Belle Starr

The Bandit Queen

A short playthrough of the game

Belle Starr

is a story-rich exploration game built in Unreal Engine 5, centered on the life and legend of the queen of the Wild West. Players uncover the truth behind her mysterious death by experiencing the intertwined stories of three possible killers across different eras. The project combines narrative design, environmental storytelling, and visual immersion to reimagine a Western icon through time.


Design Choices

When developing the plot for my story-driven game, I felt that basing it on real events would be the perfect approach. Drawing from history allows me to use authentic photographs, maps, and characters from the past; breathing life into their stories and making the world feel richer, more tangible, and alive.


I wanted my game to feature a defining mechanic; something that would make it stand out while still being achievable within my development scope. Inspired by the 2023 Netflix series Bodies, I decided to incorporate time-period switching as a core gameplay element. This allows players to explore the intertwined lives of Belle and her possible killers across different yet familiar settings, encouraging them to piece the story together in their own way and at their own pace.


My exploration of the story and subject as the game is based of the real bandit queen’s life