The Cascadier
Developed at Enchanted Arcade, The Cascadier reimagines the classic coin-pusher machine as a physics-driven roguelite powered by elemental abilities, divine upgrades, and trinkets blessed by the gods. Players experiment with ability combinations, chain reactions, and momentum-based strategy to build powerful runs and earn tickets across a series of cascading machines.
Game Details:
Genre: Roguelite Coin Cascade Arcade Game
Platform: PC
Engine: Unity
Development Context: Enchanted Arcade
Status: In development
Role:
UI/UX Designer, Game Designer, and Unity Generalist
Concept Art and Story Line
The art style evolved from pixelated and focused on Greek mythology to a more realistic, Art Nouveau-inspired aesthetic. The game is set in an air-arcade run by gods, where Fortuna and Théoden guide you down diverging paths of luck and fate. An elemental roguelite at its core, the experience blends chance and skill as players harness ability powers such as lightning, frost, and flame to challenge divine machines and uncover hidden relics that alter the balance between fortune and destiny.
Ability card icons concept art.
Early concept sketches for the arcade, and the void underground
The identity of the two main characters started to evolve- Fortuna and the Custodian illustrated below.
The Custodian and Fortuna (sketched by Sam Baker)
UI/UX Design and Visual Development
We took inspiration from Art Nouveau art and Architecture. As the identity of the game evolved, so did the UI. From decorative Art Nouveau, to more magical, and then a rustic arcade feel.
The UI evolved in the game to become more wooden. rustic and fit the theme of a mysterious, enchanted arcade.
Example: Designing the main game HUD - colour palette and UX.
The arcade machine is bright and colourful with alot of VFX. There is a lot of information for the player: quests, trinkets, abilities, euphoria mode, coin counter, score, and milestone metre.
I was inspired by circus/ theatre- hence the colour palette (boundary and bright reds), and also this inspired the animations on the UI- which move left and right and down- like curtains moving in and out, and curtain drapes falling down.
Final Visual Identity
The game is still in development- hence the visual changes below reflecting playtesting/ updates of UI/UX and game design.
Gameplay
Try to beat the machines in Fortuna’s Arcade, There are seven rounds in each machine, you need to use your coins, abilities and trinkets wisely to win the round and earn enough score!