"The Heart of Echo Garden" is an experimental cozy strategy game that explores systemic burnout through the lens of collective care. Developed from research into contemporary desires for restoration and meaningful engagement, players guide a group of elemental creatures in maintaining and expanding a fragile terrarium world. Rather than focusing on individual progress, the game emphasizes cooperative stewardship and responding to environmental challenges such as floods, fires, and agricultural demands through the unique abilities of each creature.

A central innovation is interactive hand-tracking controls, which foster an intimate, embodied relationship between player, creatures, and environment. Players don’t merely command actions—they move with their creatures, matching their rhythm and pace. This deliberate interaction encourages slower, mindful play, reinforcing the game’s core philosophy: progress emerges through connection, cooperation, and care, rather than individual conquest.

Brainstorm Pages for ‘The Heart of Echo Garden’