Bonehead is a 3D platformer in which you play as Bonehead, a skeleton who uses his bone-based moveset to interact with the world and collect artifacts in order to restore his lost memories.
Category: GDAP
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Krovna
Krovna is a first-person folk horror puzzle game set inside a living Slavic house. At its center is Lika, who finds herself back at her family’s house after years away, brought there by something beyond her control.
Krovna is a first-person folk horror puzzle game set inside a living Slavic house. At its center is Lika, who finds herself back at her family’s house after years away, brought there by something beyond her control. The house shifts around her: doors lead somewhere new, objects appear and disappear. Something lives in the dark, watching her every step. To find her way out, she must use spells to shift the house to her advantage and uncover three acts of family secrets buried for generations. The deeper she goes, the more the house gives her reasons to stay. It will make the curse feel like a gift. It will make the bloodline feel like belonging. The ending depends on every choice she makes along the way.
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Flamel’s Requiem
Discover and experiment with unstable alchemy to uncover the secrets of your family’s past. Your research unfolds in a family-owned research base carved into volcanic ice caves, but something else has already claimed this space. As you rely on alchemy, each reaction draws both you and the occupant one step closer to their goals.
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Memorium
Memorium is a story about loss of identity and rediscovering oneself. Players take the role of an amnesiac child who is given a mission by a mysterious voice to fish for the Horrors of the Sea in order to save the inhabitants of an island from a cataclysmic flood.
Memorium is a story about loss of identity and rediscovering oneself. Players take the role of an amnesiac child who is given a mission by a mysterious voice to fish for the Horrors of the Sea in order to save the inhabitants of an island from a cataclysmic flood. Memorium combines the tactical combat of Final Fantasy with the choice-driven storytelling of Undertale. It is your choice, do you obey the voice and follow it is plan, or do you rebel against it and find your own way through the flood? No path is without consequences, so choose carefully.
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Kin Tandem
In Kin Tandem, a new local co-op adventure, take the role of a pair of feline siblings as they climb their way through a magic temple. Work in tandem to combine Barsa’s strength with Manu’s spells as you solve challenges and defeat enemies.
Deflect, Dash, Conquer: The Making of Ricochet Ronin
Precision, agility, and strategy come together in Ricochet Ronin, a fast-paced action platformer developed by Team Ronin, a group of junior-year GDAP students. Blending the intensity of bullet hell mechanics with fluid platforming, the game takes players on a journey through a world inspired by the fusion of Wild West and Feudal Japan aesthetics.
Game Overview: Ricochet Ronin
Ricochet Ronin challenges players to embody a lone warrior practicing the ancient art of Yadomejutsu—deflecting enemy bullets back at them using a katana. The game rewards precise timing and strategic movement as players navigate treacherous environments and battle foes in a visually striking pixel-art world.
Key Features
- Precision-based combat where players can only damage enemies by deflecting their bullets
- Fast-paced platforming that demands agility and quick reflexes
- A unique blend of pixel art and traditional Japanese aesthetics
- Designed for PC (Steam), appealing to fans of action and bullet hell games
The Development Process
The team’s journey began with detailed mockups, including storyboards, character designs, and level layouts that shaped the game’s distinctive identity. With a strong emphasis on tight gameplay mechanics, the team iterated on movement physics and enemy AI to ensure a rewarding and skill-based experience.
Challenges and Solutions
One of the major challenges faced by the team was balancing difficulty—ensuring that the precision-based mechanics felt challenging yet fair. To achieve this, they fine-tuned enemy attack patterns and adjusted timing windows for bullet deflection, creating a gameplay loop that is both intense and rewarding.
Final Presentation and Future Plans
As part of the final showcase, Team Ronin presented Ricochet Ronin to faculty and peers, detailing their creative and technical achievements. Their final pitch highlighted future expansions, including new levels, boss fights, and additional gameplay mechanics.
With plans to refine the experience further and expand on its core mechanics, Ricochet Ronin showcases the talent and dedication of Team Ronin. The game’s unique blend of fast-paced action and strategic combat has set the stage for future iterations and potential industry opportunities.
HoloGraphic: A Cyberpunk Deckbuilder
Game development is an intricate process that blends creativity, strategy, and technical prowess. Team HoloGraphic, a dedicated group of junior-year GDAP students, embarked on this journey to create HoloGraphic, a deckbuilder roguelike set in a cyberpunk future. Their game challenges players to think like a genius hacker, rewarding clever problem-solving and strategic decision-making.
