Winners & nominees 16th IMGA

Where Cards Fall

Nominated for the

16th IMGA

Studio/Developer
The Game Band/Snowman
Country
Canada
Website
Video of the game
get this game
  • Share this game on

    About Where Cards Fall

    Where Cards Fall is a slice of life story where you build houses of cards to bring formative memories to life. Create pathways through dreamlike spatial puzzles to navigate the insecurities and emotions of high school and beyond.

    Where Cards Fall is a slice of life puzzle game where you build houses of cards to bring formative memories to life. You will create pathways through dreamlike spatial puzzles to navigate the insecurities and emotions of high school and beyond.

    Along with helping you solve puzzles, the houses of cards give each scene a distinct identity and sense of place. As you solve them, you gain small glimpses into our characters' lives, uncovering memories within the houses of cards. While the puzzles gently flow into each other, things don't always conclude neatly.

    This is a coming-of-age story where growing up isn't a straight line, but a cyclical process the characters engage with time and time again.

    What makes my game unique?

    Where Cards Fall is a puzzle game that offers its players the opportunity to reflect on their foundational memories as they join the main character for a journey through life’s most formative years. The narrative is subtle yet personal as intuitive game mechanics and expressive design allow the player to interpret the story through their own lens. While it follows a main character through adolescence into early adulthood, the themes remain relatable to a range of ages. We were touched to read more than one tweet from parents playing the game who resonated with it in such a way that it gave them the urge to hug their children. It was important for the game to have as few barriers as possible so that an emotional connection could be formed. The dialogue is spoken in a language specifically designed for the game to communicate tone rather than explaining the story in a didactic manner. This specially designed language also allows even more room for the player to place themselves in the shoes of our characters. The cards themselves speak to the malleable nature of memory, and as the player solves the puzzles they reform old ideas into new creations. Through its interplay of story and mechanics, Where Cards Fall shows how our fragile memories of the past lay the foundation for our future.

    Why could my game win an award?

    Where Cards Fall is a puzzle game that offers its players the opportunity to reflect on their foundational memories as they join the main character for a journey through life’s most formative years. The narrative is subtle yet personal as intuitive game mechanics and expressive design allow the player to interpret the story through their own lens. While it follows a main character through adolescence into early adulthood, the themes remain relatable to a range of ages. We were touched to read more than one tweet from parents playing the game who resonated with it in such a way that it gave them the urge to hug their children. It was important for the game to have as few barriers as possible so that an emotional connection could be formed. The dialogue is spoken in a language specifically designed for the game to communicate tone rather than explaining the story in a didactic manner. This specially designed language also allows even more room for the player to place themselves in the shoes of our characters. The cards themselves speak to the malleable nature of memory, and as the player solves the puzzles they reform old ideas into new creations. Through its interplay of story and mechanics, Where Cards Fall shows how our fragile memories of the past lay the foundation for our future.