Night of Joeanne

The game draws on the traditional survival horror genre to shine a spotlight on the theme of mental illness. It centres on a child’s experience of fear and the associated sense of helplessness in the face of the adult world as a key gameplay element. The world appears distorted and threatening to both players and the protagonist alike; however, unlike in other games, there are no weapons to defeat the horrors – only flight and hiding are available as means of survival. In this way, the game design is cleverly woven into the setting and impresses with its boldness. Although the game is not suitable for children due to its setting, it allows players to experience vulnerability first-hand whilst also presenting a difficult topic in an accessible way; for this reason, it can be considered valuable in accordance with the submission guidelines.

The DCP Jury 2010