Game Overview: HoloGraphic
HoloGraphic transports players into a high-tech cyberpunk world, where they take on the role of an elite hacker navigating a dystopian landscape. The game’s mechanics emphasize strategic deck-building, allowing players to outmaneuver security systems, break through digital firewalls, and uncover hidden secrets.
Unique Selling Points
- A cyberpunk aesthetic with immersive world-building
- Strategic deck-building mechanics that reward creativity
- A game designed for PC (Steam), targeting players aged 18–27
The Development Process
The team meticulously crafted their game concept, starting with a detailed mockup phase that included concept art, mood boards, and storyboards to establish the game’s visual identity and narrative direction. Their work evolved through multiple iterations, refining both gameplay mechanics and the overall player experience.
Challenges and Innovations
One of the biggest challenges the team faced was balancing the complexity of the deck-building mechanics with accessibility for new players. To tackle this, they designed an intuitive onboarding experience that gradually introduces players to advanced mechanics without overwhelming them.
Final Presentation and Future Plans
HoloGraphic was pitched as part of the GMAP 377 final showcase, where the team presented their polished concept, gameplay mechanics, and future expansion plans. While the initial Minimum Viable Product (MVP) was targeted for a December 2022 release, the team envisioned expanding the game with additional content by March 2023.
The team sees great potential for further development, hoping to refine the mechanics and expand the narrative scope. Their dedication and innovation in designing HoloGraphic showcase the talent and ambition of Drexel’s GDAP students.
House of the BloodKnots: A Haunting Horror Platformer by Team Plastic Coffin
Horror and platforming collide in House of the BloodKnots, a haunting narrative-driven game developed by Team Plastic Coffin, a group of junior-year GDAP students. Combining eerie storytelling, dark magic, and intense platforming mechanics, the game immerses players in a chilling world where family secrets hold terrifying truths.
Game Overview: House of the BloodKnots
House of the BloodKnots follows the story of Mace BloodKnot, a young boy who uncovers the horrifying legacy of his family. With the help of his loyal dog Sickle, Mace must battle his own kin—members of a lineage that has used dark magic to manipulate souls for their gain.
Key Features
- A gothic horror-inspired narrative that unfolds through exploration and combat
- Pixelated 2.5D art style blending eerie 3D environments with haunting 2D sprites
- Challenging platforming mechanics with dark magic-infused enemy encounters
- Designed for PC (Steam), targeting fans of horror and atmospheric platformers
The Development Process
Team Plastic Coffin approached their game with a focus on immersive world-building and unsettling atmosphere. Their early development phase included designing mood boards, crafting eerie character designs, and establishing the game’s sinister tone through environment art and soundscapes.
Challenges and Creative Solutions
One of the core challenges the team faced was balancing the unsettling horror elements with engaging platforming mechanics. To maintain tension while keeping gameplay dynamic, they implemented eerie enemy designs and interactive level elements that force players to adapt and strategize.
Final Presentation and Future Goals
House of the BloodKnots was showcased as part of the final presentations, where the team highlighted their creative direction, gameplay mechanics, and future expansion plans. The game’s unique horror aesthetic and dark narrative captivated audiences, sparking interest in further development.
Looking ahead, Team Plastic Coffin aims to refine their mechanics, expand the game’s lore, and introduce additional levels and boss encounters. Their work on House of the BloodKnots showcases their ability to blend storytelling and gameplay into an unforgettable horror experience.
Sophomore Year as a GDAP Student
Sophomore year in Drexel’s Game Design & Production (GDAP) program is where students transition from learning the basics to building fully interactive and engaging games. This year focuses on game mechanics, programming, 3D modeling, and team-based development, helping students refine their skills and start thinking about their specialization in the gaming industry.
Core Classes
Sophomore-year courses dive deeper into game engines, design principles, and technical skills. Some key classes include:
Scripting for Game Design (GMAP231): This course explores modern game engine scripting languages that are event-driven, control the art assets, provide multiplayer communication, and database access.
Character Animation for Gaming (GMAP367): This course focuses on character animation techniques for real-time graphics, including cyclical animations, procedural animation, motion capture and integration into game engines.
Game User Interface Design (GMAP211): This course explores the design, prototyping, and evaluation of game user interfaces, focusing on human capabilities, input technologies, and design principles. Students learn to create visually appealing, efficient interfaces through key concepts like learnability, visibility, error prevention, and user perception.
