Exquisite Cadaver

Introducing Exquisite Cadaver, a surrealist Interactive Game.

cadavre exquis - a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled, each collaborator adding to the composition in sequence, following a previously fixed rule.

Aspiring to be a writer since you were quite little, you’ve always dreamt of striking it big with your words and being showered with the never-ending adoration of your many, many fans. Fame was one of the reasons you left your dull inconsequential village for the dazzling capital —along with your two closest childhood friends, Camille and Renaud—.

Now, some two years later, you have very little to show for it. Worse still, you are buried deep in writer’s block. Unable to put down a single word on a page, you will stop at nothing to get your mojo back! Even if it means having to waste your time, for just an afternoon, at the request of your friends —friends you have not seen in weeks—.

It is at the terrace table of a local café that they will propose to play a few rounds of a strange game: Exquisite Cadaver. Hilarity ensues?

This game is based on the real Cadavre Exquis, a game invented by surrealist artists, as a new form of entertainment, in the 1920s in Paris. The city and time period is implied to be set in Paris around the time the game was invented (1920s).

• Choose your name (and nickname), pronouns, favourite drink and smoke. OR use the preset.
• A story mode, playing against Camille and Renaud (who chooses a random word from this list). Note: this mode has a finite amount of rounds and is about 1/3rd complete.
• An endless mode, where you can play the game to infinity (more or less) or play a specific spot only.
• Achievements!
• Stats tracking of played rounds, and list of completed sentences (downloadable).
• Learn some French words, phrases and idioms (spread out throughout the story, translation provided).

WORD COUNT:

Total Word Count: about 35k.
Average Word Count: about 19k for the main path (no ending).

PLAYTIME:

• Story Mode: 15min to 1h per playthrough.
• Endless Mode: 2min to ∞

RATING & TRIGGER WARNINGS

Rated 16+ for: alcohol (ab-)use; drug induced hallucination (optional); mild swearing; mention of: violence, sex, unhealthy relationships, crime, depression. One ending (R9) also has antisemitic slurs.

If you've liked playing this game , please consider rating it and leaving a comment on this page, or sharing it with anyone who might enjoy it too.

First created for the Fortnightly Fiction Jam 14, where one created a short game in two weeks, with the theme being Exquisite Cadaver, this project is getting a revamped story and UI. While the UI is completed (template), only 1/3rd of the story is ready. You can check out my Tumblr for my progress. The Jam version is still available as a downloadable file.

NOTE: While the mobile version has been tested and works, it is recommended to use a larger screen for better visibility (height > 500px).

If you encounter any bugs, please fill in this form so I can fix it.

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