Echo Protocol
This is a submission for the June Solstice Game Jam 2026.
What I Built
Echo Protocol is a narrative-driven puzzle adventure game where players navigate a mysterious world shaped by echoes of past actions. Every decision leaves behind traces that influence future interactions, creating a gameplay experience centered around memory, consequence, and discovery.
The game was inspired by the Solstice theme of light, darkness, and the passage of time. Just as the solstice represents a transition point between cycles, Echo Protocol explores how the past continues to affect the present through lingering echoes.
Players must solve environmental puzzles, uncover hidden clues, and use information from previous events to progress through the world and reveal the story behind the protocol.
Key Features
- Puzzle-based progression
- Story-driven exploration
- Atmospheric environment design
- Memory and echo-inspired gameplay mechanics
- Interactive world with player-driven discovery
Live Demo:
The game is fully deployed and playable in the browser. No installation is required—simply open the link and begin exploring the world of Echo Protocol.
Video Demo
Gameplay Demo:
This demo showcases:
- Core gameplay mechanics
- Puzzle-solving sequences
- Environmental storytelling
- Player interactions and progression
- The overall atmosphere and experience of Echo Protocol
Code
GitHub Repository:
SOLSTICE_404: ECHO
SOLSTICE_404: ECHO is a solar-horror arcade maze about being hunted by recordings of your own decisions. It combines the readable collection loop of Pac-Man, the self-created danger of Snake, and a time-loop system where death can transfer the player into the enemy that killed them.
The Original Idea: Snake Meets Pac-Man
The first design question was: what if Pac-Man's maze remembered every route, and Snake's tail came back later as a hunter?
- From Pac-Man comes the readable maze, collectible objectives, route planning, pursuit pressure, and return-to-center escape.
- From Snake comes the growing trail, self-collision risk, and the idea that success makes movement more dangerous.
- SOLSTICE_404 adds the missing third ingredient: time. The trail becomes memory, memory becomes an Echo, and an Echo can become the next player body.
The result is not a conventional maze chase. The player's previous decisions are the enemy population, the recovery route, and…
How I Built It
Development Approach
Echo Protocol was developed during the June Solstice Game Jam with a focus on creating a cohesive gameplay experience that blends exploration, puzzles, and narrative elements.
Tech Stack
- Unity Game Engine
- C#
- Git & GitHub for version control
Design Decisions
One of the primary goals was to make the environment itself part of the storytelling process. Rather than relying heavily on direct exposition, players learn through exploration and interaction.
The puzzle systems were designed to encourage observation and experimentation while maintaining a balance between challenge and accessibility.
Special attention was given to atmosphere, environmental details, and player feedback to reinforce the game's central theme of echoes and memory.
Challenges
- Designing meaningful puzzle progression within a limited game jam timeframe.
- Balancing narrative delivery with gameplay pacing.
- Creating a cohesive atmosphere while rapidly iterating on mechanics.
What I'm Proud Of
- Delivering a complete playable experience within the jam timeline.
- Building interconnected puzzle mechanics tied to the game's theme.
- Creating an immersive environment that supports the narrative.
Prize Category
Best Google AI Usage (if applicable)
AI-assisted workflows were used during development for ideation, rapid prototyping, and refining game systems, helping accelerate iteration while maintaining creative control over the final experience.
Team
Solstice_404
- Srihari R
Thank you for checking out Echo Protocol!
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