Alien Hermeneutics
You are a squid-like alien, trapped in an experimental aquarium, under the cold gaze of somebody -- or something -- that is trying to communicate with you. Interact with surrounding fauna to form expressions that your interlocutor will then interpret, for better or worse.
Controls:
- Move the mouse cursor to look around.
- Hold LMB to build up charge, release to thrust your body forward, squid style.
- Interact with fish around you to collect colorful orbs.
- When you have three orbs, hold and then release RMB to submit your answer.
- Press SPACE to reset your orbs if you are dissatisfied with how the answer is shaking out.
Credits
DESIGN, CODE, ART, WRITING: boticelly.itch.io
PLAYTESTING: dahuanna.itch.io
3D MODELS: KayKit : Halloween Bits, Grant Abbitt
FONTS: Lunar Escape by Sronstudio, RetroByte by HipFonts
ADDITIONAL SOUNDS: TV static noise by yourugor, Bubbles from the Deep by SoundReality, Sonar by VoiceBosch, Shoot Underwater Sound Reverb by 8doxo, bubbles by soundshmyak, Underwater Movement and Underwater Ambience by Tim_Verberne
SPECIAL THANKS: GameDev.tv for the helpful Unity 3D course, various people on YouTube, and Unity forums, who provided tutorials.
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- sHow I learned to commune with an alien - postmortem (Part 4/4)82 days ago
- How I learned to commune with an alien - postmortem (Part 3/4)82 days ago
- How I learned to commune with an alien - postmortem (Part 2/4)82 days ago
- How I learned to commune with an alien - postmortem (Part 1/4)82 days ago
- Stable web version92 days ago
- Story bug fixed!Oct 19, 2025
Comments
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Hi Valeriy. Aurélien here. I don't know if you remember me, I'm a French journalist, we spoke in 2022. I hope you're doing well. I've recently tried to reach you on LinkedIn, without success. Do you still have access to your account? Or could we chat elsewhere? Thank you so much. Cheers!
Hi, Aurelien! Thank you for reaching out. I've answered you on LinkedIn.
Bold move. Willing to limit gameplay to convey a different message. It’s interesting that you’re an alien and yet feel alienated by humanoid televisions. But why a squid?
Good question! No good answer, though. I thought of it back when I was developing a tabletop prototype for this game, something about squid's jet movement felt very interesting to me, maybe because adapting it to gameplay provides player with small tactical choices each time they move (fast but short bursts vs. slow but long bursts).
Anyway, thank you for the review!
What an amazing game this one is! Experience, or as the author says - experiment, genuinely makes you feel unsettled, in danger, desperately trying to prove your self.
This is I believe a perfect metaphor on the life in modern society, if not on life in a society in general - act as they expect you to act or be thrown outside, if not utilized.
The game reminded me of the “Kaspar” - play by Peter Handke, except the “Alien Hermeneutics” places you right to the place of the main character, is way more surreal and thus provides stronger emotional feedback.
Thank you very much for making and sharing this game!
Wow, thank you so much for the amazing feedback!
I never heard about the Handke play, but I know the story of Kaspar Hauser and it is very interesting that you've brought him up, because I did not think about him at all while working on this game, but you are totally right, it does have strong thematic resonances with it and is kind of a metaphor of how society treats individual, constantly interpreting their actions and judging them based on them.
Thank you for bringing this aspect of the game into the light, it gives me something to think about! And also, I'm just very glad you liked my game :)
Time well spent on great game!I love the squid and tv animation. Theme implementation is sick!
Thank you! I'm glad you've liked the squid :)
Cool game! I like the concept and the squid action is quite pleasing.
Thanks, man!
I like the meditative atmosphere, made of cute water sounds and physics, seaweed, and juicy green fishes. Red ones - no, they always scary me away. Even though I knew that they arre not dangerous. And of course this strange abusive scientist on screens - he looks like a crazy scientist from old movies (Poor Things, Frankenstein, others) or games (he reminds me of Glados for example). The way he expresses himself makes me feel uncertain and anxious. I would never be happy to meet him.
But I would happy to spend a bit more time in this alien role, searching a way to out, resolving puzzles, and exploring this creepy character <3
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad that you've basically got all the emotional bits from the game that I was planning for. I would also not want to meet this strange scientist :)