Grandma's Mysterious Box

Grandma’s Mysterious Box is a cooperative storytelling game exploring cultural discovery, personal growth, and family bonds. Inspired by the rich traditions of Vietnamese culture and the universal challenges of navigating identity and relationships. It blends a reflective and bittersweet tone with moments of humor, offering an emotional experience.

I created this game to celebrate my Vietnamese heritage and share the traditions that shaped my life. Growing up with ancestor worship, cultural meals, and family stories influenced my worldview significantly. Mixing universal themes of friendship and identity with the specificity of Vietnamese traditions, I aimed to make a game that feels relatable and culturally enriching. Taking themes from my Magpie book, this game is underpinned by the themes of Vietnam and friendship. It’s a cultural setting where the foods, rituals, and family values are part of the story. Still, the universal thread of friendship ties the players to their characters and each other, which is to explore relationships and shared experiences in a framed way.

The game explores key themes like cultural heritage, the complexities of relationships, and the journey of self-discovery. Characters confront family expectations, personal aspirations, and unresolved relationships as they work together to uncover the secrets of Grandma’s mysterious box. Traditional Vietnamese motifs, such as lotus flowers and dragons, enrich the visual design and ground the narrative in its cultural context.

I hope players walk away from Grandma’s Mysterious Box with a deeper understanding and appreciation for Vietnamese culture not only as a set of static traditions but as a vibrant, shared experience. Beyond cultural education, the game invites players to connect with their own lives by managing relationships, juggling responsibilities, and connecting with their heritage. Ultimately, I hope this game inspires curiosity, empathy, and a sense of connection to something greater than oneself.