Sense.

Most games rely on visuals for navigation, feedback and storytelling, with audio used as a supporting layer.

I wanted to explore what happens when that relationship is flipped placing sound at the centre of player interaction, perception, and narrative.

Sense. is a first-person vertical slice where audio drives the entire player experience.

Sound is used for:

• Navigation – via a radar sense echolocation system  

• Feedback – through environmental and surface-based audio response  

• Storytelling – using diegetic phone calls and internal voices

Built using Unreal Engine 5 and MetaSounds, the project focuses on creating a readable, responsive audio space that replaces traditional visual design.

The project was built around a reactive audio system using MetaSounds Unreal Engine.

Key Systems:

• Layered ambient audio linked to trigger zones  

• Dynamic sound reflection based on spatial data  

• Diegetic audio cues replacing traditional UI prompts  

Design Focus:

• Clarity for the player – ensuring sounds are readable and purposeful  

• Frequency separation – preventing overlapping audio confusion  

• Player trust – consistent audio behaviour to build understanding  

The goal was to create a system where players rely on sound instinctively, rather than treating it as background detail.

The experience is structured as a short narrative-driven vertical slice:

• Opening cinematic – abstract nightmare sequence introducing internal voices

• Phone call – transitions into gameplay tutorial through diegetic dialogue 

• Apartment exploration – player learns navigation through sound  

• Stairwell and rooftop – expanded space with environmental audio and NPC interaction

Each stage introduces new layers of audio complexity, gradually building player confidence in the system.

I followed an iterative development approach, using playtesting to refine the core mechanic and player experience.

Key Findings:

• Players initially struggled to interpret overlapping audio cues  

• High-frequency sounds were easier to associate with interactable elements  

• Too much visual feedback reduced reliance on sound  

Changes Made:

• Simplified audio layering to improve clarity  

• Redesigned player movement & the level design  

• Reduced visual information to reinforce audio reliance  

This process helped balance readability and immersion, ensuring the mechanic remained intuitive.

The audio design focused on creating a system that is both immersive and functional.

Approach:

• Prioritised gameplay clarity over cinematic realism  

• Designed sounds to convey spatial and material information  

• Used diegetic audio to replace UI and guide the player  

Tools:

• Unreal Engine 5 (MetaSounds & Audio Systems)  

• Logic Pro (Sound Design & Processing)  

The aim was to treat audio as a gameplay system, not just an aesthetic layer.