THINGS I KEEP by APDT
Gameplay: - Use [ Space / Enter / E ] to interact with items - Use [←→ / AD] for movement - Hide under the bed to avoid Growly The Monster - Collect all the Lily's treasures to heal her mother
🌙Every object you collect tells a story. Every room you enter carries a memory. Every step brings you closer to the salvation.🌙
🧸 An emotional adventure about childhood, fear, and the fragile power of hope.🧸
"Mommy always said monsters aren’t real. But she was wrong. Ever since Mommy went to the hospital, Daddy disappeared, and something strange has taken over our house. I miss my mom and dad so bad! But I’m not going to hide under the bed forever. I’ll find the cure. I’ll make everything right again".
👣 Things I Keep is an atmospheric adventure game that tells a dark yet heartfelt story through the eyes of a little girl trying to save her family.👣
Players explore a mysterious house that has twisted into a surreal reflection of the girl’s fears and memories. Each room hides fragments of her childhood - small, sentimental objects she believes can heal her sick mother. These tiny “treasures” are not just collectibles; they reveal the emotional pieces of her past and open new paths forward.
The gameplay combines exploration, light puzzles, and emotional storytelling. Players move through side-scrolling levels inspired by the distorted interiors of an ordinary house - a kitchen filled with whispers, a nursery overgrown with strange roots and many others. Each location challenges the player with unique mechanics: hiding from the monster, solving environmental puzzles, or collecting clues that unlock forgotten memories and treasures.
Features:
🌙 Story-driven exploration: Discover the family story shaped by memory and emotion.
🧸 Meaningful collectibles: Gather the girl’s “treasures” to unlock flashbacks and new areas.
👣 Adventure mechanics: Run, hide, solve puzzles, and outsmart the lurking monster.
🎨 Unique world: A dark, expressive art style inspired by childhood imagination.
🎵 Atmospheric sound & music: Every sound fulfills the narrative.
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/58/things-i-keep |
Ratings
| Given | 27🗳️ | 39🗨️ |
PS. Так держать, слоняры!
Молодцы!
@lizardinblizzard We've tried our best! Thanks a lot!
@snowfalleagle Thank you! We’re glad the characters and story landed - and that it felt genuinely scary. 🐾
@emiliaye Thanks for the kind words! Happy the music worked for you - it’s a big part of the atmosphere for us.
@nmichail154) Thank you! We’re still refining the monster/stealth moments - tightening timings and audio cues to maintain smooth tension.
@torte478 Thanks so much! Great to hear the jam build felt polished and the intro hit hard.
P.S. Your cheer made our day!
@wanabi Thank you! So happy you liked it - comments like this keep us going. 🙌
@mia-143 Thanks! Delighted the visuals, story, and music clicked together for you. 💙
@custodi Thank you! We approached the domestic-violence theme carefully - glad the music shift landed dramatically. We’re considering an additional content notice.
@kseniya Thanks! Happy the visuals resonated. 🌸
@cipheroe Thank you! We pushed hard on polish despite the jam deadline - really glad that came through.
@mololo Thanks! We’d love to make it longer too - we’re already sketching ideas for post-jam scenes.
@elvaral Huge thanks! Great notes: we’ll improve hinting (e.g., hiding spots), reduce confusion in interactions, and expand content beyond the jam scope. Appreciate the praise on music, sound, and the monster’s look.
May ya'll guys have a great day!
I like the art and the mood you achieved in such a small amount of time!
I would happily play an old school point-and-click puzzle adventure game in this style. Very cool!
Beautiful, touching, interesting, and very well made.
This game could easily be published on a sales platform.
The team is to be congratulated for their excellent work. Unfortunately, I can't give it more than 5 stars. You truly deserve much more.
:hearts:
I didn't rate it because I haven't actually experienced it. I just reported that it won't open, and I hope you fix it!
Such a heartfelt story too... got me choked up. :cry:
The art and audio just creates such an incredible vibe and mood.
The monster was scary af. :eyes:
Gameplay wise... it felt slightly flat to me. But tbh, building any kind of adventure game puzzle in this amount of time is an impressive feat.
One other nitpick... I wish I could've had a player initiated prompt to further the story panels. I felt rushed trying to read and take in the art, and then the screen would automatically change. Would've been nice to have more time to soak on the beautiful scenes and artwork.
Overall, really great job.
I finished quickly, a nice little game with a touching transformation.
One other note, is that I'm a really slow reader, so I wish that I had more time with the comics. I always prefer to be able to advance text myself. It would have given me more time to look at the art, too.
The monster made me jump. Nice and scary. (Though I saw the twist coming from the beginning.)
Really nice job!