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Development
Feb - July 2025
The development of Mental Forest was shaped by cycles of making, testing, and refining. Each prototype revealed new insights, and each playtest reshaped the way I thought about the game.
The first version was a simple cardboard board with hand-painted squares and a deck of cards. Feedback showed that it dragged and needed more collaboration, so I added playable squares and Heart cards to bring players together. The second prototype balanced the game more effectively but introduced new challenges — too many cards, a need for a clearer rulebook, and the importance of handling symbols with care (such as replacing a skull with a ghost).
One of the most experimental steps in this stage was trying out thermochromatic elements. On the board, I added squares that revealed hidden instructions when rubbed, a metaphor for how aspects of mental health can remain invisible until conditions change. Although attempts to use the paint on character pieces were less effective, the experiment reminded me how materials themselves can carry metaphorical meaning.
Across all iterations, the development process mirrored the themes of the game: trial and error, moments of frustration, and breakthroughs of connection.
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