Reframing Marriage Anxiety in Modern India
A virtual cohabitation simulation game that helps GenZ couples build confidence, test compatibility, and reduce anxiety about commitment — before taking the leap.
Reframing Marriage Anxiety in Modern India
Reframing Marriage Anxiety in Modern India
A virtual cohabitation simulation game that helps GenZ couples build confidence, test compatibility, and reduce anxiety about commitment — before taking the leap.
Product
Product
Housemate
Housemate
Team
Team
Priyanshu & Suvarna
Priyanshu & Suvarna
Duration
Duration
2 Months
2 Months
Tools
Tools
Figma · Adobe Firefly
Figma · Adobe Firefly
GenZ wants love.
But not the risk.
GenZ wants love.
But not the risk.
Modern couples in India increasingly feel caught between traditional expectations and evolving personal values. This tension creates a unique form of anxiety around marriage — not a fear of love, but a fear of the unknown.
Modern couples in India increasingly feel caught between traditional expectations and evolving personal values. This tension creates a unique form of anxiety around marriage — not a fear of love, but a fear of the unknown.
93%
93%
of survey respondents rated communication style as the most important factor to understand before marriage — yet most couples rarely discuss this deeply before commitment.
of survey respondents rated communication style as the most important factor to understand before marriage — yet most couples rarely discuss this deeply before commitment.
of survey respondents rated communication style as the most important factor to understand before marriage — yet most couples rarely discuss this deeply before commitment.
87%
87%
wanted insight into trust, loyalty, and conflict resolution — soft skills that are impossible to assess from a matrimony profile or even years of long-distance dating.
wanted insight into trust, loyalty, and conflict resolution — soft skills that are impossible to assess from a matrimony profile or even years of long-distance dating.
wanted insight into trust, loyalty, and conflict resolution — soft skills that are impossible to assess from a matrimony profile or even years of long-distance dating.
80%
80%
were most worried about daily habit incompatibility and financial transparency — the real fabric of everyday life that only reveals itself when two people share a space.
were most worried about daily habit incompatibility and financial transparency — the real fabric of everyday life that only reveals itself when two people share a space.
were most worried about daily habit incompatibility and financial transparency — the real fabric of everyday life that only reveals itself when two people share a space.
92%
92%
92%
of respondents flagged hygiene as the top lifestyle habit that matters in a partner — the most visceral, undeniable marker of cohabitation compatibility.
of respondents flagged hygiene as the top lifestyle habit that matters in a partner — the most visceral, undeniable marker of cohabitation compatibility.
of respondents flagged hygiene as the top lifestyle habit that matters in a partner — the most visceral, undeniable marker of cohabitation compatibility.
What young adults actually said in our survey:
What young adults actually said in our survey:
"Just to think that marriage is a very big commitment — and what if my partner will not be compatible with me?"
Survey Respondent · F, 24
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
"Due to high expectations and fears about marriage, many GenZ couples today find it difficult to commit — not because they don't love each other, but because they have no safe space to rehearse what life together actually looks like."
"Due to high expectations and fears about marriage, many GenZ couples today find it difficult to commit — not because they don't love each other, but because they have no safe space to rehearse what life together actually looks like."
User Persona
User Persona
Our survey (44 respondents, 60% female, 40% male) revealed two distinct user profiles navigating this tension in different ways.
Our survey (44 respondents, 60% female, 40% male) revealed two distinct user profiles navigating this tension in different ways.
The Solution
The Solution
Housemate: try living together — before committing.
Housemate: try living together — before committing.
A multiplayer mobile simulation game where couples experience cohabitation through a virtual shared home. Instead of guessing, they discover — through play — how they navigate money, conflict, chores, and daily life as a team.
A multiplayer mobile simulation game where couples experience cohabitation through a virtual shared home. Instead of guessing, they discover — through play — how they navigate money, conflict, chores, and daily life as a team.
3
3
Core game modules targeting distinct anxiety sources
2
2
Real-time multiplayer, both partners play simultaneously
0
0
Risk — explore, learn, and decide without real-world consequences
Core Features
Core Features
Three modules.
Three fears addressed.
Three modules.
Three fears addressed.
01
Compatibility Mapping
Compatibility Mapping
Discover how your daily rhythms, hygiene habits, and living style mesh with your partner's through lived simulation.
Discover how your daily rhythms, hygiene habits, and living style mesh with your partner's through lived simulation.
02
Conflict Resolution Room
Conflict Resolution Room
A dedicated in-game space to simulate, process, and resolve disagreements using structured communication tools.
A dedicated in-game space to simulate, process, and resolve disagreements using structured communication tools.
03
Finance Management
Finance Management
Manage a shared in-game budget, make purchase decisions together, and reveal financial values and habits through play.
Manage a shared in-game budget, make purchase decisions together, and reveal financial values and habits through play.
Game Experience
Game Experience
Inside the virtual home.
Inside the virtual home.
Design System
Design System
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
The app has four main navigation pillars — Onboarding, Home, Game Screen, and Settings — with a clear hierarchical structure designed so players can always find what they need without interrupting game flow.
The app has four main navigation pillars — Onboarding, Home, Game Screen, and Settings — with a clear hierarchical structure designed so players can always find what they need without interrupting game flow.
Future Scope
Future Scope
What we'd build next with more time.
What we'd build next with more time.
This was a semester project with tight timelines. These are the extensions that would significantly deepen the product's value if pursued further.
This was a semester project with tight timelines. These are the extensions that would significantly deepen the product's value if pursued further.
V2 :
Family Meeting Scenarios
Simulate meeting each other's families in-game — a high-anxiety event for many Indian couples. NPC family members present scenarios around cultural expectations, food preferences, and boundary-setting.
Simulate meeting each other's families in-game — a high-anxiety event for many Indian couples. NPC family members present scenarios around cultural expectations, food preferences, and boundary-setting.
V2 :
Monthly Compatibility Report
A detailed report generated each in-game "month" — showing behavioral patterns, top conflict topics, financial alignment score, and specific areas to discuss in real life. Exportable as a couples' conversation guide.
A detailed report generated each in-game "month" — showing behavioral patterns, top conflict topics, financial alignment score, and specific areas to discuss in real life. Exportable as a couples' conversation guide.
V3 :
Matrimony Platform Integration
Allow real-life couples therapists to review anonymized gameplay data and provide guided prompts or insights — bridging the game with actual counseling support.
Allow real-life couples therapists to review anonymized gameplay data and provide guided prompts or insights — bridging the game with actual counseling support.