Dragon Rider: Pre-Trials

Inspiration

This project was inspired by the novel Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. The world of Basgiath War College, the life-or-death training, and the intense process of earning a dragon felt like a perfect fit for an interactive obstacle-based experience. I wanted to create a game where players could feel the pressure, excitement, and accomplishment within the Meta Horizon platform.

What it does

Dragon Rider: Pre-Trials is a jump-based obstacle course. Players take on the role of a cadet at Basgiath War College and must survive a series of dangerous static trials using only jump and super jump mechanics. The goal is to complete the course and earn your dragon, proving you're worthy of becoming a rider.

How we built it

I used the Rooftop Racers template in Meta Horizon as a starting point and transformed it into a grounded, fantasy-themed obstacle course. The game is built using only static elements with jump and super jump mechanics. There are no animations or advanced scripting, making it beginner-friendly and focused purely on player timing and control. Each part of the course reflects challenges inspired by the book: such as the parapet walk, tower climbs, and platform hops.

Challenges we ran into

Limited mechanics: With only jump and super jump available, I had to get creative with platform layout to make each section feel different and challenging.
No animations: I couldn’t rely on moving parts or timed obstacles, so I focused on visual design and level pacing to simulate danger and pressure.
Learning the tools: As a first-time world builder in Meta Horizon, figuring out environment layout, testing movement distances, and building within the editor all took time and patience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully built and themed a full obstacle course with no prior Horizon experience.
Captured the tension and intensity of the Fourth Wing training experience using simple design techniques.
Created a fully playable, polished game that stays true to the spirit of the book.

What we learned

As someone with no prior experience building in Meta Horizon, I learned how to:

Work within a prebuilt template and repurpose it into a unique idea
Use spacing, platform height, and texture to create challenge and atmosphere without moving parts
Plan level flow and keep difficulty balanced for new players

It also taught me how to adapt a story-based concept into interactive gameplay while working with simple mechanics.

What's next for Dragon Rider: Pre-Trials

The next phase of the experience will expand the story beyond the initial trials. After completing the course, players will:

Choose a dragon from a selection of available types, each with unique visual traits
Ride their dragon through a second obstacle course, designed to simulate high-stakes aerial training
If they successfully complete the dragon flight challenge, they’ll unlock a randomly assigned signet ability (e.g., lightning manipulation, enhanced senses, or shield projection)

These abilities will be displayed visually and serve as a badge of honor or potential power-up for future expansions.

This next chapter will bring more interactivity, personalization, and deeper immersion into the Fourth Wing world.