Echo Path

Theme: Masks (GGJ 2026)

The mask in this game does not hide who you are — it hides your ability to act. It reveals truth, but only if you are willing to stand still and observe. Removing it means committing to your understanding, without the safety of sight.

About the Game

In this puzzle game, the mask is not a disguise — it is a tool.

While wearing the mask, you can see the entire level clearly: the layout of the grid, the location of hazards, and the position of the exit. But while the mask is on, you cannot move.

When you remove the mask, you regain control — but the world becomes obscured. Hazards, switches, and even the goal are no longer visible. You must rely entirely on what you observed before, moving one tile at a time and trusting your memory to guide you safely through the space.

Each room is a self-contained puzzle built around planning, spatial memory, and execution. There are no enemies, no timers, and no reflex-based challenges — every mistake is the result of a decision, not speed.

Gameplay

• Top-down, grid-based puzzle design
• Movement is limited to up, down, left, and right
• Every move advances exactly one grid tile

Puzzles are solved by:

1. Entering observation mode to study the room
2. Memorizing hazard locations and safe paths
3. Switching to execution mode
4. Navigating the grid without visual guidance
5. Reaching the goal without stepping into danger

Contacting a hazard instantly resets the room, returning you to observation mode to try again.

Controls

• Arrow Keys / WASD — Move (execution mode only)
• Space — Switch between Mask On (observation) and Mask Off (execution)

Movement is strictly grid-based:

• No diagonal movement
• No partial movement between tiles
• No momentum or timing requirements

Features

• Clear, deterministic puzzle rules
• Instant restarts with no penalties
• Short, focused levels designed for iteration
• A literal interpretation of the theme Masks, where wearing the mask reveals truth but removes agency