Budgie Girl — An Interactive Story of Coercive Control
An interactive graphic novel exploring coercive control, digital abuse, and the power of a survivor's story.
Based on many a true story.
💡 What is Budgie Girl?
An Interactive Graphic Novel
A Story, Not a Lecture
Follow the journey of a young woman as she navigates a relationship defined by coercive control. The story unfolds through her eyes, showing the subtle, often invisible, tactics of abuse.
Interactive Choices
Readers make choices that influence the narrative, highlighting the difficult decisions survivors face. Each choice reveals new challenges and perspectives.
Educational Insights
Key moments are linked to real-world information about digital stalking, legal rights, and support resources, providing context without breaking the narrative flow.
🎯 Purpose
Our Goals
Budgie Girl is designed to be more than a game; it's a tool for awareness and change.
Raise Awareness
To raise awareness of coercive control, especially among younger audiences, through emotionally grounded storytelling.
Reveal Hidden Behaviors
To demonstrate how coercive behaviour can hide behind societal norms and "good intentions".
Equip and Empower
To equip players — including professionals, friends, and bystanders — with insight into what coercion looks and feels like.
Create a Training Tool
To create a versatile tool that can be used in education, advocacy, and professional training.
🛠️ How It Works
A Deeper Look into the Mechanics
Character Core Beliefs
Each character is built around internalised beliefs (e.g. "I must keep everyone happy") that seem positive but make them vulnerable to control.
Interwoven Perspectives
Players can shift viewpoints between characters — including those who harm — to understand how cultural expectations and personal histories reinforce abuse.
Systemic Themes
Scenarios include how institutions (e.g., police, family courts, healthcare) respond to — or fail — victims.
Branching Outcomes
Choices lead not to binary success/failure, but to insight — what changes, what stays the same, and what support really means.
🔍 Why 'Budgie Girl'?
Reclaiming the Metaphor
The Caged Bird
The budgie is a small, intelligent bird — often kept in a cage "for its own good". The title reflects how people, especially women and girls, are often expected to sing sweetly while being trapped — by family, by partners, by systems.
A New Voice
Budgie Girl reclaims that metaphor — offering voice, flight, and perspective.
🤝 Get Involved
We're currently looking for collaborators
Survivors, advocates, educators, youth workers, psychologists, legal experts, artists, and designers who want to help bring this world to life.