Gene The Hare — Procedural Mobile Game
Hare is a casual 2D mobile game developed for iOS using Unreal Engine, with gameplay systems programmed through a combination of C++ and Blueprint visual scripting. The project investigates procedural game systems, mobile interaction, visual minimalism, and the adaptation of endless-runner conventions into a two-dimensional game environment.
The player controls a hare traveling through a stylized black-and-white forest, with the visual atmosphere loosely inspired by the dark forests and folkloric environments associated with the Brothers Grimm. Player interaction is intentionally minimal, relying on a series of on-screen controls positioned along the bottom of the mobile interface.
Rather than using a traditionally authored sequence of levels, Hare employs a procedural obstacle-generation system that dynamically creates gameplay challenges as the player progresses. This allows the structure of each play session to vary while maintaining a consistent overall level of difficulty. Unlike many endless-runner games, the system does not continually increase difficulty over time; instead, the design emphasizes timing, repetition, player recognition, and sustained casual interaction.
The project originated as an exploration of the endless-runner genre, but reinterprets the format through a 2D visual framework and a restrained monochromatic aesthetic. The reduction of visual and mechanical complexity allows greater attention to be placed on movement, rhythm, obstacle placement, procedural variation, and player response.
From a creative-research perspective, Hare examines how procedural generation can extend replayability without depending on increasingly complex content or escalating difficulty. It also explores how recognizable game conventions can be reconfigured through minimal interaction and a distinctive visual language.
Platform: iOS
Game Engine: Unreal Engine
Programming: C++ and Blueprint
Genre: Casual / 2D Endless Runner
Research Areas: Procedural Game Design, Mobile Game Development, Interaction Design, Gameplay Systems, 2D Visual Design, and Digital Narrative
