No image available

In Ink and Memory

Developers: Reuben Alfonn K. Lao & Joan Kayla A. Arines (2026) Adviser: Edlaine Ann S. Mercado, MCGA After the quiet passing of his beloved wife, Benjamin, who struggles to cope with his loss, accidentally stumbles upon a letter she had written before her death—a list of five simple tasks meant to guide him through the pain of her absence. Outside, in the garden, Rosita’s once-loved flower lies wilted in the garden. As Benjamin embarks on the heartfelt task, he begins to tend to the flower. With each task completed, the flower slowly changes, mirroring Benjamin’s own healing. But beneath his grief lies unresolved regret and words left unspoken. In time, Benjamin learns that what is bottled up cannot grow, and only what he nurtures can bloom—just like the love Rosita left behind. In Ink and Memory is a top-down 2D pixelated narrative adventure game where players take on the role of Benjamin, a widowed elderly man, as he navigates his grief through exploration, interacting with objects tied to memories to trigger memory sequences, and playing minigames that further immerse the player in the world. The game explores themes of love, loss, regret, memory, and acceptance. Players will feel the emotional progression of Benjamin’s journey, which subtly mirrors the stages of healing, expressed through the state of a flower left behind by Rosita, as well as through Benjamin’s tone, behavior, and the environment around him.