Joseph drives slowly. He's got time today. He still has one last round, and words to pass on before evening falls. His satchel contains letters, promises, silences. It's a day to turn the page, or perhaps to really understand what matters. In this contemplative game, on foot or by bike, listen, deliver and, above all, explore. Le Dernier Courrier is about memory, freedom, human ties, what we keep and what we pass on.
This ambitious final-year project stood out significantly from typical student work in both scope and technical polish, earning recognition at the Busan Indies Connect Festival. Over five months, our seven-person team crafted a narrative-driven experience that seamlessly blends contemplative gameplay with technical innovation.
Technical Architecture & Core Systems
Unreal Engine 5 Implementation
Built leveraging Unreal Engine 5's cutting-edge rendering capabilities, particularly utilizing Lumen for dynamic global illumination to create the game's distinctive atmospheric lighting. The development approach combined C++ for core gameplay mechanics with Blueprint systems for rapid prototyping and designer-friendly iteration.
Hybrid 2D/3D Physics Integration
One of the project's most significant technical challenges involved implementing a physically-based 2D inventory system within a 3D game environment. Since Unreal Engine's native 2D physics capabilities were insufficient for our needs, I integrated Box2D physics engine and developed a custom coordinate system management solution. This hybrid approach enabled realistic physics-based item interactions within the UI while maintaining seamless integration with the 3D world.
Core Gameplay Systems
Dialogue & Narrative Framework
Designed and implemented a comprehensive dialogue system that supports branching conversations and character interactions. The system integrates seamlessly with our narrative tooling pipeline, allowing for dynamic story progression based on player choices and exploration patterns.
Interactive Inventory System
Created a physics-driven inventory system where items behave with realistic weight and momentum. Players can organize their mail satchel intuitively, with items responding to movement and gravity. This system enhances the tactile feeling of being a postal worker while maintaining gameplay clarity.
Environmental Interaction Framework
Developed a flexible interaction system that supports diverse gameplay scenarios - from delivering letters to environmental storytelling through object examination. The system prioritizes contextual awareness and smooth player flow through the narrative experience.
Technical Pipeline & Integration
Narrative Content Pipeline
Established a streamlined content creation workflow by developing JSON interpreters for Twine narrative exports. This tooling converted external narrative content into Unreal data classes, enabling writers to work in familiar tools while maintaining seamless integration with the game engine.
UI Architecture
Implemented a comprehensive UI system that handles the complex coordinate transformations required for the physics-based inventory. The interface seamlessly transitions between 2D inventory management and 3D world exploration, maintaining visual consistency and responsive interaction feedback.
Performance Optimization
Implemented multiple optimization strategies to ensure smooth performance across target platforms:
- Engine Configuration: Fine-tuned Unreal Engine settings for optimal performance while maintaining visual quality
- LOD Management: Developed level-of-detail systems for complex environmental assets
- Impostor Systems: Generated billboard impostors for distant geometry to reduce rendering overhead
Team Collaboration & Development Process
Working within a multidisciplinary team of seven members (developers, artists, narrative designer, sound designer, and project manager), I coordinated technical development across multiple systems while ensuring seamless integration between programming, art, and narrative content. The project utilized Perforce for version control, enabling efficient collaboration across all disciplines.
Technical Stack
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5
- Languages: C++, Blueprint
- Version Control: Perforce
You can find this game on its itch.io page
This project is closed source due to using a private Perforce server, but here are some screenshots showcasing the final result:
