Beneath the Permafrost

  • Independent project
  • Lead developer
  • Apr 2021 - present

Skills Applied

  • Game design
  • C# programming
  • Unity engine
  • Team lead
  • Scope management
  • Timeline management
  • Playtesting
  • Optimization
  • UI/UX design
  • 3D modeling/animation

Description

Beneath the Permafrost is a first-person survival-horror game set in a frozen city. This project was originally developed solo for several years. In summer 2025, I partnered with an environment artist to register the project for the RIT MAGIC Maker program, serving as an academic co-op. The program was a major learning experience for managing team workflow and scope.

Process & Challenges

This has been under development for several years, going through many rewrites. During the Maker program, I had to massively reduce scope (a neglected problem from when it was a hobby project) to make both short-term and long-term timelines feasible. This project has also taught me a lot regarding game design, such as teaching players mechanics, guiding through level design, and UX.

Title screen with logo and buttons

Title screen with logo and buttons

Opening vista with spiraling beam

Opening vista with spiraling beam

Grid-based inventory system

Grid-based inventory system

Start room with movement control prompt

Start room with movement control prompt

Motion and light being used to guide player through level design

Motion and light being used to guide player through level design

Enemy with AI, a 3D model, and animations

Enemy with AI, a 3D model, and animations

In-editor screenshot of a large, semi-open level environment

In-editor screenshot of a large, semi-open level environment

In-editor screenshot of enemy prefab configuration

In-editor screenshot of enemy prefab configuration

Enemy concept art, made by me

Enemy concept art, made by me

Samples & Links

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