Block Dasher is a 3D puzzle adventure game developed by the Slow Heat Index collective. As the Core Developer, my role was to architect the underlying systems that drove the gameplay, enabling the designers to build complex levels without touching code.
The game challenges players to navigate grid-based levels where movement is restricted by a “parity rule” (moving 2 blocks at a time), requiring spatial reasoning to solve environmental puzzles across diverse biomes.
Engineering the Mechanics
Unlike standard platformers that use Unity’s physics engine for movement, Block Dasher required a deterministic, grid-locked movement system to ensure puzzles were solvable and consistent.
:: Custom Grid Physics
Implemented a discrete movement controller that bypasses standard physics. It handles “hop” animations, grid snapping, and collision detection logic based on a virtual coordinate system, not just colliders.
:: The Parity System
The core mechanic involves changing the player’s “step size” (1 vs 2 blocks) dynamically. This required a flexible State Machine to handle transitions between movement modes without breaking the grid alignment.
:: Level Design Tooling
Developed custom Unity Editor Inspectors to help designers tag blocks, set up parity-switchers, and define win conditions visually, speeding up the level creation pipeline.
:: Cross-Platform Input
Abstracted the input layer to support both Keyboard (WASD) for PC and Swipe Gestures for Android/Touchscreens seamlessly.
Promotional Website
To maximize reach and accessibility, we decided against relying solely on downloadable binaries. I built a dedicated Landing Page hosted on GitHub Pages that serves as the central hub for the project.
The site was designed to reflect the game’s minimal aesthetic and acts as a press kit, displaying high-resolution renders and the art direction context that is often lost in a small game window.
