Concept

“Mirror Within” is a narrative decision-making game that follows Lana, a 17-year-old student, as she moves through ordinary days that feel anything but ordinary. Through her eyes, players experience how eating disorders shape thoughts, choices, and emotions. The game is not about “winning,” but about understanding how each decision, even the smallest one, carries weight.

Story Overview

It starts with a quiet morning. Lina stands in front of the mirror, already late for school. She doesn’t see herself the way others do. What players quickly realize is that every moment in Lina’s day is filled with internal dialogue, doubt, and pressure.

The player doesn’t control Lina completely, they influence her. Each choice reveals how her thoughts shift, how her relationships change, and how her health is affected over time.

 

Narrative Scenarios

1. The Mirror

Lina stares at her reflection, pulling at her shirt.

“You look bigger today.”

The player chooses:

  • Skip breakfast rush out – thoughts = saved 100 calories, maybe her family won’t notice. Explain why breakfast is important and the potential risks that may occur if skipped. 
  • Force herself to eat but feel guilty= Has a black coffee (0 calories), and an apple (104 calories), counting everything, thinking about how much she has to walk to burn it off. Discuss to the user the importance of breakfast. 
  • Pause and tell her mom she’s not feeling okay – stressed but she knows it’ll help her see a different perspective on nutrition. Explain the benefits of a healthy breakfast to the user. 

Each option shapes Lana’s energy, mood, and self perception for the rest of the day.

 

2. The Cafeteria

At school, Lana sits with her friends. Laughter fills the table, but she feels distant.

“They’re all eating normally… why can’t you?”

The player chooses:

  • Say she already ate. – thoughts = food noise. Calculating the number of calories in everyone’s meals and being confused and jealous that they can eat that normally and look healthy, like she wants to be. She doesn’t have the energy to laugh with her friends.  Explain to the user what happens to the body throughout the day , survival mode, etc. 
  • Eat slowly while comparing herself to others: thoughts : goes for the lowest calories option, picks at her food trying not to draw attention, thinking about how to burn the calories off, feels guilty for eating and not having discipline. Explain to the user tell signs that your friend might be struggling. 
  • Open up to a friend= thoughts: scared as it’s a big step but feels slightly more comfortable knowing it’s off her chest. Talk to the user about how to help a friend when they open up. 

This moment affects Lana’s sense of belonging and isolation.

3. The Scroll

That night, Lana lies in bed, scrolling through social media.

Perfect bodies. “What I eat in a day” videos. Fitness routines. Skinny models. High-Protein brownies, etc. 

“If you tried harder, you could look like that.”

The player chooses:

  • Keep scrolling and save posts: thoughts : save for inspiration to look back at, idolizing celebrities to copy so they can look the same. Explain to users, the harm of this content about wrong information about nutrition, social media algorithms, etc. How it amplifies it.  
  • Close the app : Thoughts, stressed about everything and feeling hopeless, starts planning tomorrow to fit the videos. 
  • Look up recovery content : tries to change her mindset. Not trusting but rationally she knows it’s right.  

This decision influences Lana’s self image and thought patterns.

 

4. The Breaking Point

After a stressful day, Lana is home alone. The kitchen feels loud, even in silence.

The player chooses:

  • Eat everything in sight, quickly: Binges, ‘she’ll start fresh tomorrow, so i might as well eat everything now, self hate and disgust, fueling the hate and eating more, feels sick and stomach hurts. Explain binge eating disorder, and the different forms of purge.  
  • Walk away and distract herself : Switches on the TV and tries to distract herself with her favorite series, because she worked hard to not eat today, why spoil it. Keep’s reciting mantras  ‘Skip dinner, wake up thinner’, ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’. Etc.  explain what pro ana content is and it’s danger
  • Call someone – in hope that they calm her down. It’s not her thoughts in her head anymore, but a conversation. Explain to user impotence of reaching out

No matter the choice, Lana reacts emotionally showing how control, guilt, and stress are deeply connected.

 

5. The Turning Point

Lina sits on her bed, overwhelmed.

“You can’t keep doing this.”

The player chooses:

  • Tell a friend- discuss the benefits and ways to help like resources
  • Keep everything inside – discuss mortality rates and consequences 
  • Ask for professional help- discuss success rates and the process

This is where the story branches into different endings

Endings

  • Recovery Ending: Lana begins to open up and seek help
  • Loop Ending: Lana continues the cycle, feeling stuck
  • Crisis Ending: Her physical and mental health decline

Purpose

“Mirror Within” is designed to make players feel what Lana feels. By placing them inside her thoughts, the game builds empathy and awareness, showing that eating disorders are complex, personal, and often invisible struggles.