20 Aug 2025
Hawkswood
Hawkswood is a first-person adventure game designed to make cognitive research more engaging and meaningful.
Funded by the University of Cambridge’s Pycharity Department, the project is led by Professor Paul Fletcher and PhD student Millie Preece.
Instead of traditional, repetitive cognitive tests, Hawkswood invites players into a story-rich world where every challenge and choice subtly measures aspects of thinking and decision-making. The aim is to turn science into play, creating an experience that is both fun and immersive while still collecting valuable research data.
Developed in Unity, Hawks experiments with ways to blend cognitive tasks naturally into gameplay, shortening test time while capturing deeper insights into how players think and respond in dynamic situations.
Overview
Game Features
- Diverse Open World
The world of Hawkswood features four distinct biomes for players to explore, each with its own atmosphere, challenges, and story moments. These areas gradually unlock as the narrative progresses, encouraging exploration and discovery as players uncover the mysteries of the world. - Dialogue and Guidance
Throughout the journey, players are accompanied by a guiding voice — a companion who helps them navigate the world, offer hints, and drive the story forward. This interactive dialogue system keeps the player connected to the narrative and world at all times. - Advanced Animation System
Built using inverse kinematics (IK), animation blending, and Unity’s Timeline tools, Hawkswood delivers smooth transitions, expressive movement, and cinematic cutscenes that bring the story to life and enhance immersion. - Intuitive Controls
Designed for a wide range of players, Hawkswood features simple, easy-to-understand controls that make the experience accessible without sacrificing depth. The goal is to create gameplay that feels natural and responsive, allowing anyone to pick up and play with ease.
