Between Shutters

In a town where 'being strong' means never showing a trace of feeling, you play as a young fox photographer who captures the very emotions everyone else is trying to hide. It’s a narrative adventure about breaking the cycle of stoicism through the lens of a camera, turning observation into emotions.

When most games ask you to master mechanics, this one asks you to master empathy.

This is a submission for Beyond Game Jam 2026: Bias Breaker

Theme 

Beyond Stereotypes 

Between Shutters explores emotional silence and expectations of stoic masculinity. Through a fox photographer capturing hidden feelings, the game reframes empathy and vulnerability as forms of strength.

Diversifiers

Hidden Depths: The fox’s deeper motivation slowly unfolds. 

Night and Day: Daytime appearances contrast with emotional truths revealed through photographs. 

Creature Feature: Animal characters reflect human struggles with empathy and masculinity.

Gameplay

Explore small spaces around town and observe the characters within them. Use your camera to capture emotion pulses as they appear, balancing positive and negative feelings to avoid overwhelming your camera. 

Each photograph is later developed in the darkroom, revealing the hidden emotions behind everyday moments.

Controls

Move around using A & D / arrow keys. Use the left mouse click to tap emotion bubbles. Some emotion bubbles need multiple taps or even hold.

Once you have filled up the camera meter, drag the right mouse click to snap photos.

Credits

Developed by Pawse
Programmer: Arvind
Programmer: Yendhi
Visual Assets & Sound Design: Maegan
BGMs & SFXs retrieved from: MATSU, PeriTune, Pixabay & Sound Effect Lab