Aether's Reach

Aether Reach is my final year game studio project, a cosy, side-scrolling endless runner where players glide through shifting biomes, collect relics, and avoid obstacles in an atmospheric, dreamlike world. The game blends responsive movement, soft visuals, and ambient audio to create a relaxing yet engaging experience.

As the sole programmer and UX/UI designer, I managed the full gameplay pipeline, from core systems to interface design. I implemented the player controller with momentum-based movement, gliding physics, knockback reactions, and speed-boost mechanics, refining controls with velocity-dependent physics and custom gravity scaling to ensure responsiveness at increasing speeds. I built a chunk-based procedural generation system supporting multiple biomes, distance-based progression, and dynamic relic placement. I also developed tools for modular chunk creation to facilitate future level design iterations.

On the UX and UI side, I designed modular, prefab-based interfaces such as relic counters and a “how to play” scroller, separating data from visuals for easy updates and reuse. I implemented diary and notification systems, deity dialogue logic, and player state tracking including currency and high scores. Scene transitions were handled with Unity’s additive loading system, allowing persistent background music and smooth flow between gameplay and non-gameplay scenes.

I enhanced the game’s atmosphere with a dynamic day-to-night cycle and fine-tuned camera behavior using Cinemachine for smooth, comfortable tracking at high speeds. Throughout development, I integrated animations, VFX, and audio cues, updating scripts and colliders as needed to maintain a polished, immersive experience.

This project strengthened my skills in gameplay programming, UI/UX design, environmental systems, and animation integration, while teaching me how to maintain flexible, maintainable code and deliver a polished, player-focused experience independently under production pressure.