Paint-based progression
The player must guide the white cube to interact with a paint palette in order to activate progression and unlock the next part of the level.
Game · Earlier work
Paint Cube
A simple but playful 2D puzzle experience built around paint-based progression and maze navigation.
A 2D puzzle-maze prototype built in Unity, centered on color interaction, door unlocking, and light gameplay variation.
- Unity
- C#
- 2D Puzzle
- Gameplay Programming
Overview
Paint Cube is a 2D puzzle-maze game prototype inspired by simple and recognizable gameplay concepts. The core mechanic revolves around guiding a white cube to interact with a paint palette, which then unlocks a color-detecting door and allows the player to continue toward the exit.
Audience
Designed for players who enjoy casual puzzle gameplay with clear rules, readable interactions, and light mechanical variation.
The problem
The project focused on exploring how a single visual mechanic — color activation — could be turned into an intuitive gameplay loop while still keeping the experience engaging through small level-based variations.
- Role
- Solo project developed as a gameplay programming practice piece. I was responsible for implementing the core interaction logic, door detection, paint mechanics, and supporting gameplay features.
- Team
- Solo Project
- Period
- Student project / prototype scope
Highlights
- Built a color-triggered progression mechanic around paint interaction and door unlocking
- Implemented gameplay scripting for door detection and paint-related state changes
- Added supporting mechanics such as coin collection, darkness, and dice-based variation
- Created a small but complete puzzle loop with clear player goals and readable interactions
Features
Color-detecting door logic
Doors respond to the cube’s updated state, creating a simple but effective puzzle condition tied directly to the core mechanic.
Maze navigation
Levels are structured around moving through confined spaces, finding the right interaction point, and reaching the exit within the gameplay constraints.
Gameplay variations
Additional mechanics such as coin collection, darkness-based visibility, and dice rolling were introduced to create more variety beyond the main loop.
Process
- Started from a simple maze-game concept with a clear win condition
- Designed the central paint interaction as the key gameplay trigger
- Implemented door detection logic to respond to the player’s updated state
- Built supporting mechanics including coin pickup, darkness, and dice-based interactions
- Refined the project into a small playable prototype focused on clarity and accessibility
Workflow
The project began with a simple puzzle idea and was expanded by layering small gameplay systems around a central color mechanic. The goal was to keep the project easy to understand while still giving each level a sense of variation.
System
The core system connects player movement, paint interaction, and door state logic into a straightforward progression loop. Optional mechanics were added as lightweight modifiers to make the experience feel more playful and less repetitive.
Challenges
- Keeping the core mechanic easy to understand without making the gameplay feel too repetitive
- Designing small mechanic variations that support the main puzzle loop instead of distracting from it
- Working within a limited technical scope while still aiming for a complete playable result
Improvements
- Add more level variety built around stronger puzzle escalation
- Improve visual feedback when the player changes color state
- Expand mechanic combinations to create more meaningful problem-solving depth
Project images
Project video
Open recorded project videoRecorded result
The project resulted in a simple but complete Unity puzzle prototype that demonstrates gameplay scripting, mechanic implementation, and small-scale system design.
Reflection
Paint Cube helped me practice turning a straightforward concept into an interactive gameplay loop. It strengthened my understanding of puzzle logic, mechanic readability, and how to support a core idea with smaller secondary systems.
Next step at the time
Future improvements would focus on deeper level design, stronger visual polish, and more refined progression between mechanics.