Against the Flow

Made for the GMTK 2026 theme, Countdown.

- ABOUT THE GAME -

“Against the Flow” is a surreal, art-driven story-puzzle game set in the parallels between imagined and photographed reality. 

You play as an overworked fish who wanders a small planet of memories, trying to find his reason to live. 

The 7 memories reference one’s 7 final minutes of brain activity before death. 
Brain activity is a countdown - in the game, you must remain in constant movement or you’ll die .

- HOW TO PLAY -

Push, jump on, and spin the paper cutouts to reveal the view hidden inside each memory. 

Interact "E" with objects to learn more about the story. 

Keep moving, and reveal all 7 memories before the countdown runs out!

- CREDITS -

Programming - sam1128van (IG), awdev (IG)

Art - Environment Art by cilan.tre (IG), Character Art by wormieze (IG)

Sound - @prod.ethnn (IG)

NO AI USED FOR ANYTHING!

“Against the Flow” is inspired by the perspective rules of Paper Mario and the childlike wonder in Before Your Eyes.

Note: due to a last-minute glitch, the final cutscene doesn’t show but will be added in after the jam. Sorry!