Rising River

An AI-powered desktop game exploring the shadow self through storytelling and reflection.

Tools: Unreal Engine 5

Collaborators: Lois He, John Luo, Vio Zhu, Kris Zhao

Role: Game Programming

Demo:

About the Work:

Rising River is a narrative-driven experience rooted in Jungian psychology and digital journaling. Players embark on a symbolic quest to revitalize a withered, shadow-filled river—each step powered by personal storytelling.

As players write and reflect, the environment responds: waters return, colors shift, and shadows begin to lift. Rather than progressing through levels or combat, players evolve through introspection. The culmination is the emergence of a colossal fish—an embodiment of the shadow self, born from the player’s own subconscious revelations.

Designed first as a desktop experience, Rising River sets the foundation for its later VR adaptation. Both versions share a quiet ambition: to make inner work playable.