Secrets of Desert: A Haunting Journey Through Folklore and Reality

Held online via Discord from October 24–27, the Global XR Jam 2025 brought together creators from around the world to explore the theme Beyond Reality through immersive XR experiences.  

Secrets of Desert by Lauris Taube won the Best XR Experience award for this edition of the Jam. The expert jury – comprising XR leaders Michael Kam Barngrover, Alexandra Gerard, and Markus Passecker – praised Secrets of Desert for its atmospheric, simple concept and its story-driven, minimalistic interaction.  

Created over a single weekend, Secrets of Desert is a short narrative-based adventure game designed for the Meta Quest 3. It places players in the shoes of Mark, an avid hiker who finds himself lost in a desert trail system riddled with dead ends. As night falls, the simple goal of returning to his car becomes increasingly elusive – and unsettling. With only a flashlight and his instincts, Mark must navigate the shifting terrain and uncover the secrets that surround him. 

What makes Secrets of Desert truly compelling is its foundation in Native American folklore. The game draws inspiration from tales of shapeshifters and mimics—creatures that imitate familiar sounds, voices, and even appearances to lure victims into danger. These beings don’t just stalk their prey; they manipulate perception, causing hallucinations and distorting reality. In the game, this manifests through eerie audio cues, limited visibility, and moments of psychological doubt that challenge the player’s sense of what’s real. 

Lauris Taube, the creator behind the experience, is no stranger to XR development. Based at Vidzeme University in Latvia, Lauris works with VR and 3D modelling professionally and creates games as a hobby. His fascination with folklore—especially stories of mysterious and mind-bending creatures – was a perfect match for the jam’s theme. “I enjoy interesting folklore, especially mysterious creatures,” Lauris shared. “I based my work off Native American folklore where there are creatures that can mess with your head, make you see and hear things. It went well with the jam’s theme—how there can be things outside of our reality.” 

Despite the time constraints of the jam, Lauris managed to craft a deeply atmospheric experience. The game’s visual style leans into abstraction, a creative decision made to save time while still evoking a sense of unease. The limited visibility and sparse environment heighten the tension, forcing players to rely on sound and intuition as they navigate the desert. The use of Quest 3 controllers allows for intuitive movement and interaction, keeping the experience immersive and accessible. 

Watch the game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemUdDrQfm4 
More information here: https://dustylv.itch.io/secrets-of-the-desert 

This jam was organised by three Universities of Applied Sciences – St Pölten, Saxion, and Vidzeme – as part of the Master in Applied XR: GRACE.