Scent
“Scent is an audacious and drastic break from the ‘war in games’ genre.”
- Killscreen
About
Scent is a short, cinematic game in which you play as a dog wandering a war-torn city, collecting the souls of the dead. As you walk, run, and hide amid unfolding atrocities, the game immerses you in a raw, sensory experience of fear, darkness, and fleeting moments of hope. Stripped of specific historical or geographic markers, Scent explores what it means to witness without power.
With immersive cinematic visuals, on-rails design, and simple controls, it places the player at the crossroads of cinema and videogame, drawing them into a world of tension and fragility.
Production: 2017 - 2025
Gameplay completion time: 15 - 20 mins
Platform: PC (Single Player)
Showcases
Interactive Installation Version
“In Search of Us”, immersive program of Tribeca Festival 2025 (World Premiere)
(New York, June 6-29, 2025)
“NK-INTERACTIVE 2025”, immersive program of the 19th Inconvenient Films Festival
(Vilnius, October 17-26, 2025)
“Cinetech”, immersive program of Maryland Film Festival 2025
(Baltimore, November 6-9, 2025)
NewImages Festival 2026 (Official Selection in XR Competition)
(Paris, April 8-12, 2026)
Doxumentale'26 - International Documentary And Media Festival Berlin (VR + Games program)
(Berlin, May 28 - June 4, 2026)
NewImages OnTour
(Paris, June 3 - September 1, 2026)
"SENTIENTS", exhibition at Undershed - an immersive gallery at Watershed
(Bristol, July 18 - September 13, 2026)
Live Playthrough as a Cinematic Performance
Gene Siskel Film Center
(Chicago, October 24, 2024)
“Cinetech: Live”, immersive program of Maryland Film Festival 2025
(Baltimore, November 8, 2025)
Short Film Version
Animafest Zagreb 2025 (World Premiere)
(Zagreb, June 4, 2025)
Awards
Honorary Mention Award, Prix Ars Electronica 2021 (Artificial Intelligence & Life Art Category)
(for first iteration of the game)
Shortlisted for Moving Image Art Prize, Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin 2025
(for latest version of the game)
Special Mentions - Cinematic Creativity Award, NewImages Festival 2026 (XR Competition)
(for latest version of the game)
Press & Conversations
Killscreen:
What Happens When You Can Do Nothing in a War Zone?
Doxumentale:
Beyond Film: Alan Kwan on Scent and the Role of Video Games
Game Trailer
Screenshots
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_8760d0820ad7421bb2bd6acc656a3aa5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_1.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_2.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_4d09acae2f3d486bad9512cea334d237~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_2.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_4.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_e27e9a0180c24a6b8824e5c8a1855522~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_4.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_5.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_32419f8231c34dd28b5e7f9a90b6a9ae~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_5.jpg)
Things I've been thinking about
(1) This game is only 15 – 20 mins long, but it took me over 8 years to make. I reworked it many times. Now the game is finally finished.
(2) The players explore the environment through the point of view of a dog. The game presents no story, context, or background information on where the war is taking place and why it is happening. Nothing will be resolved after players finish the game. I'm interested in creating an experience that invites for contemplation on fear, deaths, and flickers of hope.
(3) I want to make cinematic games that are very short but rich and tense. Almost like a short film but interactive. Kind of like a mini game but with more complex emotional experiences. Interaction and control should be really simple and not focus on how fast players move their thumbs.
(4) When I talk about my works I always use the term "game" for general communication purpose. But I constantly think about whether it is the best term to describe what I want to do. If you are a hardcore gamer and think that this is not a videogame, I totally get it. I think we need better terminology to describe works of interactive virtual world that are made using videogame technologies but are not necessarily videogames.
Scent is currently available in 2 presentation formats
(1): Immersive Interactive Installation
A dark room featuring a large-scale projection and stereo sound. One visitor plays the game via a custom controller while others watch it as a shared cinematic experience.
(2): Live Game Playthrough as a Cinematic Performance
A performance presented within a cinema setting, where I play the game live on the big screen. By simultaneously controlling the protagonist (the dog) and choreographing the camera angles, the live playthrough is transformed into a cinematic performance.
*Message me here for full details and setup plans.
Custom Controller for the Immersive Interactive Installation
Scent explores themes of war, violence, and nature. For its interactive installation version, I wanted to make a custom controller that’s raw, rough, and heavy, something that makes you feel you are touching a part of nature while witnessing the atrocities in the game.
Made from an actual rock, the controller weighs over 5kg.
See it in action.
See the fabrication and development process here.
