Discrimen

GAME DURATION: about 30 minutes
AGE RESTRICTION: 16+
CREATION TIME: about 20h - 30h
GAME DESIGN: Leonhard Kohl-Lörting

The year was 2032, and the world was vastly different from what it had been just five decades prior.

SUMMARY: You play as a "Discrimen". Your job is to decide between two criminal cases, who is more in the wrong. Together with the Discrimen voter base, a democratic vote decides who has to give their life for their wrongdoing. As the game processes, you notice something is wrong with the world and the information about it that you are given. Things are not as they seem, and you feel like you live in a big lie.

This game was created as a part of the Godot Wild Jam #77, with theme "Metamorphosis". It showcases how rapidly political, as well as environmental systems can change.

--- SPOILERS AHEAD - GAME STORY ---

In 2025, a devastating outbreak had begun - the Naegleria consilium parasite had escaped from a laboratory and spread rapidly across the globe. At first, the effects were subtle. People began acting differently - making irrational judgments, losing their temper more easily, and displaying erratic behavior. But no one suspected anything was wrong. The infection remained undetected for about 12 months, during which time it silently altered brain chemistry.

By 2026 and 2027, the toll became clear. Millions of people had fallen ill, and more had died from brain failure. The world as we knew it was coming apart at the seams. This rapid transformation of society was akin to a biological metamorphosis, with humanity undergoing a drastic change in form and function.

Of all the continents, only Europe remained habitable. But amidst this devastation, a new order emerged. The Decimen regime took control of what was left of civilization. Led by a ruthless dictator, they believed in rule by the people - literally. They called it "law by the masses". Their system worked like this: instead of judges and juries, they had something called "decimen voters".

These were ordinary citizens chosen to decide the fate of criminals accused of serious crimes. The decimen voters would weigh the evidence and cast their votes - guilty or innocent. Those found guilty were put to death. The reasoning behind this brutal system was simple: since the Naegleria consilium parasite could potentially infect anyone, including judges and court officials, the decimen voters were seen as purer, untainted by the virus. After all, how could someone infected with the parasite possibly act rationally enough to make fair decisions? This radical shift in societal structure and governance was a stark example of how the world had undergone a cultural and political metamorphosis in response to the crisis.