Media Release:

Groundhog Day meets Stranger Things in this culturally diverse point-and-click adventure set in 1980s Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Indie game studio Mad Carnival is showcasing their upcoming supernatural adventure How Was Your Day? at PAX Melbourne 2025. The narrative-driven point-and-click game follows 13-year-old Diya, a teenager of Indian heritage navigating life in 1980s New Zealand, who becomes trapped in a mysterious time loop while searching for her missing dog, Beans.

A new trailer for How Was Your Day? releases Friday, October 10, introducing key characters and suspects from Lakeview while showcasing the game’s atmospheric 1980s New Zealand setting and deepening supernatural mystery.

How Was Your Day? transforms the simple parental question into a compelling narrative device, as players experience Diya’s repeating day while uncovering dark supernatural mysteries threatening her new hometown of Lakeview. As pets disappear and a sinister presence stalks the town, Diya must form unlikely alliances to unravel the truth. The game uniquely blends Indian and Māori cultural elements with atmospheric supernatural thrills, offering authentic representation rarely seen in gaming.

“It started with asking my son about his day,” explains creator Sam Ramlu. “I wanted to create something that showed the magic hiding in everyday family moments, while writing a story where parents aren’t just background characters in a kid’s adventure.”

“Add a little spooky mystery, a dog, 80s nostalgia, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Aotearoa and you have a unique, compelling narrative sewn up into a thrilling adventure.”

Recent playtesting showed players praising the game’s authentic 1980s aesthetic, compelling mystery, and thoughtful cultural representation.

“One of the aspects I like most about the game is how naturally it weaves diversity into the story through Diya’s Indian heritage,” noted one playtester. “This kind of thoughtful representation makes the world feel lived-in and the characters genuinely complex.”

Key Features

• Authentic Cultural Storytelling: Respectful blend of Indian and Māori cultural elements set in 1980s New Zealand.
• Time Loop Mystery: Navigate repeated days to build relationships, gather clues, and piece together the supernatural puzzle threatening Lakeview.
• Retro Mini-Games: Key challenges become playable 8-bit mini-games as Diya’s gamer brain kicks in.
• Hand-Illustrated Environments: Beautiful art capturing the warm nostalgia of 1980s small-town New Zealand.
• Supernatural Adventure: Eerie 80s mystery reminiscent of The Goonies and Stranger Things, with a cultural twist.

Experience How Was Your Day? at PAX Aus – CODE Booth #1840 (New Zealand Pavilion) – with a playable snippet from the game. The full demo is available on Steam