sharp narwhal
I think a simple but impactful improvement would be adding a weight-based inventory system. The more items you carry, the slower your movement and interactions become, similar to how it works in Peak. It would instantly make item choices more meaningful without adding complexity.
Along the same line, food and water could benefit from non-instant usage. Having short consume animations would slow things down naturally and make using items in dangerous moments more tense.
Some tools could also require both hands to use, so players can’t multitask unrealistically. For example, bolt cutters used to cut chains could lock both hands, preventing flashlight use or other interactions at the same time. This feels immersive and easy to understand.
As a small level-specific improvement, Level -1 (Grayscale Halls) could include light maintenance gameplay. Players could search for fuses and light bulbs around the level, and if an area has no power, they’d need to install a fuse at an electrical panel to restore lights. If a light is broken, it would require replacing the bulb instead of lights magically working again.
All of this feels achievable with existing systems and would add realism, tension, and decision-making without changing the core gameplay.
compact gull
charred flicker