Controlls: 

Esc to open the menu, Q for the left runeslot and E for the right runeslot. Leftmouse button to grapple and rightmouse button to shoot the gun.

Creative Process – Runes & Ruin

The creative process behind Runes & Ruin started with a idea where you could instead of jest getting normal weapons you could get different abilities.

Visually, this idea guided many of my decisions. The opening scene, as shown in the title screen, centers on a glowing rune platform surrounded by towering stone structures. This space acts as a thematic anchor: it introduces runes not just as symbols, but as sources of energy and progression. The strong blue glow contrasts against dark stone and shadow, helping establish a tone that’s mystical, slightly ominous, and inviting. I focused on lighting and color to communicate mood, using emissive elements to draw attention and suggest interactivity without overwhelming the player.

As development progressed, the gameplay space expanded into more dynamic environments, like the floating island landscape. These suspended ruins reinforce the “ruin” aspect. Designing levels as floating landmasses allowed me to lean into the fast grappling mechanic.

Mechanically, Runes & Ruin is built around experimentation. Each run is an opportunity to combine abilities, weapons, and runes in new ways. The visible first-person perspective and stylized weapon design emphasize immediacy and responsiveness, which was important to me.

Overall, my creative process has been iterative and atmosphere-driven. I often start with a visual or thematic idea like a rune, a ruin, or a fractured world and then build mechanics that support that feeling. Runes & Ruin is the result of balancing structure and chaos, giving players a world that feels ancient, and constantly reshaped by each run they attempt(the islands spawn procedurally).