Design Statement
We interpreted the theme track as something warm and familiar, but with a sadness underneath it. The music felt home-like: comforting, safe, and full of memories. At the same time, it suggested the feeling of missing someone who used to be there.

Last year, we lost our much-loved family pet, and that experience shaped the emotional heart of Show Me the Way Home. We wanted to bring that bittersweet feeling into a story about companionship, grief, and the comfort that stays with us after a loss.

Our main design choice was to let players experience the journey through the family dog’s perspective. Following scents, digging up keepsakes, and revisiting familiar places turn exploration into a way of remembering their life together. The cozy alpine setting, warm lighting, and quiet moments between the girl and her dog reflect the music’s gentleness, while the dangers and eventual revelation carry its sadness. We wanted the ending to acknowledge loss while leaving players with warmth and hope.

Game Instructions (launch steps, controls, and gameplay overview)
Play directly in your browser.
Click inside the game to focus it.
Fullscreen and headphones are recommended.

Controls :
- WASD / Arrow keys: Move
- Mouse: Look around
- Hold Left Shift: Run
- Space: Jump
- Hold E: Sniff, dig, or interact when prompted
- B / Left mouse button: Bark when available
- Hold Space during cutscenes: Skip

Play as Duchess, a devoted family dog searching an alpine forest for her little human, Maxine. Follow scent trails, sniff out clues, and dig up keepsakes that reveal memories of their adventures together.

Gameplay walkthrough video
https://youtu.be/fxsRG41WncY

Did your project use any AI tools or assets? If yes, please specify.
We used AI to generate the images for the cutscenes, based on gameplay screenshots.