Don't Wake the Night
Don't Wake the Night is a narrative game where a community of people engage a spirit to mediate a dispute.
Presented as a simple diorama, we embody the so-called spirit and click parts of the scene to trigger a series of one-on-one conversations amongst the cast. They share their thoughts and feelings about the issue at hand and more generally about their roles and each other. They sometimes allude to the source of the contention - a member of the group conspicuously absent from the discussions. Occasionally we're invited to 'look up' where we see this person share their perspective as a disembodied face in the sky. It's never clear whether they're physically present or not, but their absence is keenly felt.
These characters are complicated and abrasive. Some come across as disinterested, others seem naïve, others openly express pent-up resentments. The game captures the maddening reality of compelling those already moving in the same direction to engage with each other constructively and in good faith when disagreements arise (anyone who's been involved with community organising will feel a chill of recognition here).
It's a game best experienced at least two or three times over. This is easy enough: Don't Wake the Night only takes about twenty minutes to play through. But prepare to be beguiled and confused, even by the third attempt. This is ultimately a series of provocations for us to consider, to reflect on and sit with the ambiguity of. The game will not explain or elaborate; our subjectivity is an essential part of the design. This makes it a difficult but rewarding experience, but one that's definitely worth the effort.