The news of Wordle being acquired by the New York Times for over $1 million was not only a surprise, but also a revelation. It highlighted the fact that creating a viral game doesn't always require the backing of large corporations, large teams, or realistic graphics. Instead, it reminded me that simplicity and creativity can be just as effective in capturing the hearts and minds of players. This realization was not only motivational, but also sparked my desire to create a simple casual game of my own. I sat down and began to brainstorm ideas, taking into account my own limitations and skill-set.

Concept

I find mathematics to be enjoyable, however, I struggle with mental math. I had the idea to create a game that would assist me in enhancing my mental computation skills. This game would be the perfect blend of fun and learning. I decided to name it Exprn, short for "Mathematical Expression".

Tech stack

I recently embarked on my journey of learning React Js. Though I had a grasp of the basics, I had not yet put it into practice through any projects. To strengthen my understanding and skills, I thought it would be a great opportunity to use React Js to develop a game.

Game logic

“Create a mathematical expression to match the generated number.” But the catch is you can't use a double digit number. You have 9 digits ‘1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9’ and four mathematical operators ‘+ , - ,* , / ' to create an expression that will equal the given number. As you progress through the game, it will generate larger numbers. Another catch is that you cannot erase or reset your move, so you must carefully place each number and operator.

Build phase

It took me approximately 5-6 hours to construct the game. The game's mechanics were relatively straightforward, making the development process relatively easy. However, I invested a considerable amount of time figuring out how to implement a restriction on the usage of single digits by the player. As it was my first time utilizing React Js in a project, the learning curve added to the duration of the development process.

Designing a game is more fulfilling than constructing a standard website. It encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Through the process of creating a game, I gained a deeper understanding of the core concepts of React Js. I highly recommend others in similar situations or those just starting out to also consider creating a game. While my game may not become a viral sensation, the most important thing is that I had a great time developing it.

I encourage you to give it a shot and let me know your highest score.

Play