Anisha Vatnani

Māyā

Māyā is a choose-your-own-adventure game that delves into the philosophical concept of illusion, rooted in the Sanskrit term Māyā. While often translated as "illusion," Māyā suggests that the world we perceive is a distraction, obscuring the true reality. In Māyā, players face an existential choice: accept the reality presented or question it. Navigating through a shifting landscape of rooms, players confront fragments of memory and identity, unsure if they are dreaming or awake. The game challenges the illusion of choice, as every decision ultimately leads back to one outcome: returning to the same room, emphasizing the inescapability of one's reality.The development process involved experimental phases, blending real-world materials such as photographed textures and field-recorded sounds, manipulated using Blender, After Effects, and CapCut. The game was built in 3JS for a web-based experience, but its true impact is enhanced through a custom, minimalistic joystick (crafted in collaboration with my friend Aaryan Pashine)and experienced on a 90s CRT television with surround sound. This retro setup amplifies the psychological dissonance of the game, offering a unique, unsettling experience that encourages players to question the nature of reality and their place within it.