Home | Marielle Brady

Marielle Brady

Game Designer | Researcher | Mental Health Advocate

Games can be a force for good. By combining game design principles with behavioral psychology, I strive to create games that educate, empower, and inspire players and lead to lasting change.

Projects

Cards of Heart

Creative Director

A cozy role-playing card game about mental health and the power to face our inner Shadows

The Bookkeeper

Narrative Designer, Producer

Repair books, restore stories in this cozy book restoration sim for iPad.

My Future Self

Designer, User Researcher

A visual novel developed for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Blossom

Narrative Designer

An mixed-media pop-up book about growing up as an Asian-American woman

Hedge Hug

Gameplay, Narrative Designer

A 2D adventure game about a hedgehog's daily struggle with low self-esteem and social anxiety

Memento

Systems Designer

A physical "mystery memory box" puzzle game about love, loss, and family

About Me

Ever since I was young, I've believed in the power games have to transform our lives. When we play, we imagine different realities- and if we design them with care, we can inspire our audience to create a kinder, more compassionate reality. My goal is to create these types of experiences, especially ones that support mental health and wellbeing.

I received my MFA in Interactive Media (Games and Health) from the University of Southern California, where I was affiliated with the Creative Media and Behavioral Health Center. I also have a BA in Biology (Neuroscience) from Dartmouth College, and I worked as a lab tech in cellular biology before transitioning into game design.

I'm an avid choral singer (soprano), and I've sung professionally in a number of ensembles in New Hampshire, Los Angeles, and New Jersey. I also enjoy hiking, reading fantasy literature, and spending time with my border collie mix, Sofie.