A first-person audio-driven experience exploring how sound can take priority in gameplay and storytelling.
This was created during my final year project at the University of Staffordshire and is still being worked on in preparation for showcasing @ GradEX in June 2026.
Solo Developer
16 Weeks
Unreal Engine 5 (MetaSounds, Niagara, Audio)
1
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 core mechanic allows the player to “see” the world through sound.
A player-generated pulse emits into the environment, returning information based on geometry, distance and material.
Key Features:
• Audio-driven spatial awareness
• Visual feedback derived from sound interaction
• Surface-dependent response (geometry based decals, materials & VFX)
This system acts as both a navigation tool and a foundation for player understanding of the world space.
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.