ABOUT THE GAME
Nightmare Market is a horror walking simulator set in a post-apocalyptic world. You find yourself in an abandoned shopping mall, originally on a mission to scavenge groceries and supplies for your camp. But you're not alone—creatures known as Extars roam the shop floors, hunting for human prey.
The mall has been abandoned for almost two years. It's dark, gritty, and eerie—covered in scratches, blood, and footprints that hint at the horrors lurking within. Shop windows are cracked and smashed, floors are littered with debris, and the only light comes from your flashlight cutting through the darkness.
Due to time constraints, Nightmare Market evolved from its original scavenging concept into a focused survival experience. The goal is simple: run, hide, and escape the mall with your life. The Extar is always hunting, and one wrong move could be your last.
SYSTEMS I IMPLEMENTED
The core of the game is the Enemy AI System, built entirely in Unreal Blueprint. I implemented a random roam behavior that keeps the Extar unpredictably patrolling the mall, a chase system that triggers when the player is detected, and attack behaviors for when the creature catches up to you.
I built a Player Movement System featuring sprint functionality with a stamina system to prevent unlimited running. This creates tense moments where you have to manage your stamina while being pursued. The player also has a Health System with regeneration over time.
The Audio System was crucial for building tension. I implemented loud footsteps for the enemy AI and quieter ones for the player, a dynamic heartbeat system that increases in volume and speed as the Extar gets closer, random roars to keep players on edge, and audio trigger boxes for jump scares throughout the environment.
I also created a UI System with main menu and pause functionality, along with Trigger Boxes placed throughout the mall to create scripted scare moments.
WHAT I LEARNED
Technical Skills Developed
Nightmare Market was my introduction to Unreal Engine and Blueprint visual scripting. I learned how to create AI behavior trees and navigation systems, implement player controllers with stamina management, work with Unreal's audio system for spatial sound and dynamic mixing, and use trigger volumes for gameplay events and jump scares.
Design Lessons
This project taught me the importance of scope management—I had to cut the scavenging mechanics due to time constraints, which taught me to prioritize core experiences over feature lists. I learned that atmosphere and audio design can carry a horror game even with simple mechanics. The project also showed me how unpredictable AI behavior creates more tension than scripted sequences.