nerd: tracing dayline

Overview

nerd: tracing dayline is a text-based adventure game about communication, centered on a self-conscious teenage girl. Set in a quiet seaside countryside where only the sound of waves fills the air, you’ll connect with others by collecting and sharing “topics” of conversation.

Story

You’ve just transferred to a rural high school by the sea. Struggling to fit in, you begin jotting down conversation “topics” and approaching classmates who seem easy to talk to. Through a cycle of choices and quiet reflection, you aim to build the kind of communication skills most people take for granted.

Game Cycle

• During school hours, you’ll interact with specific classmates each chapter, carefully choosing topics to avoid awkward silences and keep the conversation flowing.
• In the afternoon, you’ll hold quiet reflection sessions alone—reviewing how things went without any gameplay elements.
• The game is planned across four chapters, each lasting about an hour. Every chapter consists of around four cycles of interaction and reflection.
• Each chapter focuses on one key classmate, with a total of four characters including the protagonist.

Features

• Dialogue-driven gameplay where you collect and expand on “topics”
• Subtle eye movements and natural pauses
• A 3D world paired with expressive 2D animated characters
• (Currently) a fully solo-developed project