Meat Cogito
Course Instructor
Pramod Gupta
Abstract
Meat Cogito is a single-player, narrative-driven psychological horror game that explores themes of identity, perception, and reality through the lens of Cartesian philosophy. The player begins as a disembodied brain in a surreal, organic world where flesh, thought, and simulation intersect. As the game progresses, players make choices that alter their evolving body—slowly constructing what they believe to be a “true” human form. These choices influence how the world reacts to them, raising existential questions inspired by Descartes: "If I think, am I?" and "Do I exist, or do I merely perceive?"
Gameplay takes place in a grotesquely immersive 3D environment—walls pulse, flesh breathes, and grotesque NPCs whisper riddles. Players interact with their environment and other malformed beings, gradually shaping themselves through psychological and moral choices. The game's atmosphere is dense with tension, inviting players to reflect on what it means to be real in a world that may not be.
The game culminates in three potential endings: the player becomes a horrific “True Being,” ascends as a disembodied mind alone in the void, or rejects both paths and breaks the simulation entirely. Inspired by Mouthwashing by Wrong Organ, Meat Cogito uses horror not just to frighten, but to provoke introspection.
The project aims to be playable on PC, developed using Unity, with all assets, programming, and design executed by a solo developer. The final deliverables include a fully playable experience, development documentation, and a presentation analyzing the game’s themes and systems.
Meat Cogito
Meat Cogito is a single-player, narrative-driven psychological horror game that explores themes of identity, perception, and reality through the lens of Cartesian philosophy. The player begins as a disembodied brain in a surreal, organic world where flesh, thought, and simulation intersect. As the game progresses, players make choices that alter their evolving body—slowly constructing what they believe to be a “true” human form. These choices influence how the world reacts to them, raising existential questions inspired by Descartes: "If I think, am I?" and "Do I exist, or do I merely perceive?"
Gameplay takes place in a grotesquely immersive 3D environment—walls pulse, flesh breathes, and grotesque NPCs whisper riddles. Players interact with their environment and other malformed beings, gradually shaping themselves through psychological and moral choices. The game's atmosphere is dense with tension, inviting players to reflect on what it means to be real in a world that may not be.
The game culminates in three potential endings: the player becomes a horrific “True Being,” ascends as a disembodied mind alone in the void, or rejects both paths and breaks the simulation entirely. Inspired by Mouthwashing by Wrong Organ, Meat Cogito uses horror not just to frighten, but to provoke introspection.
The project aims to be playable on PC, developed using Unity, with all assets, programming, and design executed by a solo developer. The final deliverables include a fully playable experience, development documentation, and a presentation analyzing the game’s themes and systems.
