Plug It — Charles Roger-Boutbien

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Description

Plug It is a 3D puzzle-platformer built in Unreal Engine 5. You play as Plex, a small robot tethered to an oversized plug, every move must account for the cable dragging behind you. The plug snags on geometry, blocks passages, and becomes the solution.

I contributed across core design, level design, 3C technical work and VFX implementation for gameplay feedback moments.

My Contributions

Game Design

Contributed to core game design, mechanics definition, game loops, USP and design pillars from concept through production.

Level Design

Designed puzzle situations built around the cable constraint, creating layouts that teach the mechanic progressively and reward spatial thinking.

3C Technical Design

Led all 3C technical work, character controls, camera system, controller mapping, ensuring the feel matched design intent and the cable physics read clearly to the player.

Prototyping

Prototyped core mechanics directly in Unreal Engine 5, validating the cable constraint system early and iterating on feel before full implementation.

VFX

Created VFX for key gameplay feedback moments, visual responses that communicate game state clearly without UI overlays.

Key Design Decisions

The cable is the entire design space, before any puzzle or level decision, the question was always 'how does this make the cable more interesting?' Anything that didn't engage the constraint was cut.
3C for a puzzle-platformer requires precise, deliberate movement, not sluggish, but never twitchy. The player needs to feel in control of exactly where the cable will land, which meant tuning deceleration as carefully as acceleration.
VFX were prioritised by information value: every effect had to answer a question the player might have (is the cable taut? am I stuck? did this connect?). Decorative effects came last.

Skills

Game DesignLevel Design3C DesignPrototypingVFXUnreal Engine 5

Context

SchoolTeamPuzzle PlatformerPCUnreal Engine 5

Links

Trailer YouTube