Don't Drown

The Flemish coast has a long and complex history. Its modern landscape is the result of a continuous interaction between natural forces—such as tides, storms, and sediment movement—and centuries of human intervention. Although extensive research has already uncovered much about this region, many detailed questions remain unanswered. One of the most significant uncertainties concerns how the coastline evolved over the past 5,000 years and how these changes affected the people who once lived there.

This project was commissioned by DAE Research on behalf of the Testerep Project, a historical research initiative dedicated to uncovering the lost history of the Testerep geographical area located off the Belgian coastline. In 2025, Testerep will host an exhibition presenting their latest findings, and they wanted an interactive game experience to accompany the exhibition and spark curiosity among visitors. This request was assigned to us as a group project, through which three out of five students went on to form this company.

The game takes place in a confined 3×3 meter play area and puts the player inside a small house facing an inevitable disaster. Drawing inspiration from the real historical fate of Testerep, the goal of the game is not to survive indefinitely, but to survive for as long as possible. As the environment becomes increasingly hostile, players must act quickly and strategically to delay the inevitable.

Players can smash furniture into planks and sticks, use these materials to barricade doors and windows, and plug holes to keep the threat at bay. Every decision matters, as time and resources are limited. Once the player ultimately succumbs, their score is uploaded to a global leaderboard, encouraging replayability and friendly competition as players attempt to outlast their previous runs and those of other visitors.

Through this experience, the game aims to translate historical research into an engaging, emotional, and memorable interactive encounter, helping visitors better understand the fragile relationship between humans and the ever-changing Flemish coastline.