Direction

Click the fullscreen button to play after opening the game.

Direction is a 2D platformer that toys with instruction and controls to create a frustrating feeling of helplessness. Within neurodivergent individuals, a helpless feeling could be caused when approaching a new or difficult situation without proper guidance. To reflect this feeling, the game gives very little instruction, only a small “Help” button in the top rightmost corner that briefly tells the player what buttons are used to move. The goal is to traverse the small map and collect cherries, which then trigger changes to the controls, producing confusion and helplessness in the player. This mini-game showcases the gap between rule/instruction and successful action, particularly in cases where the directions are limited and confusing. To complete the game, the player must learn to accommodate the odd controls while learning that rules do not always translate to successful actions.