Production Credits
Director / 3D Artist / Programmer / Sound Designer
Alan Kwan
Music from
Jordi Jon Pardo
Arthur Komnacky
(Sad heaven piano #2 by PSOVOD (https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/414856/
Edited into a loopable version by Alan Kwan)
Graphic Designer
Zac Choy
Trailer by
Deniz Tortum and Alan Kwan
Production for Custom Controller
Concept, Design, Electronics, Programming
Alan Kwan
Technical Consultation, Fabrication, Design for 3D-Printed Components
Björn Sparrman
Special Thanks
Kachi Chan
Kenny Wong Chi-Chuen
Xiao Xiao
Yang Jing
Mike Harris
Deniz Tortum
Lukas Steinman
Tamas Waliczky
Arthur Brussee
Keijiro Takahashi
Luyu Chen
Digital Assets & Sound Effects
Coast Sand 01 by Rob Tuytel (https://polyhaven.com/all?a=Rob%20Tuytel)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://polyhaven.com/license)
at https://polyhaven.com/a/coast_sand_01
Pine-forest--ww2-soldier--crawl--grass.wav by elonen (https://freesound.org/people/elonen/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/elonen/sounds/478381/?
Breath by mcroce (https://freesound.org/people/mcroce/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/mcroce/sounds/234335/
Hearbeat sound (with gurgling) by LookIMadeAThing (https://freesound.org/people/LookIMadeAThing/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/LookIMadeAThing/sounds/250846/
lucid drone.wav by decembered (https://freesound.org/people/decembered/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/decembered/sounds/42761/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a shorter version
Four_Voices_Whispering_4.wav by geoneo0 (https://freesound.org/people/geoneo0/）
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/geoneo0/sounds/193809/
C5_mother singing.mp3 by Iamgiorgio (https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/sounds/371307/
LightMachineGun3.wav by SuperPhat (https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/sounds/417686/
BurstFire.wav by SuperPhat (https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/sounds/424630/
Wind-noise.wav by jorge0000 (https://freesound.org/people/jorge0000/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/jorge0000/sounds/361053/
BirdFlap1.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246225/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
BirdFlap2.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246224/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
BirdFlap3_Deeper.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246223/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
gas_fire_catch.wav by themfish (https://freesound.org/people/themfish/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/themfish/sounds/45809/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a shorter version
PS_Wood_Fire_Burning_(Loopable)_01 by PoundSoundUK (https://freesound.org/people/PoundSoundUK/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PoundSoundUK/sounds/717807/
No changes were made to the original version
bullet zip and hit.wav by TheLittleCrow (https://freesound.org/people/TheLittleCrow/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
At https://freesound.org/people/TheLittleCrow/sounds/496509/
Elephant growl and trumpet slowed down by ShangASDFGuy123 (https://freesound.org/people/ShangASDFGuy123/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/ShangASDFGuy123/sounds/735267/
Raven many.mp3 by Bidone (https://freesound.org/people/Bidone/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Bidone/sounds/69575/
Big Bell with Verb by dr_knoise (https://freesound.org/people/dr_knoise/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/dr_knoise/sounds/181292/
Sad heaven piano #2 by PSOVOD (https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/414856/
Edited into a loopable version by Alan Kwan
Night Ambiance - 44.1k, 16-Bit Depth.aif by DidntGoToFilmSchool (https://freesound.org/people/DidntGoToFilmSchool/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/DidntGoToFilmSchool/sounds/248103/
S_Spotlight_Off.wav by Grubzyy
(https://freesound.org/people/Grubzyy/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Grubzyy/sounds/422729/
"Look out, Tex!" by unfa (Tobiasz 'unfa' Karoń)
(https://freesound.org/people/unfa/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/unfa/sounds/187359/
AR15 rifle shot by michorvath
(https://freesound.org/people/michorvath/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/michorvath/sounds/427596/
heart beat increasing 116642.wav by klankbeeld
(https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/181805/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Scared Male Heavy Breathing by casiba842
(https://freesound.org/people/casiba842/)
Available for use under the CC0 license(https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/casiba842/sounds/554307/
female heavy breathing angry anxious mouth upclose closed open by jerry.berumen
(https://freesound.org/people/jerry.berumen/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/jerry.berumen/sounds/772833/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Young boy, fast breathing for running.wav by SpliceSound
(https://freesound.org/people/SpliceSound/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SpliceSound/sounds/260187/
Man Breathing.wav by sydneyfrencho
(https://freesound.org/people/sydneyfrencho/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/sydneyfrencho/sounds/683687/
Breathing_scared.wav by deleted_user_2104797
(https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_2104797/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_2104797/sounds/166125/
DeqstersLab - Heavy Breathing Scared Male by DeqstersLab
(https://freesound.org/people/DeqstersLab/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/DeqstersLab/sounds/721351/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Man_Cry_Close.wav by RepDac3
(https://freesound.org/people/RepDac3/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/RepDac3/sounds/477750/
Godzilla Stomp.wav by Cloud-10
(https://freesound.org/people/Cloud-10/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Cloud-10/sounds/651838/
fall to ground.aif by MAJ061785
(https://freesound.org/people/MAJ061785/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/MAJ061785/sounds/85546/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project