Walden, a game

Walden, a game is an exploratory narrative and open world simulation of the life of American philosopher Henry David Thoreau during his experiment in self-reliant living at Walden Pond. The game begins in the summer of 1845 when Thoreau moved to the Pond and built his cabin there.

Players follow in his footsteps, surviving in the woods by finding food and fuel and maintaining their shelter and clothing. At the same time, players are surrounded by the beauty of the woods and the Pond, which hold a promise of a sublime life beyond these basic needs. The game follows the loose narrative of Thoreau's first year in the woods, with each season holding its own challenges for survival and possibilities for inspiration.

The game, which took over a decade to build, has been shown all over the world in venues including the Sundance Film Festival, Games for Change, SFMOMA, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Davos World Economic Forum, IndieCade and more. It was honored as Game of the Year and Most Significant Impact Game at the Games for Change Festival as well as receiving the Developers' Choice Award at IndieCade.