"Aural Palaces" is a narrative-driven game about an astronaut, during a mission to explore a distant planet, collides with a mysterious chrome orb and transforms into a swarm of moths, maintaining a vague human shape. The game explores themes of identity, memory, and survival as he navigates a surreal landscape.

“The moths arrange themselves in the semblance of a man, a spectral silhouette created from the fragments of the once-living spaceman. In this strange metamorphosis, the astronaut explores the unfamiliar existence of being a collective consciousness of delicate wings and ephemeral whispers. The desert stretches infinitely, and the once-solid boundaries of self dissolve into the intangible dance of moth-like particles.”
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The astronaut, now a mothman, explores an alien desert where realities intersect. He faces challenges and seeks answers about his new existence. The goal is to create an immersive story set in a fantastical environment, focusing on the protagonist's internal perceptions.

Vision and Inspiration

“Within, the tumultuous waves do roar, In my mind, insist that I am an astronaut. Hypersonic, astronomic flight, A swift life met its fate.
A gleaming orb emerged before my craft, Too fast to alter course, I met it in a clash, My spacecraft and I transmuted, Into a fiery cascade.
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 "A Californian diner, situated in the middle of a desert on an alien planet, surrounded by enormous creatures that have an amusing appearance."  Is the Mothman hallucinating? Are you?

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Blending familiar elements with the fantastical, creating an intriguing and dreamy atmosphere. An imaginative and otherworldly environment.
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An intersection of realities. Real time dreaming of ghost fauna.


The fears and hopes of the Mothman take shape as various creatures, each communicating through different languages that the player 'learns' by collecting items in abandoned temples. These manifestations of the Mothman's inner world are both beautiful and haunting, representing the spectrum of his emotions and aspirations. As the player navigates the game, they encounter these creatures in diverse environments, each speaking in a unique dialect or using symbolic gestures.
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I know I'm not alive, yet somehow, still living. Defined by the ghosts of repetition, memories anchor me persisting.”
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The astronaut wonders if his memories are scattered and fragmented within each moth, or if these memories are suspended in the air, in space, in the ether.
He perceives the world encoded through hisses, pops, and the fluttering of tiny wings.



The gameplay draws inspiration from atmospheric puzzle-platformer games, where the player solves puzzles and navigates through a visually stunning and desolate world.

"Aural Palaces" is an atmospheric puzzle-platformer that explores the existential journey of an astronaut transformed into a swarm of moths after colliding with a mysterious chrome orb.
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 People in protective suits can be seen across different realities, generally appearing while controlling large sound emitters and enormous loud speakers. The manipulation of these sounds by the player can open portals to other realities.


An emotionally charged game that emphasizes exploration and an intuitive connection through visuals and music. It evokes introspection and a powerful emotional impact, guiding players through its world using visual cues and a haunting soundtrack to tell a compelling story.
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Players navigate a surreal desert landscape filled with otherworldly creatures and parallel realities, solving puzzles and uncovering the story of their new existence.

• Transformation Mechanic: Play as a swarm of moths that can take on different shapes to solve puzzles and navigate the environment.

• World-Building: Explore a desert landscape with strange flora, mysterious structures, and parallel realities.

• Narrative: Uncover the protagonist’s backstory and the implications of his transformation through environmental storytelling and interactive elements.

• Sound Design: Experience a rich auditory landscape with an original soundtrack and ambient sounds that enhance the game's atmosphere.

Enormous, harmless monsters attract the attention of people and communicate telepathically with the moths that comprise the Mothman's form. These colossal beings, with their gentle demeanor and captivating presence, draw crowds who are both fascinated and comforted by their size and grace.

Despite their intimidating appearance, the monsters exude an aura of peace and benevolence. Through a silent, mental connection, they interact with the multitude of moths that form the Mothman's body, sharing thoughts and information. 

This telepathic bond allows the Mothman to gain unique insights and guidance from these gentle giants. The harmonious relationship between the monsters and the moths highlights the interconnectedness of all creatures within this extraordinary world.

In his new form, the astronaut explores his existence as a collective consciousness of delicate wings and whispers. The desert stretches infinitely, and the once-solid boundaries of self dissolve into the intangible dance of moth-like particles.


Giant monsters composed of plants and sand emerge from the ground, taking shape before the Mothman's eyes. These colossal beings, with bodies interwoven from vines, leaves, and grains of sand, rise slowly, forming intricate and terrifying figures. As they stand tall, their plant-like appendages sway with an eerie grace, and their sand-covered exteriors shimmer under the alien sun. The air crackles with a strange energy as these formidable creatures prepare to confront the Mothman.




One of the unique abilities of the Mothman is his capacity to multiply into several "Mothmen." Since he is composed of a large swarm of moths, he can disperse and reform into multiple distinct entities. Each Mothman retains a part of the original's consciousness, allowing them to work independently or together to solve puzzles and navigate the environment. This ability not only enhances his versatility but also adds a strategic element to the gameplay, as players can utilize multiple Mothmen to tackle complex challenges and explore different areas simultaneously.



