NarrativeFree

What the River Kept

Dig through a drowned village's riverbed and piece together its last summer

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About this game

A reservoir has been drained for repairs, revealing a village flooded fifty years ago. You walk the exposed riverbed, dig out objects, clean them and place them in a growing archive. Each object unlocks a memory recorded by a former villager, and together they tell the story of the summer before the dam.

The riverbed is muted teal and mud brown, with crisp lighting on each recovered object. It takes about 2 hours and is free, made by a small student team. A thoughtful pick for anyone who likes environmental storytelling. The caveat: it is short, the movement is a little stiff, and there are a few rough textures you will notice.

Highlights

  • 01Thirty objects, each with a recorded memory
  • 02Made by a five-person student team
  • 03Free, no account needed

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