-
-
libraries used
-
godot ui screen
-
the game
-
-
Inspiration
We wanted to create a game that captures the feeling of panic, uncertainty, and constant pressure during critical decision-making. Inspired by games like Papers Please, FTL, and the social tension of Among Us, we combined psychological stress with fast-paced deduction mechanics. The Oink Game Jam themes “UNDER PRESSURE” and “IMPOSTER” immediately sparked the idea of a spaceship inspection officer trying to identify hidden imposters before the station collapses.
What it does
Pressure Protocol is a retro sci-fi deduction game where players inspect suspicious crew members and cargo under intense time pressure. Every round, the player must decide whether to:
- ACCEPT
- QUARANTINE
- EJECT
One wrong decision increases station pressure, triggering alarms, visual glitches, screen distortion, and escalating chaos. As pressure rises, gameplay becomes faster, harder, and more intense until the station reaches total meltdown.
The game combines:
- randomized suspects
- pressure-based difficulty scaling
- CRT-style visuals
- tension-driven sound design
- fast replayable gameplay loops
How we built it
We built the game using:
- Godot 4
- GDScript
- Handmade pixel-art inspired visuals
- Custom UI systems
- Dynamic pressure mechanics
- HTML5 browser export for easy accessibility
The game architecture was designed around modular systems:
- Game Manager
- Pressure System
- Randomized Imposter Generator
- UI & Feedback System
- Audio & Visual Effects Layer
We focused heavily on game feel:
- screen shake
- flashing alerts
- glitch effects
- animated UI feedback
- panic-mode escalation
The retro CRT aesthetic helped reinforce the atmosphere while keeping the scope achievable within the game jam timeframe.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was balancing tension without overwhelming the player too quickly. We spent significant time tuning:
- pressure scaling
- timer difficulty
- visual effects intensity
- pacing of rounds
Another challenge was creating strong visual feedback using lightweight assets while maintaining browser performance. Since the game needed to run smoothly in HTML5, optimization became extremely important.
We also experimented with procedural suspect generation to ensure each round felt unpredictable and replayable.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are especially proud of:
- creating a polished retro sci-fi atmosphere
- building a fully browser-playable game
- designing an escalating pressure mechanic that directly affects gameplay and visuals
- making the experience easy to understand but difficult to master
The combination of tension, humor, and chaos created memorable moments that fit the jam themes perfectly.
We also successfully created:
- dynamic UI feedback
- randomized imposter encounters
- immersive CRT/glitch visual systems
- panic-mode transitions
What we learned
During development we learned:
- how important game feel and audio feedback are in short-form games
- how visual effects can directly impact player emotion
- techniques for optimizing Godot projects for browser export
- how to scope features realistically during a game jam
We also learned that simple mechanics combined with strong feedback loops can create highly engaging gameplay.
What's next for Pressure Protocol
We would love to expand Pressure Protocol into a larger experience with:
- multiple station environments
- advanced imposter behaviors
- story-driven events
- additional game modes
- leaderboard systems
- more visual corruption effects
- unlockable upgrades and abilities
We also plan to improve:
- accessibility
- balancing
- sound design
- procedural generation systems
This project started as a game jam concept, but we believe it has the potential to grow into a unique indie horror/deduction game experience.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.