Game Overview
Twofold Cipher follows the journey of Eli, a tech-savvy surfer navigating a collapsing world infused with a hidden digital dimension. Guided by fragments of his father's consciousness trapped in a digital realm, Eli explores forgotten towns, mystical islands, and surreal landscapes through a unique sunglasses mechanic that reveals truth beneath illusion.
Players engage in side-scrolling platform gameplay, collecting items, decoding puzzles, and making meaningful choices that affect the story’s path. Central to the experience is the toggle mechanic—switching between physical and digital realities using Eli’s sunglasses to uncover hidden paths, platforms, characters, and messages. Each level explores a unique emotional theme and setting, from quiet coastlines to cosmic dreamscapes.
Main Character
Eli is a laid-back yet introspective protagonist. Wearing mirrored sunglasses that reveal hidden realities, a backwards baseball cap, and a satchel of tech scraps, Eli journeys through environments collecting components, solving puzzles, and dispelling illusions. His mission is not only to navigate a world on the brink but to understand himself through the lens of what is real and what is imagined.
Core Mechanics
- Dual Reality Exploration: Use Eli’s sunglasses to switch between two overlapping dimensions and reveal hidden truths.
- Item Collection & Crafting: Gather and repurpose tech parts to progress and solve puzzles.
- Clarity Points: Make mindful choices that influence story outcomes and personal growth through clarity scoring.
- Emotive Puzzle Design: Each puzzle is a metaphor for internal reflection and narrative revelation.
- Portal Travel: Every level begins and ends with a shimmering portal, connecting time, memory, and reality.
- One-Way Messaging: Eli carries a pager—a retro, receive-only device that buzzes with mysterious messages at pivotal moments, guiding the player through key decisions and narrative revelations.
Level 1: Path of Discovery
Path of Discovery takes players to an evocative, abandoned historical trading port in India, blending nostalgic beauty with intriguing mystery. Players step into the shoes of Eli, a thoughtful and resourceful young explorer who finds himself navigating the remnants of merchant ships, weathered docks, and ancient maritime structures. With warm sunset hues illuminating a landscape reclaimed by nature, this level invites players into a tranquil yet compelling setting rich with hidden secrets.
Equipped with special sunglasses that reveal hidden digital pathways and illusions, players must carefully distinguish between reality and deception. Throughout the exploration of the sunken vessels and deserted warehouses, players collect technological components essential for progress. Along the way, Eli encounters intriguing characters offering both guidance and temptation, challenging the player’s discernment and rewarding their clarity.
At the heart of this initial adventure lies a captivating puzzle—assembling a fragmented portrait of Eli’s father, which unlocks deep emotional memories and narrative insights. Successfully completing this task reveals an exit portal, inviting Eli—and players—to step forward into the next chapter of this deeply personal and transformative journey.
