One
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Just stay together — it will be alright. An abstract queer game about connection and identity.
In this co-op queer game, players take on the roles of twin souls/emotions/insert-profound-metaphor-here as they try to approach one another within a "circle of influence". Along the way, they encounter barriers to meeting each other, thus heightening the tension. This game is meant to be an abstract and interpretative experience for both parties involved — it's a reflection on the challenges of staying together within the queer community, even as external forces raise questions of identity and threaten to create discord. It's simultaneously trivial and profound, and everyone who we've shown this game to has given their own interpretation of its identity. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the meditative flow of One.
One was created during the MEGA 24-hour Rainbow Game Jam, and has been featured by the LGBTQ+ advocacy group The Lavender Effect at QGCon Local.
I acted in the capacity of designer and programmer on the project, and devised the original concept. One was developed in Unity 5 and programmed in C#.
Developed by: AB Biswas, Justin Camden, Maureen Wang
You can listen to members of the USC Interactive Media and Games Division, including myself, talk about their queer games here: https://vimeo.com/146519109
Download
Install instructions
Unzip and play! If you're on Mac, you may need to right-click on the game application and select "Open" to override developer security preferences.
Comments
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This game really packs a punch. It explains a difficult and complex concept with a few simple mechanics, all the while being just long enough to really suit its purpose. Thanks so much to you and the rest of the team for bringing the queer community (and, by extension, the world) this game, which I feel is pretty poignant especially now.
I didn't see anything in your description requesting people not to let's play this game, so I did make and upload a quick playthrough. If you would like me to take this down, though, just say the word.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for playing! It's challenging to contextualize the abstract, often hidden feelings of the queer community into a tangible experience, and I think you articulated our message behind One really well. We made it at a time very early in our game design careers, and working within the constraints of our technical knowledge lent itself quite naturally to mechanical simplicity.
I find that most people who've played One without context come to their own idiosyncratic conclusions about the message, and I've enjoyed leaving the game up to interpretation. It was fascinating how the game felt dynamically similar (and perhaps even better) with a single person playing, as it was originally made for two players!
Feel free to spread the word, and thank you again for trying the game out!
You know, it makes a whole lot of sense that this was originally meant to have two players, lol. I am so glad that you guys liked my run, though. I'll keep an eye out for more of your work