GameDev.TV's GameJam 2025 submission

Theme: "Tiny Worlds"

Story:

You're a treasure hunter, and you've finally found the artifact that has consumed your life for the past two years: Death's Defiance. 

Upon picking it up, you release an ancient evil that has been shackled to the mausoleum for eons. The witch An'kabora, a reanimated skeleton, has cast Curse of Insect on you, shrinking you to a fraction of your normal size and then teleporting you back into the Silent Woods where her minions are out for your blood. 

Navigate this gigantic world, slaying enough skeletons to enrage An'kabora for a final showdown. Will you defeat An'kabora and break the curse, or will you remain tiny, fighting for survival for all eternity?

Controls:

Movement: WASD

Attack: LMB (Left Mouse Button)

Pause Menu: ESC or P

Zoom-In/Out: Mouse Wheel Scroll

Credits:

Created by Logan Baucum and Andy Hotzler

Programmer: Logan Baucum

Technical Character Artist: Logan Baucum

Level Design: Logan Baucum

Game Design: Logan Baucum / Andy Hotzler

Combat Design: Logan Baucum / Andy Hotzler

Narrative Designer: Andy Hotzler

Writer: Andy Hotzler

A.I. Programmer: Logan Baucum

Features Planned for Version 1.0:

This is currently version 0.1 created for GameDev.TV's 2025 game jam. Below is a list of features we were unable to implement in time for the jam, but have the intention of implementing in the near future:

• Traits/abilities system
• Mini-bosses
• Random events (i.e. three NPCs the player rescues to trigger a dialogue and lore)

Tools Used:

• Unreal Engine 5.5.4
• FMOD Studio

Assets Used:

• KayKit Adventures
• KayKit Skeletons
• KayKit Forest Nature Pack
• KayKit HalloweenBits
• Basic VFX Pack (Free) by VfxSTOCK
• Textures from FreeStylized.com

Instructions to Launch Game:

1. Download the project file found below.
2. Extract the zipped folder to whichever folder you prefer.
3. Open the extracted folder.
4. Double-click the .exe file (thecurseofdeathsdefiance.exe)

Version Change Log :
v 0.1 ( May 26, 2025 )

• Initial release

v 0.1.01 ( May 27, 2025 )

• Fixed bug with the intro sequence advancing too quickly.
• Increased player attack speed from 1.0 to 1.75