Time Parabox
As part of a collaborative master’s project, I helped design and develop Time Parabox, a hybrid escape game that merges a physical puzzle box with a companion mobile app. The concept combines tactile problem-solving with digital interaction, offering players both hands-on riddles and app-based narrative support. By linking story-driven puzzles, sensor-based mechanics, and guided progression, the project creates an immersive experience that bridges the gap between physical and digital gameplay.
Technologies
Figma · React Native · Expo · Github · Jira · Confluence
Project Type
UI/UX Design, App Development, Project Management
Duration
October 2024 – January 2025
(4 months)
Overview & scope
Time Parabox is a hybrid escape game that merges a physical puzzle box with a companion mobile app. Developed by a team of ten Master’s students, the project explores interactive gameplay where players solve time-travel-themed riddles using both tactile and digital elements.
The project covered the full creation process, from designing puzzles and storylines to implementing the app and integrating sensor-based hardware in the physical box. It was aimed at escape game enthusiasts, history lovers, and tech-savvy players, while also serving as an educational tool to promote teamwork and problem-solving. The app guides players through each puzzle, tracks progress across eras, and interacts with sensors, creating a seamless, immersive experience.
Key features
- Puzzle guidance with hints and real-time feedback
- Progress tracking across multiple historical eras
- Bluetooth connectivity with the physical puzzle box
- Story-driven, time-travel narrative integrated into gameplay
- Hybrid digital-physical interaction combining mechanical puzzles, artifacts, and sensors
More Details
The Time Parabox project combined storytelling, game design, and technology. Early in the process, a narrative framework was developed to ensure that puzzles across different eras were cohesive and meaningful. Logic diagrams and wiring diagrams were created to map the interaction between story, digital app, and sensor-equipped box components.
The mobile app was designed in Figma with high-fidelity screens and wireframes, then implemented using React Native and Expo. The physical box included multiple chambers with mechanical puzzles and sensor components, designed collaboratively by the masterclass team. Workshops and sprints ensured thorough testing on Android and iOS, debugging, and fine-tuning the integration between physical and digital elements.
Mockups & Insights
Learnings
Time Parabox was an invaluable experience for expanding both technical and creative skills. Working in a large team taught me how to coordinate across multiple dependencies and communicate effectively to keep the project on track. I gained hands-on experience with sensor technology and native mobile development, exploring areas outside my main responsibilities.
One of the highlights was contributing to the project management along with a fellow student. We worked really well together and it got me interested in tackling more project management tasks in the future- Additionally, working with a tangible product alongside a digital app made progress highly visible and rewarding. Overall, the project strengthened my abilities in collaborative development, interactive design, and integrating physical and digital experiences into a cohesive game.
Interested in
further information?
vanessahofer41@gmail.com
068181647884