player's movement.
