I don't know what will trap me in a loop forever.

What if you could learn about OCD through play? What would you do if you had a computer program in your mind, constantly surveilling your every move? In The Halting Problem, follow the story of Flowersfolk, a cyborg whose own code becomes their worst enemy. Solve puzzles, learn to fight the code, and reestablish peace. To learn more about the design, visit the article on my portfolio.

Content/Trigger Warnings

• OCD experience (e.g. repetitive behaviors, unwanted thoughts)
• Death is mentioned in dialogue, but is not depicted
• A few instances of quick flashing colors/screens
• Small pixelated sprites of the following:
  • Knives
  • Guns
• Mild use of profanity

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that is characterized by constant unwanted, distressing thoughts (obsessions), and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that try to eliminate the distress feeling. (Source: IOCDF)

• OCD is NOT just "cleanliness".
• OCD thoughts are NOT one's own thoughts. These horrible, distressing thoughts are a result of the disorder and are NOT what the person actually wants. The person just wants the thoughts to stop appearing.
• OCD is a struggle and the people who suffer from it should get the help and support they need.

Disclaimer

• If while playing this, you feel like you might have OCD, seek professional help (counselor, psychologist, etc.) to ensure you get the right care you need.
• This is based on my personal experience (I was diagnosed in 2022). All forms of OCD are unique to the individual, but there are similarities across cases.
• This is not meant to be a diagnostic tool. It is an empathy-building form of creative and emotional expression.
• If there are any issues with bugs, performance, or translations, please let me know in the comments!

Inspiration

I have wanted to make a playable OCD experience for a while now. I would like to credit the following games for their inspiration in the development process:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Game by Kelly M Tran
  • Inspiration: Personal storytelling for education
• 2064: Read Only Memories
  • Inspiration: Retro/scifi aesthetics, point-and-click style adventure

Credits

Created by Bastión Toledo-Altamirano (syndhex)

Guidance by Clareese Hill & Monica Storss

Translations by Vic Zhao (Mandarin Chinese)

Help

• International OCD Foundation
• ⚠️ If you are facing a mental health crisis (in the US), visit https://mhanational.org/get-involved/contact-us