Overview of Computer Gaming (GMAP260): This course presents an overview of computer gaming, including its history, its foundation in traditional games and its contemporary forms. The relationship among genres, platforms and audiences are examined and critical evaluation skills are developed.
Skills You’ll Develop
Sophomore year expands both technical and creative abilities to prepare students for larger game projects:
Advanced Game Programming – Implement complex gameplay mechanics using C# (Unity) or Blueprints/C++ (Unreal Engine).
3D Asset Creation & Animation – Model, texture, and rig game-ready assets for real-time rendering.
Game Design Documentation & Prototyping – Develop structured plans and iterate based on playtesting feedback.
Multiplayer & AI Integration – Experiment with online gameplay and enemy behavior systems.
Projects & Challenges
Sophomore year focuses on team-based projects and expanding creative problem-solving skills. Expect assignments like:
First-Person/Third-Person Prototype – Developing a playable character with movement, interactions, and physics.
3D Game Environment Design – Modeling and texturing immersive game worlds.
Interactive Story Project – Writing and developing a branching narrative experience using Twine or Unity.
AI & Enemy Behavior System – Programming non-playable characters (NPCs) with decision-making logic.
A key challenge at this stage is team collaboration—learning to work efficiently with artists, programmers, and designers in a structured game development pipeline.
Tips for Success
Master your tools. Get comfortable with Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, and game scripting.
Test & iterate constantly. Playtesting is crucial—get feedback early and refine your work.
Build a specialized skillset. Whether it’s level design, AI programming, animation, or storytelling, start focusing on an area of expertise.
Join game dev communities. Participate in game jams, online forums, and networking events to build connections.
Looking Ahead
Sophomore year sets the stage for real-world experience—pre-junior year will involve more polished game projects, portfolio-building, and preparation for co-op applications. Whether focusing on design, programming, or art, now is the time to sharpen skills for future success in the game industry.
Pre-Junior Year as a GDAP Student
Pre-junior year in Drexel’s Game Design & Production (GDAP) program is a critical step toward specialization and professional development. At this stage, students are no longer just learning the fundamentals—they are refining their skills, developing industry-ready projects, and preparing for co-op applications. This year is about team collaboration, portfolio-building, and deepening expertise in game design, programming, or art.
Core Classes
As coursework becomes more advanced, students focus on game production pipelines, optimization techniques, and industry standards. Some key classes include:
Game Development Foundations (GMAP345): This course introduces students to the computer game design process. Students also learn how the individual skills of modeling, animation, scripting, interface design and storytelling are coordinated to produce interactive media experiences.
Advanced Game Design and Production (GMAP395): This course will step through the various modules of game engines, enabling students to gain access to real-time shaders and materials, particle systems and animation techniques.
Advanced Portfolio (GMAP246): This course focuses on building skills for the career-long practice of producing and maintaining a professional creative portfolio while allowing the students the opportunity to create or refine additional student-driven portfolio work that synthesizes their skills and experience from direct class assignments in their other coursework.
GMAP Electives: Many students explore course electives to focus on building their skills in the area of GDAP that they want to pursue after graduation.
Skills You’ll Develop
This year is all about polishing skills and applying them to real-world projects:
- Advanced Gameplay Systems: Designing and implementing AI behavior, combat mechanics, and complex interactions
- Optimized 3D Art & Animation: Creating high-quality assets for real-time performance
- Multiplayer & Networking: Understanding online play, matchmaking, and real-time data sync
- Portfolio Development & Industry Prep: Project refinement for co-op and job readiness
Projects & Challenges
With an increased focus on team-based development, students work on projects that mimic real-world production cycles:
- Fully Playable Game Prototype: Custom mechanics, AI systems, and visual polish
- Expansive 3D Level Design: Story-driven, interactive environments
- Multiplayer Game Project: Networking features for real-time multiplayer
- Portfolio & Demo Reel Creation: Polished assets showcasing technical/artistic skills
A major challenge this year is finding a specialization—whether in design, programming, art, technical development, or UX/UI for games.
Tips for Success
- Apply early for co-op: The most competitive positions are filled early.
- Develop a standout portfolio: Prioritize quality over quantity with refined case studies.
- Collaborate like a pro: Use Agile, version control (Git), and project management tools effectively.
- Network with professionals: Attend game dev events and connect with the industry.
Looking Ahead
Pre-junior year is all about preparing for professional experience. Junior-year co-op placements will allow students to work in real game studios, apply their skills in production settings, and gain valuable industry insights. The next step? Putting those skills to the test in the real world.