How EA joined with an indie studio for a game about cultural expression … and yarn

Atmospheric puzzle-platformer Unraveled was shown among Electronic Arts’ usual sports games at a pre-E3 presentation in Santa Monica last month. In its debut, Martin Sahlin, the creative director at ColdWood Interactive, said that games are a unique form of cultural expression, and that this gives game makers a responsibility to give something back.

His idea for giving back was a game that had a personal touch. Unraveled follows a tiny character named Yarny, made of only red yarn and wires. As he navigates nature in Northern Sweden, he uses his yarn trail to negotiate obstacles. That trail remains as the player continues on the journey, representing our ties to the past.