Pinko Linko’s School is a ’90s-inspired educational game with a dark twist,
a solo project I created to explore minigame design and expand my understanding of Unreal Engine. My main focus was to experiment with a different aspect of Unreal that I wasn’t too familiar with—while also having fun creating a weird, unsettling experience.
a solo project I created to explore minigame design and expand my understanding of Unreal Engine. My main focus was to experiment with a different aspect of Unreal that I wasn’t too familiar with—while also having fun creating a weird, unsettling experience.
One of the more interesting mechanics I worked on was manipulating save states to create the illusion of a game crash. Instead of a traditional reset, the game relocates the player to an unexpected place, adding to the eerie, ARG-inspired atmosphere. I drew a lot of inspiration from Alternate Reality Games (ARGs), but on a much smaller scale, using subtle design choices to make players question what was really happening.
Seeing Pinko Linko get picked up by indie game recommendation sites and reviews has been incredibly humbling. Watching people play, discuss, and recommend something I built on my own has been an amazing experience.
If you’re curious, Pinko Linko’s School is available for download below!