 The glass and crystal Aural Palaces dance upon the ground, seemingly existing outside of all other realities. These ethereal structures, shimmering with an otherworldly light, float and shift, defying the conventional laws of physics.

 Within these magnificent palaces, the Mothman discovers fragments of his past. The walls are adorned with translucent panels that display scenes from his life, each one more vivid and detailed than the last. As he explores these luminous halls, the Mothman gains the ability to recreate these memories, rewriting his past with newfound clarity and understanding. The palaces become a sanctuary where he can reshape his history, blending reality and imagination to forge a new path forward.


 Small islands in the middle of the desert landscape with vibrant vegetation dot the landscape, each one a miniature paradise brimming with colorful flora. These enchanted isles serve as portals to the Mothman's memories, allowing him to revisit past explorations on different planets he once visited.




As he steps onto each island, the vivid hues of the plants and flowers trigger recollections of distant worlds, filled with strange landscapes and unique life forms. The islands become a living archive of his adventures, where he can wander through his past, reliving the excitement and wonder of his interstellar journeys. Each step on these islands reconnects him with the essence of his explorations, offering moments of nostalgia and insight.


 The chrome orb seems to follow him throughout the game, observing his every move. This gleaming orb hovers silently, its reflective surface capturing the surrounding environment in a distorted mirror-like sheen. Occasionally, the sphere provides assistance, emitting a soft hum before revealing hidden paths, solving intricate puzzles, or neutralizing potential threats.


Its presence is both enigmatic and comforting, a silent guardian that watches over the Mothman as he navigates the complex and often perilous landscapes of the game. The chrome sphere's assistance is unpredictable, but its aid is always timely, suggesting a deeper connection between it and the Mothman's journey.




Areas where the game shifts to black and white indicate zones where the Mothman can follow an alternate version of himself. This spectral doppelgänger appears to have traversed these places before, leaving behind subtle clues and echoes of past actions. In these monochromatic realms, the absence of color heightens the sense of mystery and nostalgia. The Mothman trails this shadowy figure, uncovering remnants of previous journeys and decisions.


Each step taken in these grayscale environments reveals more about the Mothman’s alternate self's experiences, offering insights and guiding him through challenges that once seemed insurmountable. These encounters with his other self blur the lines between past and present, reality and illusion, deepening the enigma of his quest.

“Crashing into a mysterious orb, an astronaut transformed into a swarm of moths on an alien desert. Memories fluttered in each wing, creating a spectral silhouette. The ethereal swarm hovered, embracing the haunting beauty of cosmic existence. In the vast emptiness, the moth-being sought elusive answers within the celestial tapestry.”
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Amidst this surreal experience, he pondered the paradox of hearing footsteps without feet. Upon confirming his moth-formed existence, the audible illusion ceased.


The writing on the ship and the device the Mothman carries seem visually similar to katakana.


As a mere collection of winged insects, his footsteps' echo dissolved into silence, leaving the fluttering moths to hover above the ground, embracing the mysterious quiet of his ethereal journey.”


Colorful light-emitting pianos allow him to communicate with the fauna and flora. Each key pressed produces not only a musical note but also a burst of vibrant light that resonates with the surrounding environment. The melodies create a bridge between the Mothman and the natural world, enabling a unique form of interaction with the plants and creatures around him.


The flora responds by blooming in rhythmic patterns, while the fauna gathers, drawn by the harmonious sounds and glowing hues. These musical exchanges unlock secrets of the ecosystem, revealing hidden paths, uncovering resources, and fostering a deeper connection with the living world. The pianos become powerful tools of communication, harmonizing the essence of nature with the spirit of the Mothman’s journey.


Strange Creatures and Constructions:

Constructions with giant golden glass panels and glowing pyramids. Pianos with flashing neon lights where sequences of sounds must be hit.


Abandoned temples offer a rich environment where the player can collect items and interact with the surroundings. These ancient structures, shrouded in mystery and overgrown with vegetation, are scattered throughout the landscape. Each temple, with its crumbling walls and faded carvings, holds remnants of a forgotten civilization.


As the player explores these eerie sanctuaries, they uncover hidden treasures and powerful artifacts that aid in their journey. The environment within the temples is highly interactive; players can solve puzzles, unlock secret chambers, and activate ancient mechanisms. These abandoned temples provide a deep sense of exploration and discovery, adding layers of intrigue and history to the game.
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The Tentacle Cult

Tentacled creatures are being worshipped by people, including figures in red hoods. These otherworldly beings, with their sinuous appendages and pulsating bodies, inspire a mix of awe and fear among their followers.


The worshippers, clad in ceremonial attire, perform intricate rituals and chants, their eyes filled with reverence. Among them stands a prominent figure in a red hood, whose presence commands respect and authority.


