Extract is a thesis-driven 2.5D action prototype exploring how time pressure influences player decision-making.
Through a loop of combat, resource management, and timed extraction, the game creates continuous tension between risk and reward, encouraging players to make strategic decisions throughout the entire run.
This game argues that time pressure combined with extraction-based mechanics creates continuous decision-making throughout gameplay.
Developed as a 2.5D Unity prototype, this project centers on a gameplay loop in which the player enters a level, gathers resources, and must decide when to extract before losing everything.
Rather than focusing on narrative, this project investigates gameplay as a system of risk and reward. Inspired by extraction-based games such as Escape from Tarkov, the design translates complex, high-stakes systems into a simplified 2.5D action format.
The player is constantly negotiating between continuing exploration for greater rewards and leaving safely with what they have collected. These decisions are not isolated moments but occur continuously as the player monitors health, time, and risk.
The project takes the form of an interactive prototype because this system can only be fully understood through player interaction. Through iterative prototyping and playtesting, this thesis demonstrates how simplified extraction mechanics can create meaningful tension and player-driven decision-making without overwhelming complexity.