Shadowbound

Shadowbound is a short 3D puzzle-adventure set in a world trapped in eternal daylight. You awaken alone in the ruins of a forgotten temple with no memories and a strange connection to the darkness. Early on, you discover a small shadow creature imprisoned by light and freeing it sparks a journey to restore balance to a fractured world.

This creature becomes your companion, your guide, and your second half. But the light that fuels the world also harms it. Together, you'll have to solve environmental puzzles, avoid deadly light sources, and navigate through ruined structures to uncover what happened… and what your part in it was.

Long ago, balance between day and night was maintained by an ancient order known as the Veilborn,  guardians of both light and shadow. But one among them, the powerful mage Photaris, grew terrified of the dark. His fear turned to obsession, and in his desperation, he cast a ritual that erased night itself.

Now the world is stuck in everlasting daylight. Forests wilt. Shadows vanish. And creatures of the night, like your mysterious companion,  are caged or fading. You, a forgotten heir of the Veilborn, must rediscover your purpose, restore the rhythm of day and night, and uncover what really happened during the last moments before the darkness disappeared.

DevLogs of the game: 

https://hub.hagenberg.games/s/shadowbound/

Gameplay

Shadowbound is a short, story-driven 3D game (10–15 minutes playtime) focusing on:

• Environmental Puzzles
  Use crates, ruins, and shadow mechanics to guide your path.

• Character Switching
  Swap between the main character and the shadow creature to solve puzzles.

• Light & Shadow Mechanics
  Light is dangerous to your companion,  use the environment to create safe paths in shadow.

• Mystery & Exploration
  Uncover lost memories and remnants of a forgotten order hidden in murals and symbols.

• Cinematic Style
  With voice-acted moments, minimal UI, and environmental storytelling, Shadowbound aims to deliver an immersive, atmospheric experience in a compact format.

Mechanics 

• Character Switching

• Environmental Puzzles

• Light-based Mechanics

• Companion

• Dual Characters

Credits: 

Vanessa Nagelhofer	Lead Project Manager, Lead Story
Manuela-Amalia Pintilie	Lead Programming
Jay Molev	Lead Game Art
Verena Dietl	Lead Game Design
Reinhard Gruber	Lead Level Design
Daniel Langebner	Lead Audio Design