Afro-Latina Game Developer Turning Concepts Into Games
Ayanna Vasquez
A student game dev creating original solo projects to grow my skills and portfolio.
You can find my work on Itch.io down below!
About Me!
Who Am I?
Hii! I’m Ayanna Vasquez, a Digital Media/Game Development student at Eastern Illinois University. I currently work solo on projects, but I’m always open to collaborating with a team or another solo dev. I’d love to learn and grow alongside others!
What I Make
I create short games that explore themes like emotion and quiet storytelling. I publish my work on Itch.io and treat each project as an opportunity to experiment, learn, and grow as a developer
My Focus
I'm drawn to level and/or environmental design. I like thinking about how players move through a scene and placing things in a way that feels thoughtful and sparks curiosity. I care about how a space looks, but also how it feels to explore, as if I’m inside the game myself.
My Process
As a solo dev, I work through many parts of the process, from prototyping to visual polish. I’m always learning new tools and techniques to bring my ideas to life. My goal is to create games across different genres so I can explore new design challenges, grow my skills, and better understand what I enjoy creating most.
What Inspires Me
Inspiration-wise, I’m drawn to horror games and movies, especially those that build tension through environment and storytelling. Some of my favorite games are Dead by Daylight, Resident Evil 7, Little Nightmares, and The Walking Dead. I love how these experiences use mood, pacing, and visual style to leave a lasting impression.
My Projects!
Here you’ll find a few of the small games I’ve created, each one a learning experience and a reflection of my style as a designer.
Until It Comes Back
My most recent game
Beach Rush!
Room 303
They said something happened there. A murder, I think..
Hollowed Path
An unknown character with a sword who stumbles into Hollow Grove.
Last Light
Your goal: Survive
Beach Rush!
Overview:
Beach Rush! is a fast-paced mini-game where the player has just 15 seconds to grab everything they need before a spontaneous beach trip. It’s all about urgency, quick thinking, and fun feedback.
What I Worked On:
Timer-based gameplay that adds urgency while staying fun & playful
Scoring system with values per item to encourage prioritization
Feedback loop using visual popups & sound cues for each action
Narrative intro with a short cutscene that sets the tone quickly
Tools Used:
Used a mix of free Unity asset packs for items & environment props
Designed graphic visual in Canva for title name & knocking effect
Room 303
Overview:
No one else wanted to clean room 303.
They said something happened there.
A murder, I think..
What I Worked On:
Created a tense hallway layout leading toward Room 303 to guide the player forward.
Set up interaction system for tasks (pick up & clean)
Used lighting and post-processing for the creepy, low-lit motel vibe
Layered ambient audio (distant hums of lights & whispering)
Tools Used:
Used a mix of free Unity asset packs for items & environment props
Freesound audio for ambience
Hollowed Path
Overview:
Hollowed Path follows an unknown character with a sword who stumbles into Hollow Grove. As the character ventures deeper into the forest, they encounter slime enemies, breakable objects, and valuable items such as
health, coins, and a dash ability.
What I Worked On:
Designed the forest environment and map layout, using lighting and particle effects to create a calm, mysterious atmosphere.
Implemented combat system with sword and bow mechanics, including hit detection for both player and enemies
Created slime enemies with health, damage response, & death animation.
Added player health and death system, allowing the player to take damage and respawn
Used Unity’s 2D Animation System for player movement, weapon attacks, & breakable object effects
Tools Used:
Used a mix of free Unity asset packs for items & environment props & Itch.io packs
Lots of YouTube Tutorials
Note: I got stuck on creating a quest system and dialogue between characters but I do plan on coming back to add to this game!
Last Light
Overview:
In Last Light, players are plunged into a dark, zombie-infested forest with only one goal: survive. You start with nothing but the need to find a lantern and a gun. With no knowledge of how many bullets you have left, every shot counts, adding an extra layer of tension.
What I Worked On:
Designed the dark, foggy forest environment and creepy house interior to establish a tense mood.
Implemented zombie chases using Unity’s NavMesh system for realistic player detection & chasing
Created lantern and gun mechanics with animation of shooting and light swinging
Tuned lighting, fog, and ambient sounds to maintain a suspenseful mood.
Tools Used:
Used a mix of free Unity asset packs for items & environment props & Itch.io packs
Lots of YouTube Tutorials
Note: I lost the Unity files for this game but I do want to recreate it to put out on Itch.io!
Until It Comes Back
Overview:
A short, atmospheric exploration game about waiting through a power outage late at night. The player sits with a candle, quietly observing a familiar room as thoughts and time passes by.
What I Worked On:
Built the candle-lit lighting system & overall atmosphere
Used a Unity 2D tileset from itch.io to build the room environment
Designed simple environmental interactions that trigger short thoughts
Added ambient audio to support the mood
Added a subtle snow particle system in the background to convey a snowy power outage
Tools Used:
bitglow from Itch.io
Sound Effects from klankbeeld on freesound.org