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LexiTowers: A Word-Based Game

Inspiration

LexiTowers was inspired by two classic games: Scrabble and Pixelary. The aim was to combine the fun and challenge of forming words under time pressure, while also creating a rewarding experience for players who enjoy vocabulary games. The goal was to build a dynamic word game that is both challenging and entertaining.

What it does

LexiTowers is a word-based game where players must form as many valid words as they can within 130 seconds. The game accepts 3 to 6 letter words, rewarding players for each valid word they create. Words that have inappropriate meanings or are used falsely are banned to ensure a positive experience for all users. Players earn points based on the number of letters in each successful word they form.

How we built it

• Platform: The entire game was built using the Devvit platform, which provided the necessary tools and flexibility to create the game from start to finish.
• Frontend: We utilized Devvit's components and features to build an interactive user interface, including the timer, input field, and points system.
• Backend: Devvit's built-in API integration allowed us to fetch word lists and validate words, ensuring only valid words were accepted and banned words were filtered out.
• Game Logic: The core game logic, including the countdown timer, scoring system, and real-time word validation, was implemented directly within the Devvit platform using JavaScript.
• Design: We focused on creating a clean, user-friendly design within Devvit, ensuring the game was easy to navigate while keeping the player's focus on forming words and tracking their progress.

Challenges we ran into

• Time Management: Ensuring that the 130-second countdown worked seamlessly while players were busy making their words was challenging.
• Word Validation: We had to ensure the game correctly validated words and blocked banned words, which involved maintaining an extensive and updated word list.
• User Interface: Balancing a user-friendly interface with the game’s functionality posed a challenge, especially for real-time updates on scores and word validation.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Word Validation System: The ability to validate words dynamically while filtering out inappropriate or false words is a major accomplishment.
• Responsive Design: We were able to build a fully responsive game interface that adapts seamlessly to both desktop and mobile devices.
• User Experience: Creating a game that is both engaging and challenging, with an intuitive interface, was something we’re very proud of.

What we learned

• Game Development: We learned how to integrate real-time game mechanics with a focus on user experience, including how to manage timers, validate inputs, and handle dynamic scoring.
• User Engagement: We discovered the importance of balancing difficulty with player engagement, making sure the game remains fun yet challenging.
• Working with APIs: Integrating external APIs for word validation and managing word lists was a key learning experience.

What's next for LexiTowers

In the future, we plan to:

• Multiplayer Mode: Introduce a multiplayer feature where players can compete in real-time.
• Power-ups and Bonuses: Add special in-game features such as power-ups or bonus time to enhance the game experience.
• Leaderboards: Implement a global leaderboard to foster competition and give players more incentives to improve their skills.

I'm excited to continue developing LexiTowers and making it a more engaging and fun experience for players!

Built With

• devvit
• react
• redis
• typescript