Starfall Rebellion
UX RESEARCHER| SOCIAL SERVICES
Redefines adventure. Transform the gaming experience.
Starfall Rebellion is an action-adventure game inspired by the Star Wars universe, designed to deliver an immersive, intuitive and emotionally connected experience. As lead UX/UI designer, my mission was to build a fluid player journey, loaded with narrative and innovative mechanics that capture the epic essence of the saga.
Team
Lead Product Designer & UX/UI Designer at Horizons Games
Team consisting of: 1 Project Manager, 2 Psychologists, 2 Developers and 1 Designer.
Timeline
january 2023 - October 2023
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Unity, Axoltl Engine, Jira, Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender
CHALLENGEHow to transform a story of betrayal, rebellion and survival into an intuitive, epic and emotional game experience, overcoming the technical limitations of an engine under construction?
By translating complex themes into playful mechanics: betrayal became dual-character synergies (toggle controls for fluid teamwork), rebellion shaped environmental storytelling (glitching assets as narrative devices), and survival drove constraint-driven level design (2D planes with verticality to bypass engine limits). The result? A co-op adventure where technical barriers fueled creativity, and players felt the galaxy’s tension through intuitive combos.
Goals
1. Design an intuitive and dynamic game experience, suitable for casual gamers and Star Wars fans.
2. Develop a visual interface that respects the iconic style of the saga.
3. Create challenging, narratively solid and emotionally immersive levels.
Process
RESEARCH
Immerse ourselfs in the galaxy to understand our players.
Before starting the design, we immersed ourselves deeply into the universe of our players.
Through interviews with Star Wars fans and action-adventure gamers, we uncovered what truly excites them and the frustrations they face during gameplay.
We analyzed key references like Lego Star Wars, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to understand best practices, design patterns, and identify opportunities for innovation. To build a believable and immersive universe, we also explored iconic sci-fi environments, space stations, and even real-world sewer systems for inspiration.
All these insights allowed us to craft detailed player personas, guiding every UX, narrative, and mechanic decision throughout the project.
50%
73%
80%
Players consider that world-building is as important as mechanics
Players showed a clear preference for indie-style experiences.
Loved games where the companion is a real asset.
“The best games are the ones that don't make you think about the controls. In Lego Star Wars, everything flows, and that's just what keeps me playing.”
- Peter, 20 years old, regular playerDefining & Ideation
We mapped out every design element, from story arcs to game mechanics, ensuring that everything resonated with the Star Wars universe while offering a fresh take on the action-adventure genre.
During this phase, we also brainstormed and sketched the key environments, characters, and interactions.
We focused on crafting two main pillars:
Dual character gameplay: Building on our research, we envisioned two protagonists with distinct roles and abilities. This would allow for a deeper and more interactive player experience, where switching between characters felt fluid and rewarding.
Exploration and discovery: The game needed to reward curiosity, not just combat. From hidden secrets to environmental storytelling, every corner had to feel like it held a piece of the story.
Every idea was tested, iterated, and refined through rapid prototyping to ensure the gameplay felt intuitive and engaging.
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Bringing the universe of Starfall Rebellion to life.
As the sole designer on Starfall Rebellion, I was responsible for shaping the entire player experience—from wireframes to final animations and even front-end implementation.
While my core focus was UX and research, the nature of the project gave me space to explore and execute visual design, motion, and code.
I worked in parallel with the narrative team and developers to ensure interactions felt immersive, intuitive, and emotionally aligned with the game's atmosphere.
Microinteractions & Feedback
I created dynamic animations to communicate state changes, player feedback, and game progression. From subtle pulses on active elements to responsive feedback when taking damage or activating power-ups, these microinteractions help keep players immersed and informed.
In-Game UI Design
Designed layouts, navigation patterns, and HUDs to support both gameplay flow and player immersion.
I developed the full in-game interface, from health bars and special move indicators to mission prompts and menus. Every element was designed to be functional, visually cohesive, and intuitive—supporting gameplay without overwhelming it.
Navigation Cues & UX Flow
I also designed the environmental visual cues and transitions between objectives to guide players through the levels intuitively. Lighting, layout, and UI prompts all worked together to support player navigation and maintain immersion.
Impact & Results
Being both UX researcher and designer allowed me to create a consistent, player-centered experience—from interface design to animation and implementation.
Improved player navigation and mission clarity
Playtesters highlighted smoother learning curves thanks to clear navigation cues and a well-structured mission flow.
Usability issues resolved through iterative UI testing
Early user testing revealed friction points that were addressed through refined feedback loops and interface adjustments.
Scalable UI system built for narrative expansion
As the sole designer, I developed a modular UI that easily adapted to new features and evolving story content.