This enigmatic leader guides the ceremonies, orchestrating the congregation’s devotions with precise, deliberate gestures. The tentacled creatures respond to the worship with subtle movements, as if acknowledging the homage paid to them. The atmosphere is charged with an eerie energy, as the line between the divine and the monstrous blurs in this surreal display of veneration.


Torus-shaped flying discs seem to protect certain regions within the Mothman's monochromatic world of memories. These hovering guardians patrol the grayscale landscape, their sleek, circular forms emitting a faint, otherworldly glow. As they glide silently through the air, they project an aura of safety and vigilance, warding off potential threats and preserving the sanctity of these memory-laden areas.

Vermilion Dandelion

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Listen to the full album while you read by pressing play here  or enjoy snippets embedded throughout the text.



“Breaking news tonight:
Chaos has erupted following a BioKroppTek space mission that returned from Mars one month ago and inadvertently brought an extraterrestrial parasite back to Earth.
This parasite, upon arrival, infected a group of employees, fusing them into a single, grotesque entity that appears to call itself the Swamp King.

The parasite rapidly spread through BioKroppTek, the Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate, and appears to have leaked from the corporation's headquarters, now rapidly multiplying and spreading across the planet.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.”







Spreading rapidly through BioKroppTek—a corporation that controlled vital resources like water, food, and medicine—the parasite quickly led to societal collapse.


The Swamp King, driven by a primal hunger, aims to consume all living beings on Earth. Amidst this turmoil, two modified dogs, Vermilion and Dandelion, embark on a perilous journey to return home.





Miraculously immune to the parasite and carrying the cure within them, they communicate through a wound-like opening in their necks, from which small, viscous tendrils emerge—a testament to their incomplete infection.

Faces and bodies intertwined with various organic materials such as moss, flowers, vines, mushrooms, and worm-like appendages.
Blending human features with organic, plant, fungal, or insect elements.

Vermilion and Dandelion were once cherished pets, living peacefully with Laura and her daughter Kate. During a period, the dogs went to stay with Harry, Laura's ex-husband and Kate's father.


As the extraterrestrial parasite spread rapidly across the globe, infecting countless individuals, Harry too fell victim and transformed into a Khymera.


Vermilion and Dandelion managed to escape, but now they were alone in a world descending into chaos.




The Swamp King, a monstrous fusion of machinery and biology, resides in a tank of nutritive fluid at BioKroppTek's headquarters, sustained by liquefied humans.


Vermilion and Dandelion must navigate this treacherous landscape, determined to reunite with Laura and Kate.




Seeking refuge and transportation, Vermilion and Dandelion venture into the abandoned subway system. Aboard a derelict train, they are plagued by nightmarish hallucinations induced by the parasite.


Distorted memories of their home, visions of monstrous beings, mutated versions of themselves, and ghostly images of BioKroppTek scientists haunt them.




The parasite's signal disrupts the subway's systems, causing malfunctions and heightening the danger.

In a rare moment of calm, Vermilion reflects on his life before the outbreak. He recalls the joy of living with Laura and Kate, strengthening his resolve to find them.



This introspective episode delves into Vermilion's sense of identity and purpose, reinforcing his bond with Dandelion, who shares his longing for their former life.



The dogs stumble upon a resistance group battling BioKroppTek. Initially wary, the resistance tests Vermilion and Dandelion, discovering their unique immunity and the cure they carry.

Though the resistance pleads for their help, the dogs are initially focused solely on reuniting with Laura and Kate.

Determined to find Laura and Kate, Vermilion and Dandelion return to their former home. There, they face a heartbreaking discovery: Laura and Kate have transformed into aggressive Khymeras.




Trapped in their car, a stack of missing posters for the dogs lies on the back seat, a poignant reminder of their love. This moment of profound loss spurs Vermilion and Dandelion to reconsider their priorities.

Fueled by a desire for vengeance and hope, Vermilion and Dandelion join the resistance to take down the Swamp King. The mission leads them to BioKroppTek's heavily fortified main facility, where the parasite is mass-produced.

Battling through an army of Khymeras and navigating a maze of illusions and cybernetic traps, they inch closer to their goal. The parasite's energy signal wreaks havoc on the facility's defenses, adding to the chaos.




Finally, in the presence of the Swamp King, Vermilion and Dandelion face their final challenge.



Tired and desperate, Dandelion realizes that the only way to defeat the Swamp King is through self-sacrifice.



Communicating his plan to Vermilion, Dandelion leaps into the Swamp King's tank. The Swamp King, sensing the presence, instinctively consumes Dandelion.


As Dandelion's immunity and the cure work from within, the Swamp King begins to disintegrate, halting the parasite's spread.



As the world starts to heal from the Khymera crisis, the resistance, now led by Vermilion's former companions, focuses on curing the infected and rebuilding society. 
Thiago Desant is a composer, visual artist, and filmmaker.
Film / TV / Video Game work inquiries
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trdesant@gmail.com
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