The Sanc: Only One Way Out

For the Algorithm project, I created a Bitsy game called The Sanc. The intention behind my game is to understand working under pressure towards a goal, with the knowledge of other options sufficing. In the game, the player (called the keeper) is trying to find a key in order to close the gate to stop the kept (beings that are being held in the Sanc) from escaping.

My goal for this project was to produce over five endings, and I ultimately produced nine. I really wanted to experiment with how I could direct players to different endings, while also granting them freedom to choose (and make mistakes). I enacted a one-life element in the gameplay, where the player gets a single chance to survive. All of the exits, excluding endings, are designed as “one-way exits”, ensuring that the players feel responsible for decisions while also constricted by the limitation of once chance play.

I also made sure to include multiple characters throughout the game that featured dialogue that shaped the player's choices. For example, there are two instances in The Sanc that allow players to exit the trajectory of the game, choose a different career, and consequently end the game. While these characters do not “succeed,” they reach the ending quicker than players who might choose to continue playing. Incorporating these choices were really important to me when creating this game.

Overall, The Sanc reflects my interest in creating interactive narratives that emphasize choice, responsibility, and the emotional weight of limited chances.