Cycle of Delivery
Cycle of Delivery is a narrative exploration game where players alternate between two opposing roles — a food delivery worker and the designer of the delivery algorithm. Each character’s choices subtly affect the other within the same system.
Across five acts, players move through a repeating loop: conflict builds over time, leading to a moment of choice — awaken or return. Those who fail to break free start the loop again from the beginning.
Time: 2025.7.3 - 2025.10.20
Role: Programmer, Designer, Writer
Tools: Unreal | Blender | PhotoShop
Personal Project | Prototypes
A photo of the meeting room taken after a long day of meetings
I Deliver in Beijing
The Story
Transitional Labor
Characters
Name： Amanda
Age：22-25
Role： Algorithm Designer of a food delivery company
“Am I shaping the system—or becoming part of it?”
Name： Lin
Age：21-24
Role： Delivery rider
“How long can I keep pushing before I crash?”
Five-Act Narrative Structure
I designed the loop because, to me, being trapped in a system feels like living inside an endless cycle — days repeat, rules reinforce themselves, and little truly changes.
This structure reflects one thing I’ve learnt: only by being aware of the system, questioning it, and choosing to step outside, does the loop end.
Why this story?
I used to work as an iOS developer at a large tech company.
There, I felt what it’s like to be “just another cog in the machine”. Like, take a whole day of meetings in a small meeting room.
At the same time, feeling like a tech laborer and an outsider living in Beijing, I became aware of the labor of others that often goes unnoticed, like delivery riders and couriers.
Through my games, I want to tell their stories — and mine.
Story Overview
Amanda is tasked with optimizing dispatch efficiency, while Lin strives to earn high rankings and income through long hours and hard work.
As algorithms evolve, Amanda’s decisions tighten control over the system, while Lin pushes himself to keep up, risking his health.
They never met before the final act, but their actions affect each other indirectly through the shared delivery system.
Rising tensions lead to riders resisting and protesting against the system’s pressures.
In the final act, Amanda uncovers evidence of exploitation and shares it with Lin.
Theme
Behind the platform’s efficiency, people are shaped into replaceable units by algorithms.
Follow Amanda, an algorithm designer, and Lin, a delivery rider, as they struggle with rules, expectations, and personal desires within the same system.
It’s not about defeating the system, but staying aware within it — recognizing one’s own desire before the system rewrites it.
