Hey everyone!

Today, I want to dive into the core design pillars and gameplay structure of The Proofreader. These elements define the experience and shape how you engage with the game’s mechanics and story.

🧩 Puzzle – The Challenge of Censorship

Your job is to meticulously analyze emails, looking for errors and rule violations. As the game progresses, the directives become more ambiguous, pushing your deduction skills to the limit. New mechanics, like invisible ink detection, will add layers of complexity. Secrets are hidden within the computer interface—waiting to be uncovered.

📖 Narrative – Stories Behind the Screen

Through emails and chat messages, you connect with coworkers, learning about their struggles, fears, and dreams. The game builds an emotional bond with its characters, making your decisions even more impactful. Environmental storytelling also raises questions about the true nature of your company’s activities.

💼 Simulation – A Digital Workplace

Everything you do mirrors real office tasks: booting up your computer, logging in, managing emails, and handling files. This grounded approach enhances immersion, making the experience feel eerily authentic.

🔄 Gameplay Loop – A Workday in The Proofreader

Each in-game day follows a structured cycle:

1️⃣ Start your shift – Power up your PC, log in, and receive chat notifications.
2️⃣ Check your emails – Review, analyze, and sort them according to company rules.
3️⃣ Engage in conversations – Respond to coworkers through a branching dialogue system.
4️⃣ Explore your computer – Discover hidden files that reveal more about the game’s lore.
5️⃣ End-of-day report – Receive a performance score and leaderboard ranking. If you stay above the red zone, you continue. Otherwise, it's back to retrying your day.

With The Proofreader, I wanted to create a thought-provoking experience, blending moral dilemmas, deep storytelling, and immersive mechanics.

What do you think of this structure? Let me know in the comments! 🚀