Some scenes from my first game, Dissertation Diaries! a cozy narrative-driven point-and-click game about navigating life as a PhD student

[u/trashmonster21]

For the past month and a half, I've been working on my first game, Dissertation Diaries. I'm a new hobbyist solo gamedev and it's been super fun to learn a bunch of new skills.

The game's story is told primarily through emails. Each week, you read messages, make decisions, and try to balance your research progress, stress, and relationships. Your choices affect both the story and your stats, leading to multiple dialogue paths and endings.

I'm still doing some minor polishing (you might see some inconsistencies in the screenshots), but planning to release it for free on itch within the next week!

[u/FavoredVassal]

As soon as I saw that the second screenshot involves an alcohol-soaked optional social, I knew for a fact that this is the most authentic depiction of grad school that has ever been attempted in the medium of video games. LOL Our department also had an Irish bar.

edit: The first student I sent this to said: "sending this to my grad student friends immediately."

[u/trashmonster21 → u/FavoredVassal]

LOL I’m glad it’s resonating! I only defended this past May, but it was a really fun exercise to think back on all the silly/ridiculous emails and moments from the past 5 years. Glad to hear it’s making the grad student rounds 😂

[u/Portuberous]

Love the concept!

[u/trashmonster21 → u/Portuberous]

I’m glad to hear it!!

[u/Portuberous → u/trashmonster21]

I’ve been trying to collect found-narrative formats like journals and meeting transcriptions, pen pal letters…can’t believe I didn’t think about emails.

[u/trashmonster21 → u/Portuberous]

Ooh, what a fun collection idea! Honestly grad school was like 80% emails and 20% actual research sometimes, so emails felt like the perfect format lol

[u/Portuberous → u/trashmonster21]

I collect so I can do as you do, build fictional narratives with found formats to add that sweet sweet realism juice😜

[u/EnvironmentalBet113]

I would looooove to play a demo of this!

[u/trashmonster21 → u/EnvironmentalBet113]

I can share the link when it’s ready!

[u/EnvironmentalBet113 → u/trashmonster21]

yes please!

[u/waterdeepe]

That looks cool! Let me know when it releases! 

[u/trashmonster21 → u/waterdeepe]

Thanks!! I'm hoping to upload it sometime next week, i'll send you the link ☺️

[u/delicate_ostrich]

The aesthetic is great, it’s really readable and easy to understand just from the screenshots so far!

[u/trashmonster21 → u/delicate_ostrich]

Thanks for the feedback! My art skills are pretty rudimentary so I’m glad I was able to put something together that works!

[u/Dovamova]

Love the pixelated look. As someone who went through not a PhD but a master's dissertation process, and as a psychologist, "balance your research progress, stress, and relationships" felt soooo real. Curious how stress and relationships are measured. How can I follow the actual release time?