Bubble Pop!
I wanted to make something playable and meaningful—not a demo.
This game was a holiday surprise for my niece: every popped bubble revealed a memory, and finishing the game unlocked a letter I wrote for her.
Motivation
A browser-based arcade game that reveals photos and a letter as a reward for play — built to turn a personal holiday gift into a polished, interactive experience.
Independently developed
User Experience
Classic bubble-pop mechanics with easy difficulty
Each popped bubble reveals a photo tied to a shared memory
Completing the game unlocks a final letter (progress-gated reveal)
Runs smoothly in the browser, no install required
Game Loop
Technical Highlights
Deterministic game loop with frame-based state updates
State-driven progression (game → reveal → completion)
Separation of concerns: core game logic decoupled from content (photos/letter)
Responsive rendering and performance-safe asset loading
Designed to be content-swappable (the same engine can ship a different story)
Engineering Takeaways
Turned an emotional idea into a structured system
Built for clarity, not hacks—easy to reason about and extend
Focused on finish quality, not just mechanics
Final Thought
She played it through, recognized the photos immediately, and finished the game to unlock the letter. 😁
