A 2D side-scrolling dungeon crawler where players descend into a living labyrinth of fear, uncovering twisted truths through atmospheric combat, haunting NPCs, and branching horror narrative

Project Overview

Whispers Below is a 2D side-scrolling dungeon crawler that blends simple but satisfying combat with atmospheric horror storytelling. The game follows Ellie, a timid villager who descends into a cursed labyrinth beneath her home to uncover the truth behind her people’s disappearances. Designed as one of my first 2D projects, it focused on building a strong gameplay loop with light/heavy combat, dungeon exploration, and NPC-driven progression, while maintaining an eerie, minimalist aesthetic

  • Engine: Unreal Engine 5
  • Tools: Paper2D, Flipbooks, Tilemaps, Sequencer
  • Perspective: 2D Side-Scroller (Dungeon Crawler)
  • Platforms: PC
  • Team Size: Solo Project
  • Developed by: Ibad Ur Rehman
  • Role: Game Developer, Designer and Producer
  • Duration: 10 Weeks

Gameplay

Responsibilities

  • Built the core 2D character controller with movement, jump, dash and dodge-roll mechanics.
  • Designed the combat framework: light/heavy attacks, charge attacks and invulnerability frames.
  • Implemented enemy AI with patrol, aggression, and boss-phase behaviors.
  • Created Soul Shard progression system (collect, spend, upgrade stats).
  • Designed and scripted NPCs (Lantern Keeper, Mask Peddler & more) with branching interactions.
  • Developed boss encounters tied to different fears, each with unique mechanics.
  • Designed parallax backgrounds & dynamic lighting for atmospheric depth.

Game Narrative

In a forgotten village, whispers echo from beneath the chapel as people mysteriously vanish. Ellie, though timid at the start, descends into the labyrinth after her closest friend disappears. Inside, she discovers the dungeon is alive feeding on the fears of those who enter.

Each floor manifests a different terror: disease, isolation, swarms, failure. NPCs offer cryptic aid or misdirection, while bosses embody nightmares tied to Ellie’s fears. she learns the labyrinth has absorbed many villagers as they are being controlled by a witch, forcing her to choose between saving them or sealing the dungeon forever.

What I Learned

“Fight Mosters, Uncover the Horror of the Dungeon while making new friends and saving the villagers. With multiple endings shaped by her decisions, Whispers Below tells a story not of bravery alone, but of facing what we fear most”