This immersive illustrated game reimagines Armenian folklore for the digital age [Video]

Made in collaboration with filmmaker Ruben Van Leer, the game is designed to evoke the experience of “moving through a painting”, achieved through a side-scrolling play inspired by old-school games. The game is part of a wider “transmedia narrative”, existing alongside an album, film and theatre production. Each element connects, but they are also treated as standalone works that focus on different aspects of the story. The theatre piece is about the strength of Manush, Prince Areg’s love interest, while the film element explores the past and present of the Armenian landscape. The game is more introspective: “Players experience Areg’s journey as he integrates his shadow-self – the ‘bird’ within,” explains the film director, Ruben. “This story encourages us to look inward and reconnect with what sustains us – nature, community, and cultural roots.”

Tigran’s score is the project’s emotional backbone, weaving the story’s universal themes into the gaming experience. “Composing …