Codi McPeek

Darling

Graphic Design [BFA]

Darling is an interactive narrative game that uses the Southern Gothic aesthetic and Dark Folk/Murder Ballads to tell an immersive love story gone dark.

Within the game, players are taken through the narrative of the main character who has woken up on the banks of the swamp with no memory, other than that they were at a picnic with their lover. Concerned for their lover’s well-being, they make their way back to town in hopes their lover is safe. During their path back to town, the player collects both audio and physical clues that begin to piece together the lapse in their memory. Once in town, the player doesn’t find their lover, instead, they find the preacher who reveals everything.

With the combination of haunting audio and alluring scenes, Darling showcases how the combination of graphics and music forms a powerful medium that deeply engages the audience. This fusion not only immerses players but also serves as a tool for effectively communicating different cultures.

Due to the mature content of the songs and the history of Southern Gothic culture, the target audience for Darling is adults and young adults with a potential interest in Southern Gothic culture, murder ballads, the culture that is stored in music, and/or learning about other cultures through song or interactive media like games.